essay plan

macro - style/genre
The stylistic differences between horror and thriller/horror films

Paranormal Activity and Scream 4

thesis statement
overview of films/breif outline
first impressions/responses

paragraph 1
paranormal activity
point - home video/documentary style, voyeurism is used in the film
example - when katie and micah are watching a night back on the computer screen
anyalsis - voyeurism is used in paranormal activity to lead the audience to feel sympathy for katie and micah as they are shocked as the events taking place during the night
synthesis - a connection between the audience and charcaters is formed as well as the horror genre being established

scream 4
point - following the main characters sydney prescott and jill kessler, teen mystery a who done it film, voyeurism of the films at the beginning
example - the opening sequence of the film within a film (girls sitting on a sofa watching stab)
analysis - voyeriusm in scream 4 is used to remind the audience of prequels to Scream 4 and the way ghostface works
synthesis - this helps to communicate the plans and theme of the film (slasher movie)

compare paranormal activity and screams points

paragraph 2
paranormal activity
point - documentary style, long takes
example - photo smashes, micah goes to investing the event
anaylsis - documentary style showing the audience how unexpected the events are
synthesis - as the sequence is a long take the auidence gets to see the bulid up to the events as well as the aftermath creating a sense of being vulnerable and part of it with the characters, haunting the girl as she is vulnerable

scream 4
point - shot reverse shot, location
example - opening sequence killings
anaylsis - this shot increases the tensions within the audience, as they don't no which one of the characters will be ghostfaces next victim, isolated, vulnerable girls
synthesis - this reinforces the horror/thriller slasher movie theme, purposlly chose charcaters

compare paranormal activity and screams points

paragraph 3
paranormal actvity
point - camera movement, shakey cam
example - scene 5
anyalsis - the camera, lights and sound helps to create the genre and create suspense
synthesis - these micro elements protray the horror genre creating unsuspecting events the audience does not expect

scream 4
point -fast editing and switches between angles
example - car park scene
anyalsis - when the lighting darkens and the editing speeds up the audience should be expecting a killing
synthesis - dark isolated locations, lighting, editing reinforces the genre

compare paranormal activity and screams points

conclusion
reinforing the first point that teh stylistic techniques chosen help to reinforce the genre categories
that the home video technics have now caught on and been used in other films such as cloverfield and 127 days later