Film Opening: Researching genre

Scream - Horror

Character- Straight away we can connote that this film is aimed at a teenage audience. As the opening starts by focusing on a teenage girl played by Drew Barrymore getting ready for a movie night. By establishing the character as a teenager, teenage audience can relate to this character as it evokes familiarity to them, as it would be perfectly normal for a teenager to prepare for a movie night. However, within establishing the target audience it also states the film genre, which is horror. This is viewed through Casey Becker's (teenage girl) body language, which ensures us that she is scared and afraid from the person calling her. Her face is the key in telling the audience that the phone call is not just a phone call, but it indicates the horror of the situation.

Sound- Furthermore, body language is not the only thing that gives away the genre of the film but, it is also the use of speech. Speech in the film opening is a key element as it helps us to understand the situation when Casey says "what do you want?" and in reply the man on the phone says "To see what your insides look like!"  This establishes the genre even more as what the man on the phone is sayings is alarming and foreshadows death, which is a convention of a horror movie. In addition, right at the start of the filming opening when 'Scream' the title of the movie appears, dramatic sound effects are added to convey a horror genre.

While the text 'Scream' comes up the audience are able to hear a loud drum sound which may have scared the audience already, followed by a girl screaming which immediately is followed by a knife sound. These three different sounds sets the mood/genre. Moreover, the sound to the home phone ringing is very effective as the sound of the phone starts of by being an 'innocent' sound. Later on it the sound of the phone is being portrayed as the threat as each time it rings Casey jumps and cries.  

Setting- The first shot of the film opening is of a home phone which immediately connotes to the audience that the first few scenes will be established in a house home. Besides the home phone we can tell that it is set in a house as numerous of home items are on view, such as sofas, lamp, book shelves and a television. All this items indicate that this shot is actually taking place in the living room. Which in the few later shots it moves into the kitchen, that's has a home vibe to it. In my opinion I think this setting is very important and effective as a home represents safety and comfort, which it is being contradicted as Casey find herself being threatened in her own home. Which may start audience to question themselves about their own safety in their homes this is due to that the audience were able to relate their home to the film setting.

Mood-Right at the start of the opening ( not counting the film title)  we would not  guess that it is a horror as it opens up with a teenage girl answering the phone to a 'wrong number' and later moves on to the kitchen where she is cooking popcorn; which is a perfectly normal thing to do. Which sets the mood as quiet and clam. However, this is not the case for the whole opening as it gradually tension and mystery   starts to be created which lifts up the mood into a horror. This mood has been accomplish by the strange phone calls that Casey receives constantly which as a result makes her jumpy.

Narrative Hook- The reason why the film opening is great it as due to that the audience are constantly kept in suspense and are maintained ambiguous of the situation. Question such as who is he? Why her? What is so important about her? What is he going to do next? The audience want the answer and the only way to get them is to carry on watching. Also, the fact that later on the film opening he turns the small talk into a deadly game, hooks the viewer as the audience are waiting for Casey's answer.

Titles- In this film opening there is only one title being presented, Scream. The name of the film is the only title that is showed which can indicate that the most important word/sound throughout the film is 'Scream' therefore, the audience would be expecting to hear screams. The typography of the name of the film adds even more to horror as it is placed in a black background and coasted is in white and bloody red which highlights the title 'Scream'  

The Hangover- Comedy

Character- In this opening scene there are about five main character that have been established. From the very first character comedy has been establish already. This is through his (old man) body language as he moves his head and finger like a girl would when chatting back. Which the audience may find it hilarious as it is not expected for a grown man. Later into the opening we are introduced to some of the names of the characters such as Phil and Tracy; which allows the  audience to be able to relate to the characters as having established their names  brings the characters 'to life'. Tracy establishes comedy through her facial expression and her body language.

The way Tracy get up from her chair in a sudden way ,while having a serious and straight face, which in my opinion she over does  in order to convey comedy. In response to her reaction, Phil's body language is a   complete contrast to hers. As he is all clam and does not take this situation serious compared to her. 

Setting- In my opinion I think that the setting is the key to this opening in order to convey comedy. As there are two completely different setting established in the opening. One of these settings is set in a very luxurious bridal room and the another setting, what seems like a desert. The reason in having two completely different setting is due to that it creates questions and ambiguity. My biggest question is what in the world have they done?  

Mood-