Blog #3: Relationship Between Shots in Mannequin scene of "I Am Legend"

The I Am Legend mannequin scene is especially powerful because of its simplicity and the way that the camera shots are constructed. In the scene, the protagonist, Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, walks into a video store as the last living person on Earth, seeking solace through conversation with a mannequin in the store. In the scene, the camera shots are as follows: 

**Following Neville as he enters the video store

**From the side of Neville's head, showing the mannequin's face as he approaches her. 

**From the back of the mannequin's head, showing the other side of Neville's head.

**Switching back to show Neville in the foreground and mannequin slightly blurred next to him. Camera then focuses on mannequin's face. 

**Switch back to back of mannequin's head, as focus turns to Neville. This is where he says "please say hello to me."

**Lastly, the camera switches back to Neville, first refining focus to the unchanged and cold face of the mannequin, and then blurring the mannequin and focusing on the distraught face of Neville. 

The switching of focus between the mannequin and Neville shows a great juxtaposition between Neville, who is yearning for any form of interaction, and the mannequin, who is obviously unchanged. 

The sounds in the scene also hold great significance.  There are very few sounds in the scene, namely: the chirping of birds, Neville's footsteps, and Neville's voice. The lack of background music allows for the viewer to completely focus on Neville's emotional plea to the mannequin, which makes the scene especially powerful.