Art of the Title 9-Frame Analysis 1

Book of Eli Opening Sequence

The Book of Eli is not a conventional horror film but is instead a Post-Apocalyptic film genre. I chose this film because it fits in with the genre that I want to do for the opening sequence of a Zombie-Horror film.

Shot 1: 
After a flash of light to open the scene, the scene slowly focuses on a green-lighted wooded area that adds a suspense to what is about to happen because of the contrasts from a black screen to white light and then the 'green'. Shortly followed is the focus on the ash falling from the trees, and the slow pan and tilt of the camera gives a sense of anticipation.

Shot 2:

This next shot has followed on from the camera panning across the forest floor, again making the audience question what is about to happen. 

Shot 3: 

This shot is the first full focus on something substantial in the opening sequence. It focuses on a discarded gun with the holster empty again adding to the suspense.

Shot 4:

With the camera continuing to pan along the forest floor we see who the gun might have belonged too. The medium shot is accompanied by a small amount of non-diegetic sound growing to create more of an atmosphere on the scene.

Shot 5:

The focus of the camera now switches to a certain animal closing in on the body. Due to the shadows from the trees we (as the audience) get a darker feeling added to the scene. The sound from the film has yet again increased but doesn't involve strings instead is almost like the sound of the wind.

Shot 6: 

The camera has finished panning across the floor and has instead has switched focus to a figure who has his identity hidden behind a gas mask. It therefore is create an enigma. Who called this figure be?

Shot 7: 

This shot includes some match-on-action at which the animal, (a bald cat, again adding intrigue to what this cat is doing here), hears a noise and looks towards the figure but without seeing the arrow.

Shot 8: 

A wide shot is used to be able to fit the whole arrow into the frame, the close up shot is also filmed at an extremely slow speed. It allows us to get a sense of the full strength of the arrow in mid-flight.

Shot 9:

This extreme low-angle shot gives the sense of full power and status of the figure.

Video:

The video below is the whole 2:49 of the opening sequence.