Compare and contrast between ‘Scream’ opening and ‘The Anaesthetist’ opening sequence.

Narrative

Similarities:

• Both openings use Propp’s character notion of a false heroine, to build up a false expectation of characters in the film. More than this, both are killed in the sequence.
• Both involve a chase sequence whereby the villain is in control and eventually disappears before pouncing on the victim.
• The villain has obviously been obsessing over his victim and knows about their background. E.g. photographs in my thriller, and knowledge of her lifestyle in Scream.
  
  

Differences:

• Our narrative is greater driven towards the Villainous character whereas Scream’s focus is on the victim. This aids our success of setting the audience expectation of a villain driven narrative and POV.
• The Scream chase is mainly around the domestic setting unlike my opening which is in a public area. Arguably ‘Scream’ personalises the viewer’s experience.
• Narrative is anchored by a news report in our opening whereas Scream uses the dialogue of the villain.
• In Scream the villain keeps failing to grab the victim, whereas our villain catches the victim on the first attempt.
• Scream- the killing of the victim is graphically witnessed whereas our thriller just provides information that the victim has been killed.
• Our thriller is more action orientated whereas Scream involves long episodes of dialogue.
• Scream-much more character development of the victim provides a stronger attachment between the audience and herself (and situation). As a result of this the audiences expectation that she will be a main character in the rest of the film is flawed when she is killed-giving implications of specific themes that will be included in the film, -not defining the films narrative.
  

Characters:

Similarities:

• False heroines-white petit females, blonde hair (the stereotypical blonde hair blue eyes), and white clothing.
• Weak, innocent, attractive victims
• False heroines show determination in their attempted escape.
• The male villains show connotations of control, power, calmness, and kill for pleasure.
• Victim does not know her killer.
• Gender roles are conventional in both thrillers to provide a strong generic signifier.

Differences:

• Scream-the villain signifies calmness and control through dialogue, making it almost personal for the viewer as this is also all the victims knowledge of the villain.-We are interpreting from her point of view.
• Our villain’s calmness and confidence is shown through the action code of striding slowly and his tall stance and bold posture.
• Scream shows a verbal interaction between the victim and villain unlike our opening.
• Scream gives deeper insight into this victim’s lifestyle whereas our victim is not given much backgrounding. –our opening had to be two minutes and also this implies the focus is going to be on the villain throughout the film, rather than his victims.
• Our villain’s control is shown through his anesthetising of her, unlike in scream where it is his personal knowledge of the victim. (I think Scream is more suspenseful in this sense)
• Scream has a potential hero that is easily killed off to further suggest the villain’s complete control in his situation.
  

Themes

Similarities:

· Isolation/loneliness
· Innocence/vulnerability
· Spying
· chase
· murder
· power/control
· mockery of victims chances

Differences:

· Scream- rigid hidden identity, violent death,
· My opening- systematic killings, serial killing, police involvement,

Breakdown of iconography and other techniques

Camera work:

Similarities:

· Range of distances and types of movement throughout chase. E.g. whip pans to show immediacy and add disorientation, long shots to show the surroundings and spacing between characters.
· Steady camera work when onlooker so we understand the action codes.
· Many close ups to show detailed and intensity of emotions
· Shot mostly at eye level, and there are eye-line matches in the sequence for continuity
· Some shots use a stationary camera to restrict the audiences flow in their involvement, making it more enigmatic as they want to be there to help the victim escape.
· Both sequences apply the 180degree rule successfully between two characters which maintains the audience’s sense of direction through the chase.

Differences:

· Our thriller involves much more shaky, point of view shots.
· There are tilted angles during POV shots in Scream which add to the sense of disorientation.

Mise-en-scene:

Similarities:

• Villain wears dark clothes to hide identity and is a signifier of evil
• The victims wear light clothing as connotations of innocence.
• Rural location implies a sense of isolation, i.e. victim is more on her own. ‘Out in the middle of nowhere’
• Both victims run outdoors where help may be possible yet both remain alone with the villain.
• Both foot chase sequences
  

Differences:

• Scream- Mask hides the identity of the villain and makes him seem supernatural and excluded from society.
• Scream- A main a domestic setting allows the audience to relate to the situation which adds greater suspense.
• Scream- victim is injured, our victim is drugged.
• Scream- Night time and low level lighting adds creepiness and plays on the fear of the unknown. Also this is typical of thrillers.
• Our thriller- the villain has a cloth with chloroform on it unlike Scream’s villain who uses a knife.

Editing:

Similarities:

• Fast and slow pace editing and fast and longer shots are used in places to show realistic speed of the chase (and build up) yet also this technique creates heightened suspense by lingering on shots.
• Straight cuts maintain pace of the chase
• Following on shots are more than 30 degrees from the last to avoid the effect of ‘jump cuts’. Maintains fluidity of experience.
• Matches on action to maintain realism
• Shot/ reverse/shots, to give more information to the audience and show reactions to actions.
• The shot of the victims capture is slowed down (slow motion) to extend this moment of heightened suspense.
  

Differences:

· Because our chase is the opening sequence to our thriller, there are credits included.
· Our chase has fades to and from black in the sequence adding suspense but more importantly they are purposeful for the opening credits to be shown.
· Scream-Overall a slower paced opening sequence. This lingering on every shot heightens suspense.

Sound:

Similarities:

• The use of diegetic and non-diegetic sound to add realism whilst creating more enigma and suspense.
• At points of heightened suspense the non-diegetic sound extenuates this by increasing in pace or volume.
• When the victim is being chased there is a fast non diegetic drum beat.
  

Differences:

• We use diegetic sound such as screaming, water trickling, rustling of leaves, falling, panting, ‘Scream’ uses door bell ringing, popcorn crackling, telephone rings, smashing of glass, locking doors, sinister villainous laughs, gabbing, panting, sound of being stabbed, and silence which is effective to add suspense purely through action codes. Also Scream uses outdoor atmospheric sounds to suggest the calm and stillness of this location.

Our thriller uses a news report for further generic anchorage and to set up expectations of the film narrative whereas Scream sets these expectations up through the dialogue.

Our non-diegetic sound is a drum beat, siren and synthesised sounds, which are very loud and clear. In Scream the non-diegetic sounds are very eerie such as slow piano keys and high violin notes/screeches. Also an increasingly louder violin is cut short by a drum beat at a point of heightened suspense before the villain gives an ultimatum. “Put the phone down again, and I’ll cut you like a fish!”

Scream- during longer takes and dialogue orientated shots there is a slow drum beat-almost like interjections of sound at key moments-e.g. “[her boyfriend’s] his name wouldn’t be...Steve...would it?....DRUM BEAT”