Analysis of Scream Film Trailer

Callum Pullen

Mis en scene

The mis en scene in the scream trailer is a typical American slasher film. As you can see in the photo is clothes are basic. She is also holding a phone which sets the main recurring theme that happens during the film/trailer.

This mask in the picture, is the real face of the film and the mis en scene is key to this, without the mask the film would not be the same, and people will instantly recognise this mask. This is easily one of the best ways in persuading the viewer to watch the film as people will want to see a easily recognised feature in the film.

Editing

During the trailer, editing affect called fading was used, the first picture was the building up to the affect, as this is about to happen all sounds (Ambient, Non Diegtic and Diegtic all go quite.

It then quickly fades to a different camera shot and something comes smashing through the window. The quick fade builds tension and makes people on the edge of their seat, this is a very good way of persuading the viewer to watch the film because the audience will want to know what happens to the character.

During the trailer towards the end, text of screen appears straight after each other, they fly in and fade away, this is a editing technique and it adds suspense and gives the viewer interaction with the trailer. This is a very good method and I may use this in my trailer.

Camera Work

This close up of the phone and the women's hand shows that this may be a recurring theme throughout the film, this is effective because people will instantly see this in the trailer as it’s the first clip.

This over the shoulder shot is not a traditional over the shoulder shot, as it could be a point of view shot for a person standing behind the man in front, this is an effective shot in a trailer as it creates suspense and makes the audience think and want to know what is going to happen

Lighting and Colour

The use of colour here is red, as the films genre is a horror/slasher film, this signify blood and death and even shows what will happen if you do open the door. This is a good use of colour and is effective, this will also catch the viewers eye as the red is on a black background.

The use of a bright light on the mans face with a low key lighting back ground makes him a suspicious looking character, this shot adds effect to the character and the trailer as people will now see him as a suspicious character, even though it is the trailer, to use high key light on one specific part of a shot with the rest in low key lighting a a good way of using light and I may use it as well in my trailer.

Sound

• During the trailer there are a lot of different sounds used. Half way through the trailer a key technique was used which is a voice over, making the film trailer more persuasive to a audience. I believe that using a voice over is a very good way in persuading and making the film trailer more appealing to an audience.

Another way in which sound was used during the film trailer was speech which is called diegtic sound. The main character of the film explains a normal and basic scary/slasher movie this is ironic as the film is basically a normal slasher movie, but adding this in will make believe that there is a twist or something new to a film of this genre, adding diegtic sound to a film trailer is key and I will be adding it to my trailer.

Another way in which sound was used and another way in which it helped create suspense was through ambient sound, this is sound that sets the scene, as an object comes crashing through the window early in the trailer, this could mean that everything may crash in the film, this is effective as it makes the audience think about the film and makes the want to know what is going to happen.