Diary of a Lonely Man - Post Apocalyptic Short Film - Canon HV40

A 10 minute short film I made for university. It follows a man before and after an event that wipes out the human race. I was inspired to make this by films such as I Am Legend, 28 Days Later, Omega Man and The Quite Earth.

I tried put a few elements of Mise en scène into the film. For example:

1. Lots of shots of trees and bushes covering buildings, I wanted to suggest that nature was about to "re-take" the planet. This is also why the geese are flying from right to left as if they are returning to what was once theirs.

2. The main character often shares shots with bins and rubbish. I did this to suggest that before his turning point he and his life wasn't worth much.

3. The random bee about half way through and his visit to the football stadium is the characters turning point (bee's are often considered to represent life) in which he now excepts his new world and life. The following shots all suggest his acceptance with nature taking back the earth, the fact he only enters the city once again at the very end reinforces this.

4. After he leaves the ally way the traffic lights from then on are all green. This is to suggest that from that point on the character is free to do what he wants (because he's the last man on earth), even if he doesn't realise it yet.

Please comment (keep it constructive) and rate, thanks for watching.

Shot in Birmingham City Centre, Sutton Park and Walsall Football Stadium. It was filmed using a Canon HV40, Canon 43mm Wide Angle Lens, Rode Video Microphone and edited using Final Cut Studio.

Category:

Film & Animation

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[EveryAtomFilms]

Loved it! I have an HV40 too. it really is an amazing camera. Im about to order the WD-H43 wide angle lens for mine

[DirectorBlack]

@EveryAtomFilms Thanks very much! Yeah the HV40 is a great piece of kit so is the wide angle lens, if I could give you one word of warning without sounding patronising - take a look at 2:30 on wards and notice how the traffic light poles seem to bend in the middle, watch out for that when using the wide angle lens. I didn't notice it until someone pointed it out too me lol.

[Skankwire]

Techie question...could I get the same film look from an HV20? Christmas is coming up and the parents are kinda short on cash, but I'm in desperate need of a good HD camera with filmic look.

[DirectorBlack]

@Skankwire Good question, the basic answer is "yes". The HV20 shoots at 25fps which is considered to be a cinematic frame rate, the same as my video above. But the film look is usually achieved with colour grading (and lighting of course), however there should be a option in the camera called "Vivid" or something, that should do a reasonable job of giving the look you looking for. I hope that helps.

[Cyberrob]

Ha great don't know what it is but I love that shot, in pre production of a post apocalyptic zombie short myself hoping to mimic at least 1 shot from that film

[DirectorBlack]

@Cyberrob Thats awesome, I hope you upload it to YouTube when you're done. I don't think you can make a zombie/post apocalyptic film without referencing Dawn of the Dead.

[Dougthegoat]

@DirectorBlack I think it's the law, i;m editing a comedy documatary about zombies and the female lead is called barbara...

[Dougthegoat]

Niceto hear a brummie accent, the black country is often under represented british accent in tv and film,

[Cyberrob]

Eventually it will be up but it has to do the festival circuit first will put up behind the scenes stuff, hoping it will be awesome, only 2 zombies, a cottage in the middle of nowhere and a plane, can't wait to get stuck in

[DirectorBlack]

@Cyberrob Yeah thats right, you're the only person to spot that. Finally, lol.