Media analysis of the opening sequence to scream

1. Analysing an opening
sequence (Scream)
Louis Leipsegar - Mason

2. Genre
• The genre for the film ‘Scream’ is horror and the sub-genre is Slasher.
• This can be identified by they way the female is taunted in her house by an
unknown character speaking on the phone.
• The audiences generic expectations of the film are fulfilled because the
horror and terror begins at the very beginning of the film, reinforcing its
Genre. Further, the idea that a women is being frightened by unknown male
character is also a typical generic convention because it is what a horror film
conveys - male against female.
• Similar films which share the conventions of scream, is other gory types such
as, ‘The Strangers’ and ‘Halloween’. The use of the knife as the main weapon
to kill all victims of the antagonists is very conventional for the sub-genre of
slasher.

3. Film Language – Camerawork
• Long shot – In this scene a long shot of the house is shown; this is
shown in the middle of the scene and is used to expose the isolation
of the house. Further it shows a swing which is moving slightly to
create the sense of presence of something or someone.
• POV shot – The POV shot is used towards the end of the scene when
the doorbell has just rung. The female character is backing away from
the door and is very frightened that something may enter. The shot is
used to create a sense of jeopardy of the character.

4. Editing
• Continuity editing – This technique is used in the sequence when the
female character believes there is someone outside her house, she
runs to all the doors to swiftly lock them. The editing technique
builds tension and creates suspense as the audience wonders
weather the voice on the phone will get in the house, or is already in.
• Establishing shot – An establishing shot is used to show where action
will be taking place; this happens when the women puts down the
phone and shot switches to another shot of the house to show where
it’s located and its surrounding; the audience can identify through
this shot that the house is not surrounded by much and so the
women is alone.

5. Mise-en-scene
• Lighting – In this opening scene, lighting is used effectively when the
female character switches on the lights out the back, so that she can
scan the landscape and make sure that there is nothing there; even
though she finds nothing there, the use of light makes the audience
believe there is something still there, but not quite visible.
• Character blocking – The position in which the female character is
placed is very important because everywhere she walks around the
house is where the male voice wants her to be. For example, after
the doorbell rings she backs away from the door; the antagonist
wants her to do this so that she is positioned near the back door, so
he can continue to taunt her, in this case he asks her to turn on the
lights, again.

6. Sound
• diegetic sound of phone ringing – This happens throughout the
scene as the female character continuously puts down the phone but
the male character persistently calls back in demand for her not to
keep hanging up. The constant ring of the phone will cause the
audience to question why the male character keeps ringing and what
he so desperately wants from her.
• Non-diegetic piano sound– This occurs when the two characters are
talking gently on the phone and then suddenly the male characters
says “know who I’m looking at”. The piano sound illustrates the
sudden realization that there’s something more than just a phone call
and that she could be under threat which connotes vulnerability. The
story begins to take a further step and starts to show the jeopardy
she is actually in.

7. Titles
• The opening scene illustrates one title and it reads the film title
‘Scream’. It is in block capitals and the colour red.
• The colour red connotes a gory type of atmosphere to the film,
conveying blood. Further, the block capitals are clear so the audience
can identify the film.
• This type of font reinforces generic expectations of horror movies, red
implying blood, and the black background and dark atmosphere
conveying horror.

8. Narrative
• Plot outline – A women is taunted in her house, in an isolated
location; there is a build-up of tension and suspense through
the constant ringing of the phone – also through the calm voice
of the male character on the other end of the phone. As the
plot unfolds and the women continues to put down the phone,
the male character begins to become more persistent and takes
control of the situation – continuously terrifying and panicking
the female character.
• The main theme to identify is the taunting of one character to
another. The voice begins to build-up conversation with the
female but then frightens her when he slyly says “want to know
who I am looking at”.
• Enigma codes – There are two distinct enigma codes in this
sequence; one is the question of who is on the phone and is
insistent on holding conversation with the female character; the
other is the ringing of the doorbell. These two codes are both
linked because even though the audience doesn’t know who it
is, they can identify that it is the same person for each fright.

9. Representation and Ideology
• Social group – The young social group is represented
negatively here as it reinforces the stereotype that young
females like to engage in conversation, in a flirty manner, to
the male group; in this case the female character lies about
not having a boyfriend so that she can become closer with the
male she is speaking to, little does she know he is not
interested and is only doing it to further startle her later on.
• There is a regressive ideological discourse backing the
stereotype of man being more dominant than women in this
sequence; the male has more control of their situation, and
seems to have it planned out, leading the girl around the
house to end up at the back door where he starts to unravel
where he is and what he is doing.

10. Media audiences
• Target audience – 16 to 40 years of age, this is because of the age of
the female character, and because of the male character sounding
like he is of an older age.
• Audience readings – from the opening sequence, the audience will
realise that the main plot of the film is for an unknown character is to
play around with his victims before pursuing further and taking
action.
• My beliefs – Because of my age and gender, being 17 and male, I
believe that the text is very unusual because the character
committing the crime, in a way lets the other character know what's
going to happen before it does, but knowing there is nothing they
can do about it; which is different to the way most other horror
movies are set.

11. Institutional Context
• Production company by Woods Entertainment
• Distributed by Dimension films
• Directed by Wes Craven
• Produced by Cathy Konrad and Cary Woods
• Industrial film, budget of $15 million, going on to earn $173 million worldwide.
• Some wanted to film in Vancouver as it was estimated that they could save $1
million in costs compared to shooting in the United States. Craven was adamant
about filming in the United States, and making a film that looked "truly
American".
• The film genre was considered unsuitable for the bigger names as the film had
lower budgets and often attained negative critical response.
• However, Drew Barrymore read the script and was interested in being involved.
She approached the production team herself to request a role.
• This further encouraged other known actors and actresses to join the casting
team, such as; Courtney Cox; Neve Campbell and Mathew lillard.
• To produce the effects for the film, the producers recruited KNB Effects team
Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman, and Gregory Nicotero. There first task was to
produce a mask; But the ‘Ghostface’ mask was found by Caven when looking for
the right location, so he asked the production team to base their design on that
particular mask.