This document analyzes the opening sequence of the film Scream. It summarizes that the sequence begins with the film title and non-diegetic sounds of a phone ringing and a girl screaming. These sounds establish the domestic setting and genre of horror/thriller. Through camera techniques, lighting, mise-en-scene, and editing, tension is built as the sequence introduces the main female character and poses her as a vulnerable victim while alone in her isolated home at night, with ominous signs that someone may disrupt the domestic security.

1. SCREAM – opening sequence analysis
 Film title
 Non-diegetic sound of phone ringing
- Acts as a sound bridge to next shot
- Establish domestic setting
 Non-diegetic sound of girl screaming
- represents title
- Infers that the genre is horror/thriller
- Creates enigma code: why is she
screaming? Who is she?
 Mise-en-scene
- Domestic iconography
- Reinforces home setting
 Low key lighting
- Ominous atmosphere
 Pan up to woman
- Introduce key character
- Gender stereotype: vulnerability
- Poses her as victim
CLOSE UP
 Mid-shot
- Emphasises facial expressions
- Shows significance of phone call to the
plot
 Camera movement
- Moves around her: shows window
establishing that it is night time, making
her more vulnerable
 Dialogue
- Woman speaks calmly: false sense of
security
- Male voice from phone; stereotypical
gender of villain/antagonist
CLOSEUP/MID-SHOT

2.  Zoom in/close up
- Show subtle changes in expression
 Tilted frame
- Unnerving
- Foreshadows that the balance of the
household will shift
 Mise-en-scene : windows in background
- Highlights time setting
- No lights visible outside; house seems
secluded; more vulnerable
CLOSE UP
 Ambient sound: crickets
- House is not in an urban location
- tension
 diegetic sound: swing creaking
- juxtaposed to crickets
- unsettling
- creates sense that someone is present;
audience waiting for something bad to
happen
ESTABLISHING LONG SHOT
 Jump cut
- Breaks tension; audience may jump
slightly
 Mise-en-scene
- Reinforces domesticity; audience still
waiting for something to disrupt
equilibrium of home
 Zoom out
- Shows character in relation to setting
- Emphasises she is home aloneEXTREME CLOSE UP
 Foreground shot/mise-en-scene: knife block
- Stereotypical iconography of genre
- Foreshadows death
 Tracking
- Following her around house
- Shows all exits/entrances the killer may
use
- Builds tension
 Slow pace
- Adds longevity; suspense
- Audience becomes more fearful
 Continuity editing
- Further rising tension
LONG/MID-SHOT