This is an analysis of nine frames from the opening sequence of the film Edward Scissorhands.

1. NineFrameAnalysis
Edward Scissorhands

2. I am going to be analysing 9 frames in the opening of the film Edward Scissorhands. I will
be looking into detail in each frame describing what is involved and how it is effective. I
will be looking at things such as Mise-en-Scene, camera work, props and how they have an
impact on the kind of genre that is being portrayed.

3. FrameOne
The opening credits of the company who made the film is in frame one, this informs the audience who is
responsible for the making of the film. As it is at the beginning of the film it shows that it is the most important
title sequence as they want the audience to know what the film belongs to. In this frame it is snowing and there
are very cold colours (different shades of blue), this sets a scene of mystery and suspense. The shot of this frame is
a side view, it is viewed from the right side. The angle of this shot is a low angle, this gives the impression that the
company are more dominant than anything else.

4. FrameTwo
Frame two focuses on the title of the film, which is Edward Scissorhands. The background of this frame is plain
black accompanied by the text ‘EDWARD SCISSORHANDS’; this simple title page is effective as gives the audience
the opportunity to focus on the name of the film as there is nothing else to look at. The font of the title looks
sharp, for example the ‘S’ and the ‘O’ aren’t just rounded as they usually are, the seem to have sharp edges, this
emphasises on the work ‘scissor’.

5. FrameThree
In frame three it focuses on the name Johnny Depp, which is overshadowed by what seems to be a statue of a
creature, a powerful one. The reason for this is because it takes up most of the shot, it is a mid shot of the statue
which portrays the detail of it. The background of this shot is very dull, it is just different shades of colours, this
makes the statue stand out even more; as it is just the statue in this shot along with the name Johnny Depp, it
helps us to understand that Johnny Depp is a main character. The lighting on this shot only focuses on the statue
which makes the audience think that the film is going to focus on Johnny Depp. The white font makes the name
stand out even more as it is against a dark background.

6. FrameFour
Frame four has more detail than the other shots, it has more shades of colour but it still fits in with the theme of
dark blues. In this frame there is a close up of a pair of scissors, this emphasises the moral of the film. From this
frame we can see that it isn’t a modern type of film, the reason for this is because the scissors in this shot seem
very old fashioned, they aren’t up to date scissors. This gives the audience an understanding of the time era of this
film. The background of this shot isn’t very clear as to what it is, this gives out a sign on mystery. The name Robert
Oliveri is also in this shot, from this you can tell that there is some kind of importance to this name, this is because
his name shows up second, meaning that this person is important but not as important as Johnny Depp.

7. FrameFive
‘Vincent Prince as the Inventor’ appears in frame five, accompanying this is what appears to be a close up of some
kind of machine, an old fashioned type of machine. From this frame we can recognise that Vincent is an important
person as the background is black and the text is centered, as well as the object. The text ‘As the Inventor’ could
potentially mean that Vincent Price created this film, this shows another sign that it isn’t a modern film, as it
usually says ‘produced by’ or ‘created by’. The word ‘inventor’ always emphasises on the prop in the background,
this is because this prop looks like some kind of invention; as the machine is unknown it engages the audience into
watching the film as it makes them interested into what is actually going to happen. It is more effective because if
the first two minutes gave away a lot then it would make the audience interested into what is going to happen.
The lighting on this shot seems to darker one side than it is the other, the whole background is black but the prop
seems to have more lighting on the right side than it does the right. The word ‘inventor’ is in the lighter section,
this shows importance.

8. FrameSix
In frame six the text ‘Casting by Victoria Thomas’ appears, this is a white font and the same style font as all of the
others, also the same colour scheme, this shows that there is some type of pattern or theme. The props used in
this frame seem very mysterious, it isn’t too clear as to what it actually is, although it seems to be connected to
something else. It could potentially be connected to the prop that was in the previous frame, meaning that that
the whole machine could somehow be connected making a bigger outcome. This could set a guideline of a theme
in the film, the film could include different connections. This is a close up shot which causes the audience to be
more eager into finding out what these close ups are actually of. This name is also of some kind of importance as it
is centred and is just as big as all of the others.

9. FrameSeven
Frame seven is very different in comparison to all of the other frames, it is a black background which is covered in
shapes. They look like the type of biscuits that children would make, this makes the audience think that this film
has something to do with a child or children. This also shows that the film is very unpredictable, the reason for this
is because all of the other shots are of some kind of old fashioned machine and then it suddenly appears with
different types of childish shapes. This shows that the film is not going to be as we expect and there are going to be
things that may not make entire sense, this may engage the audience and make them intrigued into what is going
to happen. This is a bird's eye view as we can see that this shot was taken from above so that we could see the full
shape which gives these a main focus; also because the colour is only on the shapes and the background is plain.
Although it is still fitting in with the colour scheme of dark colors. In this frame it has the text ‘Production Designer
Bo Welch’, as all the others it is positioned in the middle portraying importance and it also has the white text
which helps it to stand out against the black background.

10. FrameEight
In frame eight there is a face of an old man, this is a close up which gives us the opportunity to observe and
identify each detail on his face. This gives a sense of realness, it makes the audience feel as if they’re actually there
and they can see it. The background of this like many of the other shots is plain black giving the chance to spotlight
the male face, this also helps us to understand that the film could be based on a male. This shot looks like it has
been taken from the bottom looking up at the male, this shot is at a low angle and also a slanted angle, as it is low
it shows superior and importance, the male is the main focus and should be looked up too. As it is slanted it
creates an interesting and dramatic effect which then intrigues the audience into what is going to happen in the
film. The colour of the male face is different tones of blue and black which signifies a cycle, it is an ongoing theme
which could hint things about the film, potentially that the film has a cycle or routine involved. The dark and light
areas show the importance as the face is a lighter tone compared to the shoulders and clothing.

11. FrameNine
The last frame is very simple, it is a black background with snow falling. On top of this is the text ‘Directed
by Tim Burton’, as it is on a very plain background it gives the audience only a few things to look at which
means that they will be looking at who directed the film. This frame also sets a cold and dark tone, this
alerts the audience that the film they’re about to watch isn’t full of happiness. The darkness connotes bad
energy and potentially death, setting a good start to the film as it gives the audience hints as to what is
about to happen. You can also tell that this frame wants people to focus on the text as it is placed in the
centre with a white font so it is clear to see.

12. Summary
From analysing these nine frames of the opening of Edward Scissorhands I have
realised that horror films consist of many different things. Some things don’t make
sense so it gives the audience the opportunity to think for themselves and use
their imagination to try and figure out what is going to happen, it also gives a
sense of mystery which can be very interesting to the audience. I have learnt that
small things such as the colour of the font can have a huge impact on the
importance of what is being portrayed. I have also learnt the effectiveness and
uses of camera shots and angles which I can include in my film opening to make it
eyecatching. I have learnt how to incorporate the generic conventions of a horror
film, things such as blood, death and mystery into my own horror film.