This is my AS media Question 1 Evaluation.

1. EVALUATION
QUESTION 1
“IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA
PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL
MEDIA PRODUCTS?”

2. MISE-EN-SCENE
(LOCATION)
The primary location in my opening follows many
conventions of other post-apocalyptic films I have
seen.
The location we used was a dirty forest area. This is a 2 year
time jump from the beginning of the apocalypse. The weather is
grey and dreary representing the depressing mood of an
apocalypse. Everything around the characters is overgrown and
there is no sign of any sort of life or civilisation.
Such locations are often found in post-apocalyptic films, with
“The Book Of Eli” being a desolate and dirty forest also.
Similarly we used the same weather convention as “The Road”
as it often as a grey sky and cold weather. For example,
before our fight scene you can see the supporting actresses
breath.
We also used a juxtaposition as seen in many post-apocalyptic
films between the world just as the apocalypse is beginning so
everything appears to be “normal” which contrasts with the
desolate, morbid and even life less environment we show. This
a similar technique to The Road as the first scence of it is prior
to the apocalypse making the next location more impactful.

3. MISE-EN-SCENE
(PROPS)
We used a whole Varity of props in our
opening sequence. At the beginning we
used many drug packets and alcohol
bottles to empathise the protagonists
destructive lifestyle before the apocalypse.
Similarly to “The Road” we used money as an item of
insignificance. This highlights a juxtaposition between the world
the audience lives and the one in which material items such as
money hold no value. The protagonist throws the wallet away but
is interested in the lighter showing that it is of much worth.
Another prop we used was a newspaper to tell the backstory of
the apocalypse titled “Human meat scandal” similarly the same
thing is done in “28 Days later” showing a close up of the word
“Evacuation.” Other props include the big rucksack that the
leading actress often carriers, this is used to signify that in a the
apocalyptic environment there are no homes and everything
must be carrier on your travels highlighting similarities to the
shopping cart in “The Road.” Both express the convention of
hopelessness as there is no home to go to or a finite goal to be
achieved.

4. MISE-EN-SCENE (COSTUME)
At the beginning of the sequence the protagonist is wearing
average everyday clothing that are casual and scruffy signifying
that he is unaware that the apocalypse has happened.
Later in the sequence however, after a time jump of 2 years the
costumes change drastically. With the protagonist and lead actress
wearing camouflage clothing to allow them to blend into the
environment and avoid the ravenous cannibals. A similar clothing
style to the soldiers in “28 Days Later” however, our characters are
not from the military they just have them for survival purposes. All
the clothing is covered in dirt to empathise the lack of cleanliness
and the toll the harsh environment has on the characters. Even with
the lead actress styled in a hat and gloves to signify the cold
locations they are travelling through. The harsh and dirtiness of the
clothing relates closely to “The Road” as those characters too have
to endure travelling in a cold, damp and dirty place.
The antagonist in the opening sequence is a bandit that has
come to steal the little supplies that the protagonist has. They are
wearing all black which has connotations of evil and darkness so
that the audience makes the connection that this is a bad person.
They also cover up their entire face and lack an identity, showing
that in the apocalypse situations people lack their identity as they
have to commit immoral deeds.

5. MISE-EN-SCENE (MAKEUP)
Makeup was a significant part in crafting the
mise-en-scene and amplifying the
conventions of the apocalypse. First, a bullet
wound on a dead body was used as well as
dark bags under their eyes with dry lips. This
is used to show that convention of humanity
having a lack of morals as this person has
ether been murdered or killed themselves. A
similar used of makeup is used in “The Book
Of Eli” opening when it shows that a man as
committed suicide with a pistol rather then
living in the post apocalyptic world.
The protagonists face like the majority of
characters in “The Road” is covered in dirt
to show the lack of cleanliness that is
accompanied with harsh survival. Our lead
female doesn’t wear any makeup in our
opening as that would be unrealistic for the
situation as it would not be practical to
wear such things.

6. CAMERA ANGLES AND SHOTS
Within my opening sequence we used a range of camera angles and shots. They follow typical
genre conventions of a post apocalyptic film opening.
Close-ups
Close ups provided a huge significance in the opening. First, a close up of the texts that show a
drastic escalation are used to create an enigma around the narrative. Additionally, a close up was
also used on the wounded face of the dead body to show the bullet hole in their head to further
empathise violence which is a key convention of post apocalyptic film genre. It also shows a drain
of life which is similar to the close up of the protagonist in “The Road” as looks very sunken.
Another important close up is that of the lighter which is used as a transitioned between locations.
Mid shots
A few medium shots have been used in the opening, mainly to show the state of the
protagonist as he navigates around the environment.

7. CAMERA ANGLES AND SHOTS- CONT.
Long Shots
Long shots are typically used in relation to framing a subject in a location by showing their full
frame. In the opening sequence a lot of long shots are used, one of significance is of the fight
scene as the audience can see the contrast between the dark antagonist and the protagonist as
well as all the moves used in the fight. Similarly to “The Road,” and “28 Days later” longs shots
were used to show the characters traveling, these were used for the effect of empathising the
movement. They also show quite a bit of scenery which shows the convention of a lonely and
desolate environment.
Camera Angles
There is a wide range of camera angles in “Man’s Greed” first is that of a
high angle of the protagonist getting out of bed. This shows the audience
looking down on him because of his drug and alcohol habits (As shown in
the Mise-en-scene). A similar angle is used on the zoom out from the dead
body as the audience look down upon that person because of their
vulnerability. The same angle is used to show the vulnerability of the
protagonist in “28 Days Later” as he awakes unknowing to what is
happening.
The last shot of the entire opening sequence is a high angle of the
protagonists face as now the audience look up to him to do the right thing
and find Madeline.

8. LIGHTING
The lighting in “Man’s Greed,” is very dim and drained as it is in “The Road.” This is
used to represent the dark and gloomy mood of the genre as the world has ended.
The drizzly weather adds to the lighting as there is no sun to brighten up the scene
which represents the idea that there is nothing bringing light into the protagonists life.
However, in the scene just at beginning of the apocalypse the lighting is some
what brighter as the audience and the protagonist are in the dark about the
destruction that has taken place.

9. NARRATIVE
The sequence opens with an older teenager awakening from a drug and alcohol
induced sleep which is evident from the heaps of pills and empathy bottles in his
surroundings. After this, he walks to his mothers house in search of answers,
nobody is around and the door is locked. After this enigma, there is a time jump of
two years which is made clear through the protagonists voice over. All the
audience knows is that a “Human meat Scandal” has happened which turned the
meat eaters of the world into ravenous cannibals. The protagonist is also joined
with a female as he scavengers for recourses to stay alive. After a change of
scene it is shown that the two of them are making a fire and are invaded by a dark
clothed bandit. At the end of this scene the audience is left with an enigma as the
protagonist’s companion has disappeared.
This sense of danger and hopelessness portrayed through the films narrative is a
key convention of the post apocalyptic film genre. As seen in “28 Days Later” the
protagonist has to navigate through a desolate location in which there is no one
there to help him much like the first scene in our opening.
Another convention in out plot is that of violence which is showed through the
lonely dead body that has gruesome bullet wound in their head, but also through
the fight sequence in which the antagonist is brutally punched and kicked.

10. CHARACTERS
Overall, there are 4 characters in our opening. All of which are very different from one
another. Luke is the protagonist and is a drug addict turned hero. At first the audience
look down on him through high angles but as time goes his efficient survival sources
respect.
Additionally, the supporting actress is very much an enigma to the audience as they
don’t know anything about her other then that she has being surviving along side our
protagonist. She also takes control of the heavy bag, being a counter type of the
stereotypically weak woman often seen in films.
The last two characters have little screen time in our opening, one is dead. The other
characters nonchalant reaction to this shows that this must be a regular occurrence
and the convention of violence is apart of their daily life. The bandit, is wearing all
black and doesn’t speak much all that the audience knows is that they are willing to
threaten a woman's life for some supplies showing their harsh nature.

11. TITLES
Prior to the creation of my opening sequence, I researched titles of other films.
Concentrating on order, timing and typography. They where usually shown in
simplistic fonts that didn’t take away from what was happening in the background.
Often, they had the production studio at the beginning of the film so we replicated
that and designed our own logo. Both texts are in white against dark backgrounds
providing contrast so the audience is able to read them clearly. At one point my titles
are in sync with the background when they are placed on the stairs, this is similar to
the powerful titles in “Zombieland” where the words are almost apart of the film world.

12. MUSIC AND SOUND EFFECTS
At the beginning of the sequence non-diagetic music is used, the sound used is slow
and dreary which replicate the slow movements of the character onscreen as he
moves through his house.
The Next sounds used are diegetic noise, first there is the phone dialling which
leads on the flatline when nobody can answer the phone. The indented purpose
of this if for the audience to be worried and alarmed as the sound bridge from that
scene to the title of the film. This leaves the audience with an enigma to what is
happening in the world. After that, the diegetic sound of wind and birds to make
the environment seem alive are added. Along with this there is a voice over
accomined by depressing music, a similar effect is used in “The Road”. This is
used to explain to the audience the circumstance of the apocalypse but also the
music is used to make them feel sad and hopeless, reflecting the mood of the
characters which is typical of the genre.
Towards the end of the sequence, a fight scene erupts between the protagonist
and the bandit. No music is used to amplify the harshness and realism of the
fight. although sound effects of the punches are used to emphasise the brutality
of the fight and to show the pain the character will face, even if the audience
will believe it is justified.

13. CONCLUSION
Overall, “Man’s Greed” conveys many conventions of the post
apocalyptic genre, a variety were used in order to create an original
yet themed piece. As a result, I believe that the target audience would
enjoy the opening without it being to similar to other films.
Through planning I researched the key points of that genre which
were included such as violence, hopelessness and a harsh
environment. Key conventions of a film opening were used such as
the creation of narrative enigmas and titles.