Rule of thirds

How is Mise en Scene, Sound, Camera and Editing used in the opening sequence of Scream?

In the opening sequence of 'Scream' the Horror Thriller genre can be conveyed through the use of Mise en Scene. This can be seen through the use of costume as the victim wears white and pastel colours showing her pure and innocent nature, while in contrast the killer is dressed as the Grim Reaper, wearing a long black cloak and a terrifying white mask, signifying the idea of death. Furthermore, the victim has blonde hair, which demonstrates a clear stereotype of being a weak character as the hero usually has dark hair. Dark lighting is used at the beginning of the scene as the scene is set in dark lighting at night time which sets the dark tone and theme for the rest of the movie. The scene is also set in an isolated location which shows that there is no way of the victim finding any help and that she can't escape, which adds to the suspense. Also the victim's house is seen to have a lot of windows which shows that the victim can easily be watched from the outside. Props are used in the opening sequence as a mask is used to hide the killers identity, which adds to the mystery throughout the movie. The popcorn is also a crucial prop used in the opening scene as the popcorn only explodes at the end of the scene when the victim dies, which illustrates how the popcorn signifies the victim's fate. Lastly, the sharp knife that the killer uses as a murder weapon is used to convey the reoccurring theme of murders, which sets the gruesome theme for the rest of the movie. 

Diegetic sound is used in the opening sequence as the sound of the dog barking alerts the victim that there is an intruder outside as dogs are known to bark at intruders. Diegetic sound is also used when the phone rings in order to create suspense. The isolated location can be demonstrated through diegetic and synchronous sound as crickets can be heard in the distance. Furthermore, diegetic and synchronous sound are also used when the swing creaks to convey how someone has recently been there. Sound is also used in the opening sequence through the diegetic sound of dialogue as the killer has a sinister voice on the phone which expresses the fear of the victim when she's talking to him. The Horror Thriller genre is presented through non- diegetic sound as the music becomes more intense when it gets louder as the suspense builds up, which increases the tempo of the music. The increased speed of the non-diegetic sound is used to match the heartbeat of the victim as she becomes more fearful of the man she is talking to on the phone.

The use of camera is used in the opening sequence of Scream as a tilting down shot of the victim's house is used to set the scene. There is also a medium close up of the victim's face to highlight her innocence as she answers the phone, which shows how vulnerable she is. The camera also tracks the victim around the house which creates the effect that the victim is being followed. Furthermore, a dutch tilt is used to create the sense of unevenness which conveys the genre of the movie by making it feel like a horror. A quick zoom is used when the camera zooms into the victim's face which demonstrates how scared she is as she knows that she's being watched. The use of camera is also used to match the increased speed of the non-diegetic sound by making the camera shots quicker to match the speed of the music.

Editing is used in the opening sequence through match on action as we can see the phone as the victim picks it up to answer it, which illustrates her naivety as it's obviously the same person that is calling her as before. Slow pace is also used at the beginning of the scene to show how vulnerable the victim is and there are also no quick shots when she is playing with the knife when she is on the phone to the killer, which suggests irony as the knife is the murder weapon that eventually kills her. Once the victim figures out that she's being watched, match on action is used as she locks all the doors which shows that she's scared and wants to protect herself. Eye line match is also used to show that the victim is looking for an escape route which indicates how desperate she is to escape. Lastly, quick cuts are used to match the increased speed of the non-diegetic sound, as well as to show that things are suddenly moving very quickly in contrast to the slow pace at the beginning of the scene.

About Myself

My name is Emily Lipman and I am 17 years old and studying Media Studies at JFS. I have chosen to study Media as I have a keen interest in the world of media such as the film and television industry. I am also studying Business, Psychology and Sociology as my other A Level subjects which I am also very interested in. In my spare time I enjoy going on social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat so I can keep up to date with what's happening and I also enjoy socialising with my friends on weekends. When I am not socialising I like to spend time relaxing by watching Netflix series which include the likes of the teen drama and thriller 'Pretty Little Liars' and the British comedy-drama 'Skins.' I am also a massive fan of Romantic films such as 'Notting Hill' and Teen Drama films such as '10 things I hate about you.' I also go to the gym every Monday after school as I think it is important to keep fit. As of yet I don't have a part time job although I am planning on looking for work experience in the radio or music industry once I have decided on what I would like to study at university when I finish sixth form at the end of year 13.