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SCREAM Horror Film
1. Narrative • Firstly the title of the film suggests the narrative to the audience. The word ‘Scream’ has an eerie sound to it and implies negative connotations. • The very first thing the audience hear in the beginning of the play is an actual scream. As a viewer, hearing a scream will shock the audience and make then very aware that they are watching firstly, a horror, and secondly a film that will make them feel on edge. • The fact that there is a pretty, blonde girl living alone in an abandoned house makes the audience feel uneasy and shows her vulnerability. But not only that, the phone rings and breaks that uneasy silence, making the audience feel tension. • Throughout the beginning of the opening scene the camera seems to be handheld, representing distribution.
2. Target Audience • In my opinion the target audience is around the age of 15 to 30 years and is for both genders. • The use of an attractive, blonde female suggests that the primary audience is likely to be young. • I believe that the target audience is stereotypically aimed for elder people as they are easlily affected and traumatised a lot easier.
3. Representation of the film genre in the opening scene • There are many examples in the first 5 minutes of the film including the first sound the audience hears, which is a scream. This connotes the shock horror they are about to witness and almost prepares them for what is going to happen. A scream is a classic example that is used in a typical horror film. • As the camera movement, slowly shows us the establishing shot of the abandoned house, we see a swing in the way that is slowly rocking back and forth. The swinging swing suggests ghostly connotations, again, signifying the horror genre. • Amongst the dialogue being spoken through the phone, there is background sound like crickets. The sound of crickets chirping at night just scream silence and makes us feel like something is about to happen in that small moment. • In most horror films the technique of tracking is used. Why? Because the use of tracking makes the victim unaware of the situation that is going on around her /him. It also gives us the effect that she is being followed.
4. Characters introduced • In the opening scene we are only introduced to one character. • The fact that there is a pretty female as our main character, already suggests to the audience that something bad will happen to her and that she is about to be in trouble. • She gets frightened very easily, connoting her weakness and isolate self, suggesting she is perfect bait for the predator. • A match on action is used when the girl picks up the phone – this would connect the two different views of the girl.
Conclusion on Scream • I believe that this was a very successful opening scene. It demonstrates the sterotypical aspects of a typcial horror film. • The use of sounds connote the atomesphere being presented. The use of the swing and cricket's just say to the audience what type of film this is. The sounds will create a mood that the audience won’t forget, it will make them uncomfortable and tense. • The use of props is also a bonus to the mood being created. The popcorn connotes tension. The popcorn gradually gets louder and louder making the scene more suspensful. The popcorn almost foreshadows the girl's death when the bag pops. • These aspects demonstart a clear story and puts the audience on edge, which is what the director wants.
Troy War Film
1. Narrative • The opening scene of Troy starts with a dog who is alone is the desert. • The use of the dog starting off in the opening scene in unique and suggests something will happen. The dog is sniffing around dead bodies with blood and old insides. This connotes the theme of war. • The large army approaching the walls suggests a fight is about to happen. • The over the shoulder shots used when the two kings are talking suggests the connection between the characters and that you can orientate your viewer. • The conversation between the two kings also tells the audience who the good and bad people are. Their speech and their physical aspects will portray this.
2. Target Audience • In my opinion I think that the target audience is around the age of 15 to 70+. And is mainly aimed at the gender of males. Why? Because many young boys are introduced to toys like soldiers and guns from a youngish age. Boys are also sterotypically known for being interested in war and fighting and battle. I personally think that the target audience stretches up to 70 because many 70 + year olds have experienced war like aspects and will be generally interested in the topic. • Troy is given the age rating 15 which is understandable as a lot of Troy's images are very graphic and can effect someones mental health, especially when they are young.
3. Representation of the genre in the film Troy • At the beginning of the opening scene the setting is in the middle of a desert. A desert is a very large, isolated place and many battles would take place here. The desert has a large expanse which is perfect for battles against large armies. Already the audience gets a feel of war and that something is about to happen. • We see close up shots of the dog investigating the dead bodies and then straight away, almost suddenly we see an establishing shot of the one side of the army approaching the scene. This sudden change in camera shots connote tension and drama. • The props used are crucial because the shields, chariots, weaponry etc connote war and battle and death. Not only this but suggests this is based quite a long time ago because nowadays chariots are not used in war. • The background sound of the horse's hooves and thousands of men make the audience feel emotional and makes them feel on edge. It also makes the viewers feel as if they are involved in the action - which is always important in war films.
4. Characters introduced in opening scene. • A dog is the first character we see which connotes uniqueness. However, the dog is used in the film to find the bodies. It is almost like the dog is leading us/the audience to these bodies. • We see (in an establishing shot) the two sides of the army aswell. • We are introduced to the two main men of both sides. We know this because they are both on chariots and they both appear to be at the front of their armies. Being on a chariot 3200 years ago meant that you were important, and especially important if you were on a chariot during war. • We are also then introduced to both sons of these two kings. It's clear that they are both very powerful and courageous, by their physical appearences.
Conclusion on Troy opening scene • The opening scene portrays very clearly the theme of war and death. • The inclusion of dead bodies, a large battlefield and war like characters connote the war like aspect that it needs to reach that theme of war. • Combat scenes are very common in war films, so the use of the main combat scene in the opening scene suggests to the viewers not only that it’s a war film but a very good and dramatic film. • Its successful because it includes interesting combat scenes, capturing the audience's attention.
Narrative in Suicide Squad... • There is typical action music to begin the opening scene – starting with an upbeat piece of music. • We see an establishing shot of the prison which is a typical shot action films like to use. This is because the setting is so important in action films because there is always so much action involved. This establishing shot gradually dissolves into a close up shot of a skull on a gate, already this tells the audience that some deathly destruction will be involved as a skull represents death. • The unhygienic conditions of the prison shows that the people inside will be dangerous. The strong man signifies violence, and the extreme close ups of the facial expressions on the guard connote the feelings presented towards each other. • The music changes when Harley is introduced, and the music is a lot more flirtatious and beautiful which represents the characteristics of Harley herself. • In many action films the women are normally ratioed to the men in a poor way. In this scene we see Harley dressed in a provocative outfit with men all around her. This is a typical trait that action films include, so tells the audience that this is a very dominated action film. • As an audience we get a sense of the story in the way that there are two sides, the bad and good side. Having watched other well-known and big action films, I know that there will be some physical combat between two sides.
Target Audience • Suicide squad is a film to do with violence and death and includes sexual scenes. • In my opinion the age restriction would range from 15 to around 30. I think that the age would be aimed at only these ages because there are aspects of immaturity which mature adults would probably not appreciate. • The initial age restriction is 15 which is acceptable. • Again the use of an attractive and famous actress will make the gender of males more attracted to the film. The physical appearances of the characters also draw both female and male people to the film.
Representation of the film genre in the opening sequence • The film includes a mixture of genres like fantasy, action, sci-fi and thriller. These different genres will draw the attention of the audience because they will be more excited to explore the different genres. • The use of a prison and two sides of the good and the bad side represent the genre of action, because its typical for action films to include these two sides, especially in a prison because it creates that atmosphere that most people would not have experienced. • As a viewer of the opening scene, that sense of fantasy was created when the women in charge entered a large building, she is seen as very powerful, making the audience feel envious towards her. • The use of weapons portray the theme of violence and thriller. • Medium and medium close-up shots are used to introduce the exposed characters like Margot Robbie and Will Smith and their physical aspects. • Birds eye view shots connote mystery and a sense that something bad is going to happen. • In the scene where Harley is getting medication from the guard and another lady, there are background sound effects consisting of screaming and girls laughing, this creates an eery effect and makes the audience feel on edge. • I think that this was very successful opening scene because it even captured me as I watched it for the first time and even decided to watch the whole film straight after watching the opening scene. This is because the opening scene included lots of different images and some flashbacks which bombards the audience's brain with different thoughts about what is going on.
Characters introduced in the opening scene • The characters were introduced very clearly and connoted the genre of action well. • The charcters introduced each have a side, which is good or bad. The character of Harley Quinn is seen as flirtatious and deadly and Will Smith is seen as a lot stronger than the rest of the guards and he is very threatening towards the guards. • The lady introduced in the final part of the opening scene is portrayed as very powerful and she has a lot of power. She comes out of a big black vehicle with another one behind her and guards to protect her, this connotes power and maybe a sense of danger. As an audience we don’t know if she is good or bad. • The shots used like low and high shows connote the status of the characters shown in the scenes.
Rambo Thriller
Narrative • The narrative doesn’t clearly suggest the genre of thriller. • The opening scene begins with an establishing shot of Thailand and the music in the backround is orchestral and happy. The trumpets also suggest power AND that something bad might happen. • The setting is in the eastern side of world which tells the audience that there can potentially be war of threats – like where the war of Vietnam took place. • When the thai men play with the snake it connotes the feeling of anxiety and possibly stress. • The opening scene is especially happy compared to most thriller opening scene. • However, because the scene is so happy and relaxing it actually makes the audience feel distressed and anxious that something bad will happen in the long run.
Target Audience • The film contains a lot of violence overall and some images and scenes can affect people in not so very nice ways. However in the opening scene its very calm and there is not sudden violence or gore. • The film itself is very graphic and violent so therefore the provided age guidance is 18.
Representation of the film genre in the opening sequence • The representation of the film genre is very inaccurate in the sense that the opening scene is very calm and almost relaxes the audience. • However this is quite clever because the contrast between the two moods is very effective and will make the audience question what will happen next. • The music also gives this contrast away because the music makes the atmosphere even calmer and gives the audience that feeling of the calm before the storm.
Characters introduced in the opening scene. • It's tricky to identify the characters and their characteristics in this scene as there is not a lot of dialogue. • However the main character that we soon find out is, does have that aspect to him that makes him very heroic. • He comes across as good when he suggests to the two men playing with the snake to stop. • He is also seen as the leader as he is stearing the boat and he also gives the fish he caught to the people on another boat. • In my opinion it isn't the most successful because people have chosen to watch a thriller and they will feel unsatisfied with the opening scene as it has nothitng to do with the genre.
E.T Sci - fi
NARRATIVE E.T • The scene begins with an establishing shot of a dark forest which is moonlit – creating a sense of fear and suspicion. • The music is orchestral and creates a creepy effect. This is very sci – fi like and makes the audience feel on edge. • Mainly throughout the opening scene everything is seen under a silhouette effect. The alien's hands and the trees. The animal sounds such as the owl and wolf cry connotes fear and the unknown. Owls also connote mystery and magic. • We get a sense that something is going to happen to this unidentified creature as it is left behind by his spaceship.
Target Audience • The given age rating for the film E.T is 'U'. I personally think it should be at least a PG or a 12 as the character of E.T can come across scary, especially for little children who have no experience with alien like films or sci-fi films. • The target audience is probably around the ages of 15 to about 70 because this is such an old film and was produced in 1982. • The genre of sci –fi is a popular genre as the age group of young adults and elderly people love watching it because they can use their imagination.
Representation of the film genre in the opening sequence • I think that the opening scene gives a clear representation of the sci–fi genre because it includes the sounds and images you would expect to see in a film like this. • Many sci-fi films are based on earth and they include creatures or aliens that normally come to attack earth. • As an audience we know it is based on earth from the beginning because a rabbit it shown. Although the rabbit won't seem important, it is the first thing shown that will trigger the audience's brain to tell them it's filmed on earth. • The handheld camera shots are very popular in sci-fi films because it gets the viewers of the film closer to the action and makes them feel as if they are part of it all. • This scene is successful because it grabs the audience's attention.
Characters introduced... • In the opening scene we are only introduced to the character of E.T. • The point of this is to capture the audience's attention and make the want to know more about this isolated character. • Also the fact that there are no humans introduced makes the film more unique as it is unusual to begin a sci-fi film with now real human beings, especially in a naturalistic kind of film.
What did all these opening scenes have in common? • All the scenes included music in the background which created an atmosphere. This is so important in the opening scenes of films because it will determine whether the viewer stop watching the film or carries on with it. • All the different genres related to the opening scenes - they all had some sort of connection to their own genre. • There are reoccurring camera shots and angles in each of the opening scenes, connoting an image that will affect the audience.
My Opinions... • In my opinion the most successful opening scene was Suicide Squad. Why? Because in its opening scene there is a lot going on and in action films you want your brain to work a bit and for you to almost imagine what is going on yourself. Action films are meant to keep the audience on edge because it must be incredibly exciting for the audience. The opening scene contained lots of different angles and shots and different forms of music which made the atmosphere even more vivid. • In my opinion I think the least successful opening scene was Rambo. This is because the opening scene didn’t consist of any aspects relating to the genre of thriller. However the scene included a variety of different shots and angles and again, music to connote the mood of the scene. If the music had been taken away the audience wouldn’t know if something bad was going to happen on the river or if it was just a calm scene to represent the calmness of the people and their surroundings.
