The Road opening scene (analysis)

the road is a film that is set after an apocalyptic event that follows a father and his son trying to survive the barron deserted america. ive chose this film opening as it is shares the same conventions as i want to add into my final film opening.

The opening


 

SHOT LIST

1) Establishing shot of barron, hill.
2) Mid long shot, cuts to long shot of the same location.
3) Panning up long shot.
4) low angled shot of both the characters feet.
5) wide angled shot with both characters in view.
6) Extreme long shot with characters in the distance.cuts to long shot of the same location.
7) Re-establishing shot of lake to show desruction. (this happens alot in this opening scene)
8) Close up of characters hands.
9) Medium shot, with tree falling down in background.
10) Re-establishing shot of supermarket.
11) Medium long shot.
12) Medium shot of main protagonist at a fuel pump.
13) Meduim shot of deserted building.
14) Close up of hands with a plastic bag.
15) Meduim close up of both characters over a table.
16) Re-establishing shot of a 'road'
17) camera angle changes to  appear behind the characters on the same road.
18) medium close up of a billboard.
19) Medium close up of characters walking.
20) long shot, from inside a tunnel witn the characters in perspective.
21) Re-establishing shot of a destroyed skyscraper.
22) Medium close up of burnt out cars.
23) close up of characters feet walking through rubble.
24) medium close up of protagonist searching the area.
25) over the shoulder of character looking in a car boot.
26) close up of protagonist's angry face.
27) medium of a deers head on a wall.
28) medium close up of smaller characters concerend face.
29) wide angle shot of a room.
30) close up of main protagonists face, cuts to black.

Questions

1) charactyer establishment is easily achieved in films of this genre as there is usually only 1 or two surivors. this ment that it was easily to understand that it the main characters are father and son, travelling through barron-apocalyptic lanscapes.

2) the location is established through the use of many establishing shots throughout the location. these longs shot show the small outline of the characters in this otherwise massive location which could symbolise how lonley and vulnerable the two characters are.

3) the narrative is constructed through the styoryline, his wife did not survive the apocalypse and therefore only father and son are surviving now.

4) the barron landscapes, destruction and sense of lonliness all reflect on the genre of this film, this is expected as it is set after an apocalypse has occurred.

5) the opening is very appropriate for a film of this genre as it ticks all the boxes of what a post apocalyptic film 'should' have and makes you as an audience feel lonley for the characters.

6) title are used very lightly in this opening. apart from the main title 'the road' there are no more titles used. this called also be to create the feeling of lonliness so the audience can fully connect with the characters from the start.

7) in my opinon this opening is very effective. the locations used are very beliveable and it helps you understand what a struggle it would be to survive after an apocalypse.