0.06: Voice-over black screen: "My name is Max, my world is fire and blood." This instantly sets the scene for the rest of the film. The viewer will assume this is the main character as the title of the film is Mad Max. It also confirms that the film will most likely contain a fair bit of action and probably violence as suggested by the reference to fire and blood. Then it fades into this shot with the words 'A KENNEDY MILLER MITCHELL PRODUCTION.' Behind the title it has a gritty and almost burnt background. The background can also resemble a rusted background which reflects the film's focus on machinery and vehicles. This is suggested by the film's colour palette, which is mostly dark brown and oranges.
0:14: After the fade from the production title this frame fades in. It again has a simplistic layout with a black background and a mix of harsh looking titles with a blood scratch font displaying what characters the actors are playing in the film. This then refers to the first dialogue about 'fire and blood' as the production title frame had a burnt looking background, referring to the fire, and the blood scratch font in this frame refers to the blood, it is also in the order that he stated, fire then blood.
0:17: "Once I was a cop, a road warrior searching for a righteous course" – this is Max's voice (the main character) again, providing a voice-over. He is speaking in a low monotone giving a sinister feel. It is also visually the same as the first frame; a black screen. The way the film-makers have gone about introducing the film has been carefully thought out, despite its simplicity. It gives the viewer not much to go on visually but in terms of audio is given alot. This then establishes the main charcters voice and an insite on to his character by the tone of his voice and the things he is saying. However the viewer is given no visuals of the character or anything for that matter.
0:28: A view of trees being blown by what looks like the result of some sort of massive explosion is provided in this medium shot. It is in black and white which could be for effect but also because it could also be because it is old footage. There are a number of voices that are speaking slightly before, after, and during this shot. "Mankind has gone rogue"; "Terrorising itself"; "Nuclear experiments", these voice-overs are saying very sinister things and mixed with the first significant visual frame is very effective in engaging the viewer. A post apocalyptic world is indicated.
0:44: "As the world fell, each of us in our own way was broken, it was hard to know who was more crazy... (this dialogue is heard in the darkness before this shot) ...me or everyone else." The way this frame comes in mid-way through the voice-over is an example of excellent editing. It also suggests by when he says 'me, or everyone else' at the start of this frame suggests it is him in the shot. As there have been very little in terms of visuals through the opening so far, this shot with its brightness and contrast, is a very engaging and dramatic opening.
1:00 - 1:14: A downward jib shot reveals a mutated two-headed lizard on a foreground rock, no doubt the result of a nuclear holocaust. Mad Max stamps on the creature even though he can't see it – he's
violent, instinctive and bestial.
1:25: Mad Max eats the mutated lizard. This is food in a very hostile environment, and not a threat. This also shows that he is very animalistic as he killed the lizard very casually without even looking with little effort, and remorse. This is also the first vision of his his face.
1:25 -1:43: The protagonist leaves in a panic for an unknown reason. This excites the viewer as it is very fast-paced and has a string of quick cuts heightening the action. He then hurtles off down the edge of the ridge and disappears in a cloud of dust.
1:51: A four second silence is broken by a shock cut of sound as a gang on various vehicles appear (chasing) after Mad Max. They wildly disappear over the ridge in the direction of Max.
2:09: Through a barren landscape one of the gang's vehicles catches up with Max's, throws a spear-like javelin, and Max crashes in a spectacular fashion, the tumbling smoking vehicle eventually filling the frame.
2:39: In close up, inter-cutting with harrowing flashbacks, Max in voice-over gives us an overview of his predicament and circumstances:
"I am the one who runs from both the living
and the dead... hunted by scavengers, haunted by those I could not protect (we see
a young woman in jeopardy in flashback). So I exist in this wasteland. A man reduced to a
single instinct. Survive." Music then FADE TO BLACK.
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