Deconstruction of Mad Max

Deconstruction of film opening: Mad Max: Fury Road


Camera Angles and Movement

In the beginning, long shots and mid range shots are used to establish the scene- A vast wasteland is in view, the camera then pans down slowly, and the focal point is shifted to a two headed lizard- this shows the extent of the radioactive damage done to this character's environment. As the protagonist looks towards the camera, he immediately looks back- the camera angles change rapidly and are close to the protagonists belonging on the ground as he packs them away. The change in angles become frantic and leaves the impression that a chase is about to ensue. The camera pans in quickly to the car and focuses on the door being slammed shut and the engine starting. As the protagonist drives away, the camera is yet again a long range shot, it pans up slowly so the audience can see how large the expanse of land is the character is on. A nine second shot of the wasteland is shown before the pursuers drive into the shot. This purveys the distance set between them, and adds to the tension as we can see a high speed chase is about to commence. Mostly long shots are used throughout, this is key to the genre, as stunts and events such as explosions happen, and the long shots are crucial in capturing all the destruction and the atmosphere. Dolly shots are used in conjunction with the cars and vehicles, so the action is always in shot.


Editing

Post-production editing is apparent in this sequence. Some parts have been digitally slowed down. This has been used in sequences where there is "a lot going on". This effect gives the audience extra time to digest what is being shown to them, and in an action film, could be used to highlight the amount of drama. In contrast, the effect of speeding up clips (although used sparingly) is used. This intensifies the scene and adds a dynamic feel to the sequence, and can be used to add depth and emphasis to movement and character interaction. In the scene, fast motion is used when the pursuers grab Max as he is trying to escape and pull him in.


Mise en scene

In the scene, we see dull, warm colours used. Predominantly orange is used for the terrain; this could be used to symbolise how expansive the land is before the characters and enhance the feel of isolation. The colour is also similar to the colour of rust which could show how the world around them has broken down and cannot be rebuilt. Orange is also a warm, but dry colour- this could be used to display the lack of water and moisture, furthermore demonstrating a lack of life and civilisation. The main characters car is built from spare parts and scrap metal- this adheres with the dystopian theme as new materials would not be readily available. Any props used are worn and mismatched- this gives the effect that any materials have been scavenged and re-used. This is further shown as costumes and objects have clear damage and are made to look distressed. Nothing is brand new.

As automobiles function as one of the main themes within this film, costumes and props involve a lot of mechanical components like tubing and wires.


Conventions of film opening

In the film opening, we see many conventions from both genres be exercised-

Action

•   Destruction- we see cars explode, and a car crash. This resulted in broken windows and smashed metal

•   Chase- the first scene depicts a chase between Max (the main protagonist) and unknown pursuers

•   Violence- once the pursuers catch Max, we see them inflict damage on him and handle him in a negative and destructive way

•   Killings- We see flashbacks Max has depicting the death of a child. This child could be related to Max in some way as he demonstrates emotional pain as he recalls it

•   Sinister Music- upbeat music picks up as the chase happens and also later on in the sequence as he tries to escape

 

Post-apocalyptic fiction:

•   Deadly environment- when the sequence initialises, we see a barren wasteland void of life and water. Also depicting harsh conditions where life would suffer to thrive

•   Presence of death- we see the death of a relative or person close to Max via a flashback, and we see Max eat a lizard- this could highlight the harsh conditions and almost the dog-eat-dog society held within the dystopian theme

•   Fear within characters- when Max sees his pursuers he immediately begins packing items away and the fast change in camera angles highlights his anxiety and his sense of urgency

•   Fast and slow editing- this editing style is used throughout. When Max's car is wrecked and the pursuers grab onto him, the footage is slowed down heavily, therefore making all the action easy for the audience to take in and witness. Near the end of the scene, the footage is sped up to intensify the actions of the pursuers.

 

Conventions of the Genre:

Mad Max: Fury Road is within a action genre, however, the film also plays towards the sub-genre of post-apocalyptic fiction.

•   The action genre has main conventions of destruction. There are also generally scenes of violence including weapons such as knives and guns which can result in killings and murders. Similarly, this genre also would contain chase scenes, which would follow the main rule of a "cat and mouse" chase. Within violence, fights and also destruction to the environment like broken windows and explosions are common. The action genre can also have underlying effects on the audience's emotions, as most action films would see the death of a character close to the protagonist. Music in action films is usually sinister and upbeat- used to contribute to the tension raised. For characters, there is also a clear divide between good and evil.

•   The post-apocalyptic fiction genre has multiple conventions. One of the main themes within the genre is that the environment is deadly and that there is a strong presence of death. This is overarched by a sense of constant fear within the characters- equally, this could provoke feelings of uncertainty within the audience as they would not know the rules and culture of the environment they are viewing, as it is a depiction of what the world could end up like in the distant future. within the genre, the environment around the characters would have a theme and underlying feel of desolation, which makes the audience feel helpless. The genre also utilises fast and slow editing styles.

 

Lighting and Sound:

The lighting in the opening scene is natural, however, extra overhead lighting is used to recreate harsh and severe lighting- this would naturally occur as the sequence is set in a wasteland that is exposed to sun and little to no shade is available. The harsh lighting brightly lights the area and any imperfections on the character is made obvious; this is used to highlight characters features and make them appear more aged and "rugged". This promotes realism as long time exposure to that kind of environment would age skin more. This lighting effect helps the audience sympathise with the characters, as they could see what they have to endure and how the conditions have broken the characters down over time.