The document provides an analysis of the opening scene of the film Scary Movie 4. It summarizes the key elements of mise-en-scene used in the scene, including the stereotypical characters introduced, their costumes, the ominous sounds used, the dull abandoned school setting, and the props like chains that create a restrictive feeling. It also analyzes the lighting, camera angles, movement, and minimal editing techniques employed to establish tension and humor in the opening scene.

1. Scary Movie 4
Film Analysis – Media
Language.

2. In the film of Scary Movie 4, we are presented with many
different humorous situations and varied techniques. Within
this 5 minute opening scene we get a clear first-hand
understanding what movie they are mimicking and already
know that it will be hilarious.
We are able to clearly see what type of movies this is which
is ‘Miramax’ and are after straight transferred to the
beginning of the scene, there is no introduction of
characters, there is only the first disruption which includes a
straightforward outlook of how the film is going to be and
what genre.
Introduction

3. When applied to the cinema, mise-en-scene refers to
everything that appears before the camera and it’s
arrangement – sets, props, actors, costumes and lighting.
Mise-en-scene also includes the positioning and
movement of actors on the set, which is called blocking.
These are all the areas overseen by the director, and this,
in French film credits, the directors title is metteur en
secene, “putter on scene.”
Mise-en-scene

4. The first character we are presented with is a middle aged
black-man who seems to be the typical basketball player –
very stereotypical. He is shown to be as ‘stupid’ and
‘useless’ as he wakes up and realises he’s face is in water
and he doesn’t know how he got there. The second
character who we hear the voice of before seeing them is a
more matured man who seems to be a teacher and well-groomed.
However he also comes across as being confused
but also very emotional and aware of what he was doing
before. These two characters are both stereotypical within
the first 5 minute opening scene.
Characters

5. As I mentioned in the previous slide the black-man is wearing a
basketball uniform, this instantly puts a stereotypical theme of the
character as most people associate basketball players to be black. A he
rises up he hits his head twice – this shot is also stereotypical of
basketball players as most of them are very tall and are unable to get
through certain spaces. As he realises that something is not right he
starts to panic and shout – this give us an impression that he is unable to
deal with serious situations and may have ‘scared’ and we as society
don’t associate big and bulky men like him to be scared of anything.
The other character – the older man – he is much more calm and
acceptable of the fact that he has been taken ‘against his own will’, he
tries to relax the other man and fills him in on what he knows. This
character is also stereotypical because we mostly find men of that age to
be wearing suits and have a moustache.
Costumes&Ma
ke-up

6. The sound at the beginning of the scene is very sinister, the sound
of being underwater and the non-diegetic sound building up as
the man opens his eyes and realises that he is underwater. It
builds up the tension as he looks around and he notices the chain
around his ankle, as he screams the music get’s louder and more
eerie around the setting as it’s very unwelcoming and disturbing.
When we hear the sound of the other man’s voice we are unable
to see him but as the lights start to flash the build up of the non-diegetic
sound is much jumpier when we get to see the other
character – as most people were expecting someone ominous
than someone who is in the same position as the first man. As the
television turns on it makes that old, creepy sound which then
makes a disturbing face pop up. The sound of the clock is
enhanced as they talk about time, this makes it more intimidating
for the characters as the sound is diegetic and they are able to
react. The build up of the tense music helps the audience
understand when something is going to happen as he has to make
a decision, most of the sounds are there to frighten the audience.
Sound

7. The setting of this scene is very dull, bare and seems to be
unused. The low key lighting affects the way a setting is
presented as it can make it more creepy, however when the
light is turned on we are able to identify more with where
they are which seems like an abandoned school which is set
in a bathroom. This makes the characters seem vulnerable,
it’s an unknown place where its damaged and clearly not
cared for, which means no one knows about it and no one
can save them. I think he use of this setting was good as it
allowed it to be anonymous and also create a somewhat
unsafe/nervous feeling.
Setting

8. As with props and equipment in this scene there is a few that
stand out the most. Firstly the chains on the ankles, mostly
associated with kidnapping and trying to restrict someone from
going. This was a good use of prop as it created a more restrictive
feeling and seemed to make the characters very vulnerable when
they had to do their task to stay alive. Also the equipment set out
around the frame for the chance to save their lives, seems to be
complicated but its more like a puzzle and you have to solve it
yourself with a limited amount of props – this is when the rock
comes in, it’s a very unusual prop to use within a film but it
shows the strength that the man has by picking it up and throwing
it but it also indicates that there isn’t much props that are needed
within that scene as it tries to make it more interesting for the
audience. Also the broken pieces lying around the setting are
very well spread out as it shows how uncared for the place is and
the that it is ‘timeworn’.
Props &
Equipment

9. There are 2 main different types of lighting used within this
scene. The first type of lighting is low key lighting – this was
used to create a dark and mysterious atmosphere within the scene
where he is trying to understand where he is by looking around,
the blue undertones create an eerie feeling and we are only able
to see some parts of the setting at the beginning as the dark moon
shines through the high windows. Afterwards when the ceiling
lights get turned on we are presented with high-key lighting, this
instantly changes the atmosphere as we are then able to see the
whole setting and judge by where the characters are and what
may have happened. The setting is clear and we are able to see
the characters clearer as well, but there are also still darker
undertones where the action is not happening, which is probably
because it’ not important within that scene.
Lighting

10. As we jump into the scene there is a low angle to show how
big the first character is. This is to help us identify with his
height. There are many medium shots throughout the scene
as the camera uses shot-reverse-shot, this helps us
understand the two different characters and lets us see them
in detail but also have a bit of the setting in the background.
As we move further a long the scene there is an over-the-shoulder
shot when the camera is behind the white man and
we are able to see the black man in full image but blur out
which gives the white mans perspective of the setting. A
close-up is used on the white man’s face to show his
shocked reaction to the television, in turn allows audiences
to understand his emotions.
Camera
Angles

11. There is a variety of camera movement used within this scene.
For example, when the black guy looks at the rock and then the
camera jumps straight to frame the rock that his hand picks up –
this is called match-on-action. There is also a huge amount of
shot-reverse-shot this is seen when the two characters are talking
to each other and the camera frames one person and then the
other, which is also used as a 180 degree shot, this prevents the
characters from being on different sides so it doesn’t look like
they’re in a completely new position. There is also the zoom out
movement of the clock to show how important it is and that’s
what the characters are focusing on. As well as that there is a
zoom in movement of the black guy’s face when he looks at the
basketball net and it really lets us identify with his emotions and
the alarmed look on his face promoting something like he is
terrified of throwing in the net but he is a basketball player which
makes no sense to the audience which makes them laugh.
Movement

12. There’s not a huge amount of editing used within the first 5
minute scene, however it does have a few techniques such
as cutting the scenes to jump from one person to another, it
cuts out the parts that are not needed. The sounds are all
mostly edited within this as it’s mostly non-diegetic sound.
As the first scene finishes they use the characters legs to
represent the number ‘4’ of their film which was a clever
idea and it edited to be the title of the film by using the
colours and the fonts and shapes.
Editing