Analysis of scream opening (Miss Hartt)

Scream

 

 

 

The opening scene of Scream, starts off with Casey in the kitchen making popcorn. Casey is represented as easy and very vulnerable character seeing as she is quickly lead into the trap and starts having a conversation with the stranger on the phone. She is wearing white clothing which reflects on her as being the weaker character, being the victim. In first part of the scene when Casey is on the phone to the stranger it engages the audience straight away because it makes them want to watch the film all the way through to find out who it is that's calling her.

The setting of the opening scene in Scream has significance to the conventions of a thriller film because the whole call and the stabbing was set in a big house that seemed like it was in a very isolated location, this is conventional because isolation is used a lot in thriller movies seeing as no one else is around so if your in danger no one would be able to hear you. When the audience see the big house, they are manipulated into thinking its a lovely big house and no danger could happen there, they didn't think that all that fighting and stabbing would happen in such a big posh looking house like that. However, when they saw the location was isolated they knew that something was going to go wrong.

The lighting used in this scene varies at different points of the scene. When Casey is in her house at the beginning of the opening scene and she's making pop corn, she is very happy and everything is looking very calm and nice. At this point the lighting is bright and everything's looking good. As the scene goes on and things start getting more dangerous, and intense, the lighting starts getting darker and dimmer and by time the scene is coming to an end when she is running away from the man in the mask and she gets stabbed, the scene takes place outside where it is very dark and the lighting is then low key lighting. This is conventional to a thriller because low ley lighting helps keep the audience in suspense and keeps everything tense and scary.

This clip from scream shows the stereotypical victim because it just shows that a girl just wanted to sit down and have a nice movie night in, but she clearly got stalked and when she received that phone call she was very vulnerable and went along with the call thinking it was just a joke but when it got serious and she died it just shows how naïve girls are.






Individual narrative (Miss Georgiou)

Individual Narrative

Storyline
My stroyline is about a girl called Aisha that has two bestfriends called Angeline and Louise. They do everything together and they are such a close group of friends. Aisha starts recieving strange text messages from a random number and she keeps it quiet for a while. Soon she decides that she would tell her friend Louise about this stalker. Her friend Louise thinks that Aisha (the girl that gets stalked) is joking and lying about the stalker and doesnt believe her what so ever seeing as Aisha is a top joker and jokes about everything! Soon after Aisha goes missing one day and theres a note on Louises bed saying "Call Aishas phone or she dies"
Louise then tells her friend Angeline, the clever one out of the three about what happend, but she gets angry because they dident tell her in the first place!


Characters
The characters in my story are 3 best friends called Angeline Aisha and Louise.
Angeline is the clever one out of the three, she has an answer for everything and she can easily get out of traps and never gets into trouble because she is so clever.
Aisha is the top joker in the group, she jokes about everything and never takes anything seriously. She has no limits to her jokes no matter how extream they are she jokes about it.
Then there is Louise thats blonde and thinks everythings a joke and laughs about everything aswell. Shes always worried about her looks and makeup.


Setting
In our thriller movie we will use a number of different settings and locations throughout depending on what is going on in that particular scene. The first scene will be set at night on a roadside in public, with just a girl walking home on her wayback from a club. In this opening scene i will try to use codes and convetions of a thriller film and the key feature we will use is low key lighting. We will also use background music to suit whats going on at that moment. So when the girl starts getting chased the music will turn into fast pace music etc. Other settings we will use in our thriller opening is one of the girls bedrooms, a club, a carpark and a forest.


Target Audience
This film will be rated a 15 because it will have sceness of a sexual nature and maybe some use of drugs and voilence.


Codes and ConventionsThe codes and conventions me and my group will be using in our thriller opening are...
Low key lighting- This is conventional to a thriller film opening because it will make the scene darker and that creates more of a spooky and thriller like atmosphere
Shock/Surprise/Suspence/Tention- This is conventional to a thriller opening because the audience will be waiting for something to happen that would keep them in suspence and tention and that will give them a shock and surprise.
Stalking - This is conventional to a thriller because it creates enigma for the audience seeing as the stalkers identity will be kept hidden throughout.
Chase - This is conventional to a thriller because it makes the scene look more chaotic and hectic which keeps the audience on edge.

BBFC / Age Certificates (Miss Hartt)

BBFC

The BBFC stands for the British Boards of Film Classification and it is used to restrict certain age groups from viewing different kinds of thriller films due to how inappropriate it is. Regulation is so important because for example if a 12 year old child was watching a movie rated 15 that has alot of fighting and voilence in it, the 12 year old can easily get influenced in to thinking that fighting is good and may try to harm people of his age the same way someone evil trys to harm someone good in a film  that is rated 15. So it has some bad affetcs on people that dont fit the age group. Classifying films can be difficult because sometimes its hard to tell weather a film is unsuitable for a certain age group. For example looking at the film spiderman, its hard to classify that film because firstly it has alot of voilence in it so people may think it should be rated a 15, but at the same time its like a fantacy film because its very unrealistic that a mans flying from builings to buildings on a web so others  may believe that it should be rated a 12. 12A was recently introduced so no one younger than the age of 12 can see a 12A film in the cinema unless they are accompanied by an adult. An adult can take a younger child to the cinema to see a 12A film if in  their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child.

 

 Age Certificates

 

The U rating stands for Universal which allows a child that is four years and above to watch the film. The BBFC says that the film should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalance to any violence, threat or horror.
An example of a movie rated a 'U' would be a film like Happy Feet.

The PG rating stands for Parental guidence. A PG film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older, but the BBFC states that  parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.
An example of a movie rated a 'PG' would be a film like Shrek.

The 12 rating exists only for people 12 years and over. This rating is partly linked in with the 12A rating aswell because they mean similar things, except 12A is when someone aged 12 has to be accompanied by an adult.
An example of a movie rated a '12' would be a film like Grown ups.

 The 15 rating is strictly not suitable for anyone younger then the age of 15. The BBFC states that these films contain dangerous behaviour, strong threats, drug taking, nudity, scenes of a sexual nature etc.
An example of a film rated a '15' would be a film like Paranormal activity.

The 18 rating strictly says that no-one younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema and no-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated film.
An example of a film rated an '18' would be a film like Se7en.

 

To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of no less than the age of 18 years old.

 



No country for old men analysis (Miss Hartt)

No country for old men

Setting
The film was set in Texas in a desert that looked very isolated and dodgy. This is conventional to a thriller because its an isolated location which tells the audience straight away that something going to happen there. One of the camera shots used is the remote establishing shots, which reinforces the idea of how empty and endless the location is, this makes the audience feel isolated and very alone.
The setting of this scene suggests that there is a large area to escape to so it means that anyone could easily get lost there, which emphasises the fact that its very dodgy. The place where this film is set foreshadows the title seeing as a desert is where only the strongest creatures survive which could relate to the film title 'No country for old men'


Characters/Costumes
In this film the killer is wearing a black outfit, and this is conventional to a thriller because the colour black connotes mystery and death which tells us that there will be many deaths in this film.  The colour black can also symbolise a hidden identity, this is conventional to a thriller because hidden identity helps prevent the audience from building up a relationship with the bad person in the thriller film. Also if an identity is hidden then it also helps build up suspense and tension for the audience because they don't know who that man is. Another thing the colour black and symbolise is his violent and aggressive personality because he's always dressed in dull colours. This helps bring the whole atmosphere down.


Editing
After the killer has killed his first victim the camera follows his footprints, this is a very good editing technique to use because the killers identity is still hidden and it just builds up suspense and tension for the audience just being able to see his foot prints. Also the use of diegetic sound is very effective seeing as it is used to create loud footsteps. The zooming into the foot prints could also be used to aware the audience of danger and foreshadow how he's moving onto his next murder. The loud footsteps used here builds suspense and creates tension as its done in slow motion.

Psycho shower scene (Miss Hartt)

Psycho hitchock

 

How is editing used to enhance the codes conventions of a thriller in this scene?

The setting of this scene is in a bathroom. This is an unusual place to film a scene of a thriller movie but it was very effective. At first when the woman is going in to the bathroom about to have a shower, even though there is low key lighting the audience get manipulated in to thinking that nothing much is really going to happen in this scene because its a bathroom and no one really suspects things to happen in a bathroom. However when the stalker comes in and you can see his shadow thats when the audience know something dramatic is about to happen. So while the person is trying to stab her the audience at this point are very intrigued in whats going on due to the build up of the scene.

In this scene, many editing techniques are used to enhance the codes and convetions of a thriller.
The key convention used is low key lighting. Low key lighting is used the whole way through this scene because it helps the express the mood and atmosphere in the scene which is scary but also keeps the audience wondering what's going to happen next. When the killer pulls the curtain aside and the camera is on him/her, that is when low key lighting is used the most because you can only see a shadow so the identity is hidden which is another main convention of a thriller. Hidden identity is used in this scene to keep the audience in suspense until they find out who the killer. This is conventional to a thriller because it helps make the scene look more dramatic and keeps the audience excited to find out what's going to happen next.

The major iconography used in this scene is a knife. This is conventional to a thriller because even though it  is a small object it could kill someone, and in most thriller films knifes are used more then guns and other weapons because it does more harm and it seems more dangerous.

In this scene, there are also a lot of camera affects used, e.g. close ups. This helps enhance the codes and conventions of a thriller because it emphasizes on something in particular and in this seen it was emphasizing on the woman's facial expressions when she was getting stabbed and this showed the audience how she was really feeling so it has more of an impact on the audience. In this scene, at one point the camera is edited to show an extreme close up of her hand after she has been stabbed, you see her fingers curled into a fist against the wall which helps show the audience all the pain she was feeling.

Another editing effect used in this scene is the hand held camera. This is used when the woman is in the shower and the killer is trying to stab her. This is effective because it makes the audience feel as if they are the woman and it focuses on how she is seeing the man so it gives the audience the full effect of what's going on from her point of view.





 

Questionnaire (Miss Hartt)

 

Questionnaire

1. What is your favourite movie genre?

2. Do you watch thriller films on a regular basis?

3. What is your favourite thriller movie and why?

4. What do you look for in a thriller movie opening?

5. Where do you think is the best location to film a thriller movie opening?

6. What do you thing is the best iconography (weapon) to use in a thriller?

7. What do you find effective about thrillers?

8. If you enjoy thrillers, why?

9. What sort of story line keeps you hooked into a thriller film?

10. Have you ever turned a thriller film off before it finished? Is so why?

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Result 1

1. What is your favourite movie genre?
Thriller

2. Do you watch thriller films on a regular basis?
 Yes

3. What is your favourite thriller movie and why?
Paranormal Activity :
because it keeps the me in
suspense and throughout the movie it gives
 us a bit of a shock and surprise when we least expect it

4. What do you look for in a thriller movie opening?
To give me a a thrill and keep me on edge

5. Where do you think is the best location to film a thriller movie opening?
In a forest

6. What do you think is the best iconography (weapon) to use in a thriller?
Knife

7. What do you find effective about thrillers?
The way it scares you

8. If you enjoy thrillers, why?
Because it keeps me hooked in

9. What sort of story line keeps you hooked into a thriller film?
Things to do with possessing people

10. Have you ever turned a thriller film off before it finished? Is so why?
Couldn't watch it by myself

 

 

 

 

Result 2

1. What is your favourite movie genre?
Comedy

2. Do you watch thriller films on a regular basis?
No

3. What is your favourite thriller movie and why?
Saw:
Because its gory and has a lot of blood

4. What do you look for in a thriller movie opening?
Music and action

5. Where do you think is the best location to film a thriller movie opening?
Underground tube station

6. What do you thing is the best iconography (weapon) to use in a thriller?
A gun

7. What do you find effective about thrillers?
The achievement of
fear and the likeness to reality

8. If you enjoy thrillers, why?
Although they may be scary
end of the day they are not often based on true stories

9. What sort of story line keeps you hooked into a thriller film?
Not one in particular

10. Have you ever turned a thriller film off before it finished? Is so why?
Yes because it wasn't scary it was boring.

 

 

 

 

Result 3

1. What is your favourite movie genre?
Romantic Comedy

2. Do you watch thriller films on a regular basis?
No, they are too scary

3. What is your favourite thriller movie and why?
Scream:
because its not too scary

4. What do you look for in a thriller movie opening?
A good introduction
which shows what to expect

5. Where do you think is the best location to film a thriller movie opening?
Anywhere that's abandoned

6. What do you thing is the best iconography (weapon) to use in a thriller?
An axe

7. What do you find effective about thrillers?
How they genuinely
make people so scared when
half the things they show aren't even real

8. If you enjoy thrillers, why?
They give you
an adrenalin rush

9. What sort of story line keeps you hooked into a thriller film?
Ghost and spirit related films

10. Have you ever turned a thriller film off before it finished? Is so why?
No

 

 

 

 

Result 4

1. What is your favourite movie genre?
Action

2. Do you watch thriller films on a regular basis?
 Yes

3. What is your favourite thriller movie and why?

Dark night rises:
because there are multiple scenes
that convoy into one really awesome one in t
he end & the acting from Heath Ledger is monumental.

4. What do you look for in a thriller movie opening?
To get

straight into the film.

5. Where do you think is the best location to film a thriller movie opening?
In a dark alley

6. What do you thing is the best iconography (weapon) to use in a thriller?
Knife

7. What do you find effective about thrillers?
If its a good film,
I like how quickly the plot
can change leaving the audience thrilled.
 

8. If you enjoy thrillers, why?
They are interesting as
they are enjoyable because of the
plot which usually follows a good storyline.
 

9. What sort of story line keeps you hooked into a thriller film?
 One that changes frequently
 

10. Have you ever turned a thriller film off before it finished? Is so why?
Yes,
because the acting was
not very good & the film was too predictable.

Conventions of Thrillers (Miss Hartt)

Conventions of a thriller

 
Low key lighting - Low-key lighting is the technical opposite of the high-key arrangement, because in low-key the fill light is at a very low level, causing the frame to be cast with large shadows. This causes stark contrasts between the darker and lighter parts of the framed image, and for much of the subject of the shot to be hidden behind in the shadows. A good example of this is the opening scene to Saw 1, before the lights have been turned on, the scene is very dark and in the Mise-En-Scene Low-Key lighting is used.

 

This is a prime example of low key lighting used in the film Paranormal Activity

 



Iconography - This relates to Mise-En-Scene as it covers images and objects used to portray the codes and conventions of a film genre. In Kill Bill, the fight scene including Vernita Green, a lot of different weapons are used from fire pokers to knives and these props help the film convey the genre it is suited to.

This is a prime example of some iconography used in thrillers

 

Hidden identity - This is always brought into play by a villain in a Thriller film, as they always lead to doing bad things, the hidden identity allows them to get away with some bad actions they take. The Scream film series is the best example of this as the killer always wears the grim reaper mask to hide his true identity, therefor killing all the people without getting found out.

This is a prime example of hidden identities used in thrillers

Killers and victims - People do die in most thrillers and this links well with tension. It affects the story line which therefore creates suspense. Scream, Saw and Kill Bill have deaths contently with both killers and victims.

This is a prime example of killers and victims in thrillers.

Victim          Killer

 

Representation of characters - This all relates to the characters facial expressions, costume and emotions. In Scream the killer is dressed in black and he is always taking part in bad deeds, this is how we understand by his representation that he is a socially bad character.


Enigma - This is the mystery intervened within a thriller film. It is mainly there to keep the audience significantly intact with what is going on as it adds excitement. The mask is the Enigma used in Scream and the question of who the killer is always stays in the audiences mind as they watch the film.


Shock/Surprise/Suspense - This is the use of different emotive techniques to help reflect on what is happening in the thriller genre film. In the film Scream this is used very well as these conventions are used in stages to build up Shock/Surprise/Suspense. 


Tension - This is the how the film taunts the audience by mentally straining them. In Kill Bill the way she gets close to defeating her enemies, makes the audience tense, then as she loses in a fight it would cause them to feel tense as an outcome also.