Name: Scream
Date release:1996
Rating: R
Cast: Drew Barrymore, Courtney Cox, David Arquette
Production: Dimension Films and Woods Entertainment
Director: Wes Craven
Box Office: $6,354, 586
Awards: MTV: Best Movie.
Target Audience.
I think that the target audience for this film would be males and females from around the age of 16 to 25. I think that this is the perfect age range as typically thriller films appeal to teenagers and the younger age of the adult spectrum. This film would appeal to both genders as this has a narrative that does not specify to a particular gender. However due to the fact that the main protagonist is a girl this could mean that this film would appeal more to males. I think that this film would not necessarily appeal to older adults over the age of 40, although it is a thriller film, it has slight comical elements perhaps due to when it was created. Therefore adults may find this film immature and slightly unappealing. The secondary audience for this film would be teenagers from the age of 12 up to 16. I think this because this film isn't that scary therefore younger children may enjoy watching it.
Settings, Camera and Mise En Scene.
The opening shot of the trailer is an extreme close up of a phone ringing. The telephone is quite old and is a landline. The fact the phone is a landline shows the audience that the location is someones house. This immediately sets the narrative for the audience. The extreme close up shot entrances the audience and adds emphasis. The shot hints to the audience that phone will be an important prop and icon of the film.
This shot then flows smoothly into a close up of the protagonist. This is done by tracking of the camera. This shot follows the length of her arm and up to her face. The close up shot of her face introduces her as a character to the audience. This shot will create familiarity and recognition for the viewer. The costume that the character is wearing is a beige wooly jumper. This costume shows connotations that it is set in the winter/autumn season as in America it is typically hot. The jumper also shows that she is warm and cosy which juxtaposes the tone and themes of the thriller/horror film. The setting of the house looks quite modern and clean which suggests she lives in a suburban area and is most likely middle class status. Having the film set in a typical house gives the viewer a sense of normality. The lamp switched on in the background suggests that it is dark outside- typical lighting for a thriller\ horror film. The character is wearing makeup which follows the archetype that girls wear makeup and care about their appearance.
A title is then added to the sequence which helps to break the shots up and inform the audience about any details of the film. The typography of the title is slanted in italics and is glowing blue against a black background which makes the font stand out.
This then fades into an establishing shot of the house, the camera movement is panning. This movement exhibits the location to the audience so they have a more clear view on the location and the area of filming.
A mid shot of the protagonist popping some popcorn and still on the phone conveys to the audience that the popcorn prop may be significant in this sequence. The popcorn popping signifies the tension buildings and the threat coming closer. This shot also allows the viewer to see the environment behind her, this further helps to set the scene of the trailer. The environment shown in the background gives a realistic tone to the film and makes it look more realistic.
A close up of the popcorn popping on the stove further supports the tension and atmosphere which is slowly being created through the trailer. The camera tracks the protagonist around the room further showing the narrative progress and develop as the trailer goes on. The camera angle in which she is being tracked in an over the shoulder shot, this shot exhibits the location of the house. The props in the background further support the type of area she is living in and how wealthy the family may be. For example we can see some dark leather bound books which are typically more expensive. However the old fashioned television juxtaposes the wealthiness of the family.
As the mood of the trailer changes and the tension is developed the genre of the film becomes more clear as the audience is introduced to a threat. This is shown through a close up of the character and her facial expression turning from happiness to fright. This is further supported by the two shot of the antagonist and the protagonist in the window reflection. The antagonist is wearing a costume that is conventional to have in a thriller film. The colour of the costume shows connotations of death and abyss. The mask prop used by the antagonist is an icon of the Scream franchise and of the horror genre. The mask is recognisable and distinguishable by the audience.
An extreme close up shot of the emergency response information on the screen emphasises the danger that the character is in. The information in this shot supports a semantic field of law and authority. This semantic field is supported by a long shot of a police car.
A mid shot of another protagonist being attacked shows an equilibrium and a problem that is continually happening. The fact that a different character is being attacked shows the development of the narrative and that there is more than one target.
The use of an over the shoulder shot of a news reporter shows a realistic portrayal of a real life crime and how it would be documented by the news. The costume that the news reporter is wearing is bright yellow/green. This bright colour shows connotations of happiness which contrasts the genre of the film. Her costume also draws the viewer's attention to her and makes her the focus of the shot. The different location in this shot shows the film had a higher budget and could therefore afford to have different locations. The different locations shows progression and development which keeps the audience interested in the trailer. In this over the shoulder we can see the back of the a man's jacket.with the words 'top story', the slogan on this jacket emphasises that this story is important to the story line.
A two shot of a male and female. The composition of shot shows that these two characters are equal as they both have the same amount of shot space. This shot is a medium close up and is used to introduce these to characters to the audience, this allows the familiarity for the viewer. A zoom shot that frames to a medium close up of another character introduces her to the narrative, This character isn't wearing very much makeup which subverts the female archetype, her costume does this as well as it is very dull which is opposite to stereotypical female clothing
An over the shoulder shot exhibits a policeman scouting a house. An over the shoulder shot allows the viewer to feel as if they are in the moment with the actor- this creates an inclusive atmosphere for the audience. The fact that a police man is scouting a house shows that the problem is trying to be solved. It also follows the authority semantic field shown in the trailer. The gun that the officer is wearing is an icon of crime and creates the strong association with law and crime. The officer's outfit follows the conventions of policeman. The high key lighting inside the house gives a sense of normality. This lighting also contrasts well with the low key lighting outside the house.
An establishing shot that pans horizontally showcases a new location to the audience and progresses the trailer further. A new location will excite and entrance the audience and keep them interested in the trailer. The low key lighting adds a mysterious and eerie tone to the trailer further supporting and relating back to the genre of the film. The fact that fog is used in this shot shows connotations of horror and also impending danger. The use of fog is an icon of horror and thriller films as it helps to set the mood and atmosphere.
A close up shot of another character talking on the phone shows repetition and a strong relationship to the beginning of the trailer. As it is the same scenario as in the beginning of the trailer it is dramatic irony because the audience knows something the characters do not. To further support the situation that the character is in and how someone is out to get her, a point of view shot that pans horizontally shows that she is looking for someone.
A shot of two girls shown in through a fence establishes their age and their interests. This is shown by the blonde girls cheerleading outfit. As she is a cheerleader it establishes her age (which would be high school or university), her age is also similar to the target audience which therefore establishes a report and relation. The high key lighting represents this shot to be normal and everyday like, as if nothing bad will happen. The high key lighting establishes and connotes a happy atmosphere.
Montage editing has been used to link a high angle shot and a mid shot together in order for them to create a link and show a relation between one another. The high angle shot shows a pursuit which is a key element and convention in horror and thriller films. This chase will keep the audience interested in the trailer and eager to see what will happen next. The next shot of the other protagonist running shows a clear image to the audience what the two characters have in common.
A two shot of a man and a women in a romantic scene shows a love interest and a relationship which can be a common factor is the particular genre. The composition of shot shows the two character having equal camera space which could show that they are an equal partnership.
A group shot of teenagers sat in a room makes it clear to the audience which age the film is based on- the age of the teenagers in the room links to the age of the target audience, this makes the character more relatable to the target audience. The teenagers are all eating and drinking which follows the stereotypes of what teenagers normally do.
A close up shot of the door slamming builds up the atmosphere and the tension for the audience. It could also be a sign of the impending doom yet to come.
An over the shoulder shot of one of the female character running shows a threat and how she is in danger. The low key lighting exhibits an eerie and dangerous atmosphere. This shot may also be a point of view shot- therefore this gives the audience an insight to his point of vie and what he can see.
Titles which show a catchphrase further enhances the narrative to the viewer. The typography used for the titles relate back to the font used for the emergency call line. This title screen liquefies into red. The colour red shows connotation of death and blood- strong themes that run through a thriller/horror.
A series of shots that vary from mid shots, long shot and close up have been put and linked together by montage editing. These shots are very fast pace and will keep the audience interested. This will also help to hint at the narrative and give the viewer sneak peeks of what is yet to come.
The title screen that shows the name Scream on the screen concludes the trailer. By having the title last in the trailer leaves a lasting impression on the audience and will make them remember the name of the film. The typography and animation for this title is the same as the other titles screens. This adds uniformity and consistency throughout the trailer. The dark background makes the font pop out. The screen is black which shows connotations of death- this contrasts strongly with the red font.
Sound.
The trailer begins with a diegetic sound of the telephone ringing. The phone is quite old and the ringtone mimics the age of this phone. The sound immediately grabs the audiences attention and sets the scene for the narrative. Normal dialogue is used for the female protagonist, however for the antagonist a non diegetic voice over is used to portray the antagonists speech. I think that a filter or auto tuning was used in order to portray a realistic phone conversation. This conversation sound bridges over into the next shot which is the title shot, the conversation now turns into a voiceover. The voiceover continues into the next few shots and at this point an incidental sound track begins and immediately the normal tone of the trailer concludes and an eerie one begins. As the close up popcorn shot is shown a diegetic sound effect of the popcorn is heard which makes the shot sound and look more realistic. As the opening sequence comes a close the incidental sound track ceases in order to enhance the piece of dialogue that was said by the antagonist.
A diegetic sound effect of a window smashing immediately sets the audience on edge and emphasises the danger that the character is in.
As the incidental music begins again it is much more dramatic and sets a dangerous mood, the danger semantic field that runs through the trailer is supported by the dramatic voice over. A lot of the dialogue used in the film has been used as a voiceover in order to emphasise the importance of what they are saying.
Atmosphere created.
At the beginning of the film a normal everyday atmosphere was created and portrayed by the protagonists. The use of high key lighting supports this kind of atmosphere. However as the trailer progresses and develops the atmosphere changes and become more scary and creepy. This is also supported by the low key lighting. The use of a male voiceover creates a dramatic and tense tone to the film.
This then fades into an establishing shot of the house, the camera movement is panning. This movement exhibits the location to the audience so they have a more clear view on the location and the area of filming.
A mid shot of the protagonist popping some popcorn and still on the phone conveys to the audience that the popcorn prop may be significant in this sequence. The popcorn popping signifies the tension buildings and the threat coming closer. This shot also allows the viewer to see the environment behind her, this further helps to set the scene of the trailer. The environment shown in the background gives a realistic tone to the film and makes it look more realistic.
A close up of the popcorn popping on the stove further supports the tension and atmosphere which is slowly being created through the trailer. The camera tracks the protagonist around the room further showing the narrative progress and develop as the trailer goes on. The camera angle in which she is being tracked in an over the shoulder shot, this shot exhibits the location of the house. The props in the background further support the type of area she is living in and how wealthy the family may be. For example we can see some dark leather bound books which are typically more expensive. However the old fashioned television juxtaposes the wealthiness of the family.
As the mood of the trailer changes and the tension is developed the genre of the film becomes more clear as the audience is introduced to a threat. This is shown through a close up of the character and her facial expression turning from happiness to fright. This is further supported by the two shot of the antagonist and the protagonist in the window reflection. The antagonist is wearing a costume that is conventional to have in a thriller film. The colour of the costume shows connotations of death and abyss. The mask prop used by the antagonist is an icon of the Scream franchise and of the horror genre. The mask is recognisable and distinguishable by the audience.
An extreme close up shot of the emergency response information on the screen emphasises the danger that the character is in. The information in this shot supports a semantic field of law and authority. This semantic field is supported by a long shot of a police car.
A mid shot of another protagonist being attacked shows an equilibrium and a problem that is continually happening. The fact that a different character is being attacked shows the development of the narrative and that there is more than one target.
The use of an over the shoulder shot of a news reporter shows a realistic portrayal of a real life crime and how it would be documented by the news. The costume that the news reporter is wearing is bright yellow/green. This bright colour shows connotations of happiness which contrasts the genre of the film. Her costume also draws the viewer's attention to her and makes her the focus of the shot. The different location in this shot shows the film had a higher budget and could therefore afford to have different locations. The different locations shows progression and development which keeps the audience interested in the trailer. In this over the shoulder we can see the back of the a man's jacket.with the words 'top story', the slogan on this jacket emphasises that this story is important to the story line.
A two shot of a male and female. The composition of shot shows that these two characters are equal as they both have the same amount of shot space. This shot is a medium close up and is used to introduce these to characters to the audience, this allows the familiarity for the viewer. A zoom shot that frames to a medium close up of another character introduces her to the narrative, This character isn't wearing very much makeup which subverts the female archetype, her costume does this as well as it is very dull which is opposite to stereotypical female clothing
An over the shoulder shot exhibits a policeman scouting a house. An over the shoulder shot allows the viewer to feel as if they are in the moment with the actor- this creates an inclusive atmosphere for the audience. The fact that a police man is scouting a house shows that the problem is trying to be solved. It also follows the authority semantic field shown in the trailer. The gun that the officer is wearing is an icon of crime and creates the strong association with law and crime. The officer's outfit follows the conventions of policeman. The high key lighting inside the house gives a sense of normality. This lighting also contrasts well with the low key lighting outside the house.
An establishing shot that pans horizontally showcases a new location to the audience and progresses the trailer further. A new location will excite and entrance the audience and keep them interested in the trailer. The low key lighting adds a mysterious and eerie tone to the trailer further supporting and relating back to the genre of the film. The fact that fog is used in this shot shows connotations of horror and also impending danger. The use of fog is an icon of horror and thriller films as it helps to set the mood and atmosphere.
A close up shot of another character talking on the phone shows repetition and a strong relationship to the beginning of the trailer. As it is the same scenario as in the beginning of the trailer it is dramatic irony because the audience knows something the characters do not. To further support the situation that the character is in and how someone is out to get her, a point of view shot that pans horizontally shows that she is looking for someone.
A shot of two girls shown in through a fence establishes their age and their interests. This is shown by the blonde girls cheerleading outfit. As she is a cheerleader it establishes her age (which would be high school or university), her age is also similar to the target audience which therefore establishes a report and relation. The high key lighting represents this shot to be normal and everyday like, as if nothing bad will happen. The high key lighting establishes and connotes a happy atmosphere.
Montage editing has been used to link a high angle shot and a mid shot together in order for them to create a link and show a relation between one another. The high angle shot shows a pursuit which is a key element and convention in horror and thriller films. This chase will keep the audience interested in the trailer and eager to see what will happen next. The next shot of the other protagonist running shows a clear image to the audience what the two characters have in common.
A two shot of a man and a women in a romantic scene shows a love interest and a relationship which can be a common factor is the particular genre. The composition of shot shows the two character having equal camera space which could show that they are an equal partnership.
A group shot of teenagers sat in a room makes it clear to the audience which age the film is based on- the age of the teenagers in the room links to the age of the target audience, this makes the character more relatable to the target audience. The teenagers are all eating and drinking which follows the stereotypes of what teenagers normally do.
A close up shot of the door slamming builds up the atmosphere and the tension for the audience. It could also be a sign of the impending doom yet to come.
An over the shoulder shot of one of the female character running shows a threat and how she is in danger. The low key lighting exhibits an eerie and dangerous atmosphere. This shot may also be a point of view shot- therefore this gives the audience an insight to his point of vie and what he can see.
Titles which show a catchphrase further enhances the narrative to the viewer. The typography used for the titles relate back to the font used for the emergency call line. This title screen liquefies into red. The colour red shows connotation of death and blood- strong themes that run through a thriller/horror.
A series of shots that vary from mid shots, long shot and close up have been put and linked together by montage editing. These shots are very fast pace and will keep the audience interested. This will also help to hint at the narrative and give the viewer sneak peeks of what is yet to come.
The title screen that shows the name Scream on the screen concludes the trailer. By having the title last in the trailer leaves a lasting impression on the audience and will make them remember the name of the film. The typography and animation for this title is the same as the other titles screens. This adds uniformity and consistency throughout the trailer. The dark background makes the font pop out. The screen is black which shows connotations of death- this contrasts strongly with the red font.
Sound.
The trailer begins with a diegetic sound of the telephone ringing. The phone is quite old and the ringtone mimics the age of this phone. The sound immediately grabs the audiences attention and sets the scene for the narrative. Normal dialogue is used for the female protagonist, however for the antagonist a non diegetic voice over is used to portray the antagonists speech. I think that a filter or auto tuning was used in order to portray a realistic phone conversation. This conversation sound bridges over into the next shot which is the title shot, the conversation now turns into a voiceover. The voiceover continues into the next few shots and at this point an incidental sound track begins and immediately the normal tone of the trailer concludes and an eerie one begins. As the close up popcorn shot is shown a diegetic sound effect of the popcorn is heard which makes the shot sound and look more realistic. As the opening sequence comes a close the incidental sound track ceases in order to enhance the piece of dialogue that was said by the antagonist.
A diegetic sound effect of a window smashing immediately sets the audience on edge and emphasises the danger that the character is in.
As the incidental music begins again it is much more dramatic and sets a dangerous mood, the danger semantic field that runs through the trailer is supported by the dramatic voice over. A lot of the dialogue used in the film has been used as a voiceover in order to emphasise the importance of what they are saying.
Atmosphere created.
At the beginning of the film a normal everyday atmosphere was created and portrayed by the protagonists. The use of high key lighting supports this kind of atmosphere. However as the trailer progresses and develops the atmosphere changes and become more scary and creepy. This is also supported by the low key lighting. The use of a male voiceover creates a dramatic and tense tone to the film.
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