Monday 7 December 2015

JB: Technical Analysis - Scream (Craven, 1996)


Clip begins 3:01 in 

From what I have seen in this clip, there are a number of aspects that I would like to consider for our production alongside what I have learnt from my previous research.

Mise-en-Scene
  • The household and domestic scenario is popular amongst many psychological horror films and relates particularly well with the audience.
  • It also promotes fear with the viewer, as they relate themselves to the situation.
  • Common main characters of the 'lone girl' in their house.
  • Natural dim lighting is popular too.
Camera
  • A steadicam shot is commonly used when following characters, only changing to a handicam/POV shot when action intensifies.
  • Tracking shots help to establish character and show fear, drawing attention to the shot.
 Sound
  • The non-diegetic sound used fits with the action (or lack of it) as it occurs - increasing in volume as the scene becomes more tense.
  • Diegetic sound is often amplified in order to draw attention to heavy breathing.

 

Still/Time
Mise-en-Scene
Camera
Sound
3:01 - 3:10
  • Dark scene with typical household lighting as well as that through windows (seen at 3:03)
  • She’s about to deal with the steaming popcorn, but is distracted quickly by the phone ringing.
  • Medium-Long Shot.
  • Smooth track on steadicam/glidecam following character as they walk.

  • Sound of cracking popcorn (selective sound)

  • 3:10 - 3:30
    • Woman standing in kitchen speaking on typical household phone (in 1996) with very little occurring around her.
    • Typical kitchen utensils and objects shown around her in the background, but not focused upon.
  • Close-Up Shot.
  • Pan in towards character’s face as they answer the phone.
  • Follows their slight swaying.

  • Dialogue between female character and the unknown character on the phone
  • Voice distortion on phone
  • Fizzling of popcorn on stove in the background
  • Gradual build up of music

  • 3:30 - 3:38
    • Camera follows her hands as she locks each door and window.
    • Small details of the house she is in are revealed (e.g. the large glass windows).
  • Long Shot
  • Less stabilized shot than beforehand reinforces the sense of panic in the scene.
  • Similar to a POV shot from behind the character, as if they’re being watched.

  • Sharp volume change in non-diegetic sound
  • Amplified diegetic sound of door handles/locks

  • 3:38 - 3:40
    • Three bars of window glass.
    • Could be similar to that of prison bars, and how she is imprisoned in her house.
  • Close-Up Shot.
  • Shows character through outside door windows at head level.
  • Background out of focus - narrow depth of field.

  • Non-diegetic sound fades into background.
  • Dialogue returns, alongside heavy breathing.

  • 3:40 - 3:44
    • Outside of house with empty driveway and path.
  •  POV shot from her eye-line looking left and right out of the window panes.

  • Sound carried across from previous

  • 3:44 - 3:52
    • Same door through door shot as before.
  • Repeat of previous shot, continuing to show her on the phone.

  • Sound carried across from previous

  • 3:52 - 4:04
    • Another shot of her on the phone facing the outer glass windows, with a faint light in the background.
    • She jumps in fear as the doorbell rings.
  • Medium-Shot of her on the phone, now looking out of the windows to the left of the door (in the previous shot).

  • Sudden ringing of doorbell and phones startle her and the audience.
  • Strings/Orchestral music peaks at the end of the dialogue.

  • 4:04 - 4:06
    • Repeated shots of the door as she walks further away from it.
  • Static shot of door with no movement.

  • Doorbell rings again as we cut away from this shot.

  • 4:06 - 4:32
    • More details of her house are revealed alongside the back glass windows.
    • A bright blue-screened TV is prominent in the scene.
  • Long/Medium-Long Shot.
  • Panning in towards her into a Medium Shot.

  • Orchestral music peaks as the phone rings again.
  • Dialogue returns between the two characters.

  • 4:32 - 4:36

    • POV shot showing the same view as before (4:04-4:06) but from further away, with more movement.
    • Continuing with her walking away from the door.
  • Dialogue continued across this shot.

  • 4:36 - 4:52
    • Continuing to follow her backwards, changing facial expressions into anger alongside her fear.
  • Stabilised shot following her towards the back of the room.
  • The camera is now swaying also, giving an uneasy feel to the scene.

  • Profanity used to exclaim her anger.
  • Non-diegetic sound gradually becoming more eerie, with a sudden end as he states her boyfriend’s name.

  • 4:52 - 4:55

    • Another door shot from further away again (same as in 4:32-4:36 and 4:04-4:06).
  • Continuation of previous shot.

  • 4:55 - 5:17
    • Close-Up shots reveal the fear she’s experiencing, particularly as she turns on the lights in the closing scene.
  • Continued following shot.
  • Close-Up shot on face, moving further out as she looks away from the camera.

  • Drums as dialogue stops and she turns towards the patio light switch.
  •  

    0 comments:

    Post a Comment