Film Introduction Analysis- Scream

Scream

 

Release Date: 1996

Written & Directed : Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven

Stars: Drew Barrymore,  Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette

 

 

Opening Conventions:

 

The first shots are of the production company 'Miramax' and ' Dimension Films'. It then goes on to presentd the title sequence, the film title is stretched across the screen in the colours white, against a black background bold and in capitals making a huge statement with added in red which symbolises blood. There is also the begining noises of faint screams, and phone calls to get the audience ready.

 

Narrative Functions:

 

The opening sequence presents the genre along with the name of the film, the lighting of the opening sequence is quite dark, and the voice on the phone is deep and scary, the character on the phone is kept unknown to build suspense.

 

Characters:

 

Main character is Casey she is introduced in the opening sequence as the character speaking to the unknown person on the phone, shes quite happy and excited in her voice, quite the auidece can immediatly tell that Casey is the main character as the main focus is on her. 

 

Hook audience/enigma/action codes:

 It starts wih a slow pace and gets faster as the story line gets more intreguing grabbing the audiences attention and making susupense. The opening sequence leaves the audience on  the edge of there seats wanting to know who the mystery man on the phone is and question what else will happen. 

Film Lang – MES, cinematography (light & colour):

 

The film in the year it was created would be new and was not many films similar to this, the lighting is quite dark as it sets the genre of horror. Casey (Drew ) is presented in bright colours (yellow) to show her happy normal character, she is also shown quite flir ty on the phone, and naive to start a conversatio with someone who had only called the wrong number. We cans  tell that it is set in america as the accents and language they use.

 

Film language- Movement- Framing-Editing- Sound:

There is alot of on and off screen sounds as casey is talking you see the boyfriend struggling, although the unknown person on the phone is off screen sound. There is mainly digetic sound throughout the opening scene, however there is added horror music towards the end of the sequence.

During the opening sequence there is a close ups of her on the phone until it gets more intense to show her body language as the sequence goes on .