Sebastian Modes Film Exploration Film Studies Film GCSE: I Am Legend Section 2

I Am Legend

Film GCSE: 1 Am Legend Section I

I Am Legend is a 2007 science fiction film directed by Francis Lawrence. Here isa short synopsis of the film.

It is the year 2012. In the ruins of New York City. Robert Neville (Will Smith) isa military scientist unable to prevent the cause of an incurable man-made virus.Immune, Neville and his trusted dog, Samantha are now the last survivors in whatis left of New York City and perhaps the world. For three years, Neville hasfaithfully sent out daily radio messages in his desperate attempt to find any othersurvivors who might be out there. But he is not alone. Mutant victims of theplague - The Infected - lurk in the shadows... watching Neville's every move...waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Neville is perhaps mankind's last, besthope, and he is driven by only one remaining mission, to find a way to reverse theeffects of the virus using his own immune blood. But he knows he is outnumberedand quickly running out of time.

One of the reasons that I pursued this film more than any other mainly revolvesaround the fact that Will Smith is my favourite actor; I believe that in any givensituation he can perform at a standard of uppermost excellence. One of the otherattributes of the film that captured my interest was the plot. I believe that this is athrilling plot because of the sense of realism, that it is possible for this disaster totake place. It is frighteningly exhilarating knowing that as technology skyrocketsthe possibility of this event will increase by a significant amount. Because of thisreason I found the storyline gripping and exiting.

The sequence of the film that i believe to be most powerful and effective is thefirst scene based on the fact that it is instantaneously interesting and from the startthe viewer feels an apocalyptic Aura. A sense of devastation and disaster.

I Am Legend originated from a 1954 science fiction/horror novel by Americanwriter Richard Matheson. It was influential in the development of the zombiegenre and in popularising the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease.The novel was a success and was adapted to film as The Last Man on Earth in1964, as The Omega Man in 1971, and now as we know it I Am Legend in 2007.The screen play for I Am Legend was implemented by Akiva Goldsman and MarkProtosevich.

The director Francis Lawrence was born in Vienna, Austria on March 26 1970,Before Lawrence went into the world of directing he was a co-director specializing in music videos serving under one Mike Rosen. Lawrenceshot his first music for Michael Blakey President of Atco Records with the bandTidal Force which became a great success. Soon, Lawrence became known for hisoriginal and imaginative music video scripts and visual directing style. Heeventually joined a major new production company and his successful career asmusic video director, having worked with stars like Britney Spears, Black EyedPeas, Jay-Z, Aerosmith, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Destiny's Child. In 2005,his feature film debut was Constantine based on the Hell blazer comic book,starring Keanu Reeves.In 2007, he then went onto directing I Am Legend (based on the RichardMatheson novel), starring Will Smith.Francis Lawrence has been the director of two films in his directing campaignhowever Constantine in 2005 was not of big renown.He also has two films to come, Water for Elephants is being filmed and The Citythat Sailed is in Pre-Production.

There are 4 main characters within I Am Legend; these four characters consistedof;The main actor Will Smith (1968) taking on the role of Robert Neville.Sali Richardson (1967)Alice Braga( 1983)and Willow Smith, Will Smiths daughter (2000)

I Am Legend was made by 4 studios, Village Road Show Picture, Weed RoadPictures, Overbrook Entertainment and Heyday Films. All of these studios havebeen noticed in today's latest motion pictures; however, Heyday Films is mostnoticeable for producing the well known Harry Potter series. The other studio that

caught my eye is Overbrook Entertainment because the production company wascreated by Will Smith between 1997 and 1999 around the time when Will Smithfeatured in Wild West. Since then it has served as Will Smiths main productioncompany releasing films such as 1 Robot, Hitch, Pursuit of Happiness, I AmLegend and Hancock. The Title of this company, "Overbrook" is derived fromWill Smith's high school in West Philadelphia, Overbrook High School.

Budget: 150,000,000Akiva Goldsman decided to move the story from Los Angeles to New York Cityto take advantage of locations that would more easily show emptiness. Goldsmanexplained, "L.A. looks empty at three o'clock in the afternoon, however New Yorkis never empty . . . This makes it a much more interesting way of showing thewindswept emptiness of the world." However, the Warner Bros rejected thisrequest because of the logistics. Francis Lawrence was determined to shoot onlocation to give the film a natural feel that would benefit from not shooting onsound stages. Lawrence persevered and at last gained this advantage.Filming began on September 23, 2006.The scenes that 1 was most intrigued in were the flashback scenes in which theNew York civilians evacuated. This scene contained the view of the famousBrooklyn Bridge. This scene took six consecutive nights in January and consumed$5 million of the film's reported $150 million budget, which was likely the mostexpensive shot in the city to date. The scene, which had to meet requirementsfrom fourteen government agencies, involved 250 crew members and 1,000extras, including 160 National Guard members.

Film Studies: 1 Am Legend Section 3

DistributionI am legend has been given many promotional qualities which present itself to thepublic, one of the main publicity and promotional attractions is because of the roleof Robert Neville played as Will Smith. Fans of one Mr. Smith may be enticed bywatching Will Smith in a new film, because of his earlier succession. This createsallot of enthusiasm of the films release. Also Will Smith is lately renown forstarring in films of heroism that show him as saving the world, this could attractallot of attention because people know of he's quality. Will Smith gaining this roleis also expanded through the media with things such as interviews trailers andposters. 1 am legend also gained much hype for it had been adapted from the novelby Richard Matheson, a 1954 horror fiction which was then adapted to films, thelast man on earth and then the omega man. This attracts even more viewers fromthe old book or film fans. There are also the fan pages that increase the buzz aboutthe film. I am legend was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros alsodistributed the original Omega Man which follows as one of the three i am legendfilms.A tie-in comic from DC Comics and Vertigo Comics has been created, I AmLegend: Awakening. The project draws upon collaboration from Bill Sienkiewicz,screenwriter Mark Protosevich, and author Orson Scott Card. The son of theoriginal book's author, Richard Christian Matheson, also collaborated on the

project. The project will advance from the comic to an online format in whichanimated futurities (created by the team from Broken Saints) will be shown on theofficial website.In October 2007, Warner Bros. Pictures in conjunction with the Electric SheepCompany launched the online multiplayer game I Am Legend: Survival in thevirtual world Second Life. The game is the largest launched in the virtual world insupport of a film release, permitting people to play against each other as theinfected or the uninfected across a replicated 60 acres (240,000 m ) of New YorkCity. The studio also hired the ad agency Crew Creative to develop a website thatwould be specifically viewable on the iPhone.

MerchandiseThe certificate of I am Legend is a 15 so it is not suitable for advertisement inMcDonald's, reason being McDonald's is a child friendly environment.Merchandise vary from I am legend t shirts and jumpers to action figures and i amlegend golf balls. The action figures of Sam and Robert are exclusively producedby Hasbro. All of this merchandise promotes the film.

Premieres and ReleaseAt the premiere of the anticipated I am legend all stars were accounted forincluding Tom Cruise and jade smith accompanying. The premiere in London wason the 19th December 2007 with the US having their premiere on the 11th ofDecember 2007.

Film Studies: 1 Am Legend Section 4

On the 14th December 2007 A. 0. Scottposted a review of I am Legendon the New York Times website. He gave apositive view towards the film stating howWill Smith is the best of the three actors toembrace the life of the last man on Earth, thelikes of Vincent Price and Charlton Heston; hecalled the overall performance of the film"There is

graceful and effortless about this performance, which not only shows what itmight feel like to be the last man on earth, but also demonstrates what it is to bea movie star?" However Scot also quoted that as the film progressed it lost itsunique essence."Once they begin swarming, "I Am Legend" inevitably loses someof its haunting originality, since they look a lot like the monsters in "28 DaysLater" (and its sequel, "28 Weeks Later"). They also represent a less compellingapplication of computer-generated imagery than all those empty avenues andsilent buildings."

David Dylan Thomas also posted a review on Iam Legend, on the website, FilmCritic.comgave the film a reasonable 6 star rating. HeThomas explained in his post how he thoughtthat "I Am Legend maintain the power toawe. The production design by David Lazanand Naomi Shohan is nothing short ofamazing", I agree with his review, except

that later on in his review he criticised how as the plot develops queries are

shown of faith and humanity, however as the final moments draw closer the

information given back is rushed ultimately creating an anti-climax, he said that

the result of these signs are underwhelming.I disagree with this opinion, for the

plot is made intense and overall entertaining because it plays its genre well, the

ending creates tension because the inevitable overrun by zombies was not

foreseen, this complements the thrilling enticing events that create the codes

and conventions of a horror genre. It is unstable and unthinkable.

The film had a budget of $150,000,000, grossing$77,211,321 on its opening

weekend in 3,606 theatres, averaging $21,412 per venue, and placing it at the

top of the box office. This set a record for highest grossing opening for a film for

the month of December. The film grossed $256,393,010 in North America and

$585,349,010 worldwide. The film was the sixth highest grossing film of 2007 in

North America, and as of April 2010 stands among the top 100 all-time highest

grossing films both domestically and worldwide.

The film was released on DVD on March 18, 2008 in two editions: a one-disc

release, including the movie with four animated comics ("Death As a Gift,"

"Isolation," "Sacrificing the Few for the Many," and "Shelter"), and other

features; and a two-disc special edition that includes all these extras, an

alternative theatrical version of the movie with an alternate ending, and a digital

copy of the film. Blu- Ray disc was released on 8th April 2008, and on December

9th 2008 a three-disk Ultimate Collector's Edition was also released. The film has

sold 7.04 million DVDs and earned $126.2 million in revenue, making it the sixth

best-selling DVD of 2008. However, Warner Bros was reportedly "a little

disappointed" with the film's performance on the DVD market.