The sound/music:
- The music used within the trailer consists of a face paced track. The reason why Wes Craven has decided to use this type of eerie and dramatic music is to heighten the tension within the trailer and to create suspense in order for it to appeal to their target audience and create a massive demand for the movie. The music also supports and is directly related to the scenes which appear throughout the trailer. For example, due to many cut shots used within the trailer, the sound also picks up pace and begins to become louder. By doing this, the scenes which appear on the screen appear more dramatic and also keeps the audience at the edges of their seats.
- The use of synchrous sound as the voiceover coming directly from the antagonist grabs the audience’s attention immediately as it feels as if they are also being addressed along with the iconic actor/actresses within the scene.
- In addition, the voiceover being used is a common convention as this is used throughout the Scream films
- The voiceover used within the film by the antagonist also acts as a sound bridge within the trailer as it connects the different cuts shots together, building the tension
- Due to the variety of different sounds used, it helps build up and maintain the tension of the trailer which keeps the audience at the edges of their seats and will result in a demand being created upon its release
The Codes and conventions/shot types and angles:
- The common code and convention seen throughout the trailer is the colour red appearing. By using this colour within horror trailers it connotes to the audience many things such as; death, blood, red, danger etc. As the trailer continues using this constant colour throughout, it emphasises that this movie contains a slasher type theme as blood is associated with constant murders and death.
- Another common convention which is not only evident within the Scream trailer but also throughout horror genre films, are close up and extreme close up shot types along with high angles. These shot types occur throughout many horror trailers due to many reasons. Firstly, by having the extreme close up shots it makes the audience feel uncomfortable as being this close up into someone’s face is unnatural. The use of this shot is also accompanied by the sounds of loud and fast paced breathing which immediately connote to the audience that the person is in some sort of danger and in need of help. In addition it also creates some enigma as the audience cannot see what else is occurring within the scene such as where the scene is taking place and who is attacking the person who is screaming. Another reason as to why the close up shots occur within not only this trailer but many other horror trailers is due to the fact that the audience can see the facial expressions of the actor/actress being shot. Wes Craven for example, has incorporated this many times within his trailer of Scream 4 so the audience can see how the actor/actress is feeling. Within the trailer we can see a lot of fear within the victims’ eyes which connotes to the audience that this person may be in some sort of danger and therefore encourages the audience to go and see the movie in order to find out who may be causing the particular actor/actresses the distress. In many cases this turns out to be the antagonist.
- The main type of angle used within the Scream 4 trailer is a high angle. Wes Craven has decided to use this angle repeatedly within his trailer when filming the actors and actresses. By using the shot constantly throughout the trailer it connotes to the audience that these people may be in danger as the high angle connotes low status and lack of power. Furthermore, by having fear and distressed shown as the facial expressions on the actors faces it also connotes to the audience that these characters may be in some sort of danger.
- Within the trailer, jump cuts and fast paced editing is used by Wes Craven. By having many jump cuts it connotes and symbolises to the audience that something is unnatural. In addition, the series of jump cuts are accompanied with fast paced editing along with fast paced music. This all speeds up the trailer and heightens the tension making the trailer seeming more dramatic. This technique is used throughout many horror trailers as it attracts the target audience and instantly creates demand for the movie once it’s released.
- The mis-en-scene within the trailer also symbolises to the audience that this trailer is for a horror movie.
- Firstly, it can be seen thorough the costume wore by many of the characters. For this teen/slasher subgenre movie many of the target audience would expect to see an iconic figure (the protagonist), many teenagers (victims) who are represented through the use of stereotypes. The characters can be easily identified by the way that they are dressed, for example, the bimbo teenagers in high school are represented successfully as they are wearing low cut tops along with blank facial expressions and blonde hair. They fall into the common stereotype of “all blonde teenagers are busty and dumb”.
- The setting of Scream within the trailer takes place and is base around a neighbourhood filled with teenagers within America. This is a common convention within horror films
- By having it set in a neighbourhood it signifies to the target audience that the teenagers are highly venerable as the houses that they live in are “too big” for them and highly deserted which creates a perfect location for a antagonist to strike.
- The décor and lighting used within the trailer consists of mainly low key lighting and dark colours at times where the teenagers are seen lonely and answering the telephone which has the antagonist on the receiving end. By having the low key lighting within these specific scenes it connotes to the audience that something bad is about to occur and heightens the tension created within the scene. This is a common and reoccurring convention and signifier within horror movies.
- The props used within the trailer of Scream are a major signifier to the target audience
- Within the trailer, the main props consists of; knives, a mask, and a telephone
- By including these props within many of the Scream films it connotes to the audience that something enigmatic is about to occur which mostly results in the antagonist being involved.
- The type of lighting used within the Scream is generally low key type of lighting. This type of lighting makes it hard for the target audience to see the antagonist during scenes within the trailer. Low key lighting is dark and places a heavy and dark shadow behind the antagonist which therefore emphsies his dominance and enigma. The reason as to why Wes Craven has included this type of lighting througout the Scream trailer is to highten the tension and to sustain a good level of suspense which will therefore create demand for the media instituition.
- Another type of lighting which has been used within the Scream trailer was low fill lighting. This type of lighting had maximised the amount of shadow created within scenes of the Scream trailer to connote to the audience darkness and engima which is a common convention throughout the majority of the Scream films. By Wes Craven using this type of lighting it successfully connotes what the movie is about which is, darkness, mystery and an enigmatic atmosphere.
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