What makes up the genre apocalyptic?
Before we dive into what makes up the genre of apocalypse, we need to understand what it means. The apocalyptic genre is a destruction of a world or the civilization's collapse, as described when in a dictionary. The word apocalypse comes from the Greek word of revelation. In media, the apocalyptic genre is most known to be split in two: apocalyptic fiction and post-apocalyptic fiction. Apocalyptic fiction is when the media, whether film or otherwise, occurs during the downfall of all civilization. While, post apocalyptic occurs afterwards of the downfall of society.
What content is needed to make an apocalyptic film?
Worldbuilding is a major part that a director needs to make an apocalyptic film. What happened to make the world the way it is? Was it a pandemic that hit or a nuclear war started? What is stopping the world from rebuilding? While there is no need to get into the nitty gritty about how exactly the world is collapsing, at the very least there needs to be a major conflict.
Example: The film WALL-E shows the Earth as uninhabitable throughout the film.
Loss of humanity and societal struggles are common content in apocalyptic films. A protagonist's ideas of humanity are tested as they fight to survive amongst the struggles of the remaining population or immediate conflict. People start fighting over what is left of rations or they fight over who gets to live. This helps build the world and what it comes to when everyone's life is on the line. All of this builds up tension, which is what the next content needed to make an apocalyptic film.
Tension is needed throughout any apocalyptic film or show. There is always some sort of tension running high, whether from a lack of supplies, hostile survivors or beings. Without tension, the conflict does not resolute with people, some may even make a joke out of the movie. Though some tension in a movie can be made through the conflicts like a stand off between fighting survivors or monsters. Tension is built up throughout the film and is needed to progress the plot.
Loss of humanity and societal struggles are common content in apocalyptic films. A protagonist's ideas of humanity are tested as they fight to survive amongst the struggles of the remaining population or immediate conflict. People start fighting over what is left of rations or they fight over who gets to live. This helps build the world and what it comes to when everyone's life is on the line. All of this builds up tension, which is what the next content needed to make an apocalyptic film.
Tension is needed throughout any apocalyptic film or show. There is always some sort of tension running high, whether from a lack of supplies, hostile survivors or beings. Without tension, the conflict does not resolute with people, some may even make a joke out of the movie. Though some tension in a movie can be made through the conflicts like a stand off between fighting survivors or monsters. Tension is built up throughout the film and is needed to progress the plot.
What aspects in production are used to make an apocalyptic film?
To get that desolate and corrupted look in any movie, filmmakers work alongside the local governments to do so. Blacking off roads or filming real early or late into the night. Sometimes even on weekends when the traffic is low, they film. When filming in smaller places, filmmakers use more abandoned buildings and forests. For the rubble and trash that would be splattered about, CGI comes into play. Sometimes, placed are even filmed with a greenscreen and practical effects.
Example: The production of A Quiet Place 1.
The lighting and color palettes help define the movie. For most apocalyptic movies, a darker, earthier or saturated color palette is used to define the movie. Whether the protagonists are in a forest of earthy tones or in the city of saturated greys and darker colors. It keeps the mood tense and suspecting. The lighting is harsh in most apocalyptic movies, often enhanced from ambient lighting.
Example: The production of A Quiet Place 1.
The lighting and color palettes help define the movie. For most apocalyptic movies, a darker, earthier or saturated color palette is used to define the movie. Whether the protagonists are in a forest of earthy tones or in the city of saturated greys and darker colors. It keeps the mood tense and suspecting. The lighting is harsh in most apocalyptic movies, often enhanced from ambient lighting.
How do they market an apocalyptic movie?
The use of trailers and posters are most commonly used to promote a new movie. With technology, movies are being promoted with trailers in ads and an official website. Sometimes, merchandise is readily available and a press kit is given to media outlets.
Many posters for apocalyptic movies are rough and gritty. Striking contrasts in colors between the characters and the background. If the specific film has to tell it's tone on the poster. Some apocalyptic movies are more action oriented and should show a more serious tone in the poster.
Some Examples of Film Posters:
Cloverfield is a found footage type of movie where a group of friends try to escape from an multitude of monsters terrorizing New York City. It is a fast paced movie where the characters try to navigate the city in panic. A claustrophobic feeling is hidden all in the movie as the city seems to get closed in with the amount of catastrophes that occur to the city. It does not show the monsters as much to give the monster an enigmatic and suspense ridden aura. The movie focuses more on the group of friends' fear, confusion and struggle for survival instead of the fighting back against the monster. This film focuses on the during of a chaotic, kaiju type of problem that could leave the world in ridden. It is in a street level perspective within the destruction.
Mad Max: Fury Road is a better example of a post apocalyptic world. The world of Mad Max is set in this desert land with no supplies. The people of the desert are constantly fighting over oil, food and especially water which is held by the warlord Immortan Joe. The society of Mad Max has long since collapsed into a power struggle for control over recourses. The movie is shown not to see a hero but how people act in their day to day struggle of survival. Mad Max Fury Road explores humanity's behavior after a major collapse of society while clinging to survival.
Many posters for apocalyptic movies are rough and gritty. Striking contrasts in colors between the characters and the background. If the specific film has to tell it's tone on the poster. Some apocalyptic movies are more action oriented and should show a more serious tone in the poster.
Some Examples of Film Posters:
Cloverfield is a found footage type of movie where a group of friends try to escape from an multitude of monsters terrorizing New York City. It is a fast paced movie where the characters try to navigate the city in panic. A claustrophobic feeling is hidden all in the movie as the city seems to get closed in with the amount of catastrophes that occur to the city. It does not show the monsters as much to give the monster an enigmatic and suspense ridden aura. The movie focuses more on the group of friends' fear, confusion and struggle for survival instead of the fighting back against the monster. This film focuses on the during of a chaotic, kaiju type of problem that could leave the world in ridden. It is in a street level perspective within the destruction.
Mad Max: Fury Road is a better example of a post apocalyptic world. The world of Mad Max is set in this desert land with no supplies. The people of the desert are constantly fighting over oil, food and especially water which is held by the warlord Immortan Joe. The society of Mad Max has long since collapsed into a power struggle for control over recourses. The movie is shown not to see a hero but how people act in their day to day struggle of survival. Mad Max Fury Road explores humanity's behavior after a major collapse of society while clinging to survival.
Other Films In the Genre:
(Love And Monsters; 2020)
(28 Days Later; 2002)
(9; 2009)
(World War Z; 2013)
(Akira; 1988)
(28 Days Later; 2002)
(9; 2009)
(World War Z; 2013)
(Akira; 1988)
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