Edward Scissorhands Cinematic Techniques

How do filmmakers communicate meaning, entertain or convey a certain emotion to the audience? Cinematic elements are the key, they intrigue the audience to a point where they genuinely want to keep watching the movie. The director of Edward Scissorhands, Tim Burton, used a variety of specific elements to communicate specific emotions to the audience. The movie Edward Scissorhands is about a man named Edward who is created by an old inventor. Unfortunately, the inventor passes away before he has a chance to give Edward proper hands; therefore, he is left with scissors for hands. Later on, an Avon salesperson named Peg discovers Edward in a dark and gloomy castle on a hill. She takes Edward back to her house and he has difficulties integrating with society. From the beginning to the end of the movie, Tim Burton uses the soundtrack, camera movements and lighting techniques to accomplish his goals and to receive the reaction that he wanted from the audience.

First of all, music and sound are one of the essential cinematic elements that help communicate emotions and entertain the audience.

During the making of the movie Edward Scissorhands, Tim Burton chose different kinds of music and sound in different scenes to help control the feeling that the audience gets when they watch it. No matter if it’s happy, sad or scary, there is music or other sounds that help us ease into the atmosphere of it. For example, the scene where there is an assembly line making cookies, there is non-diegetic sound. The scene opens in the mansion, there is dark and ominous music playing which could make us sense mystery and feel fear. However, when the inventor holds up the heart, there is peaceful music that is meant to make our mood change from fearful to calm. Tim Burton brought the audience into the tone of what’s going on in the scene in order to create a great experience for

them.

Next, there are camera movements which shape our perspective of what's going on in the scene. Tim Burton made sure that every shot supported and enhanced the mood and tone of the movie. Just from a single movement you can feel immersed in the action of the movie like you're one of the characters and you can even have an idea what the characters are feeling. For example, in the scene from Edward Scissorhands where Peg is wandering around the castle that Edward lived in, they used tracking when she was walking to makes us feel like we are in the movie and see everything that she passes by. Also, pan was used when showing the pictures to help us see the objects as if we were Peg looking at them. This helps people feel as though they are involved in the movie, which makes it more interesting to them.

Finally, we have lighting that can alter not just our ability to see objects but it also impacts our moods. In movies, lighting is vital to fabricating the picture affecting emotions, tone, colour and the depth of the scene. For example, at the start of the scene when they are robbing Jim’s house, there was low key lighting because of the flashlights and because it was night time. They also used high key lighting once they got inside and after Edward was arrested to show the contrast between the settings. This captures an emotion of mystery and gloom to show Edward’s troubles. Being able to obtain genuine emotions from a movie makes it more entertaining and immersive.

To conclude, cinematic elements are crucial to having a good movie. Sounds and music, camera movements and lighting help create an entertaining and emotional atmosphere for the audience. While watching the movie, the audience may not be paying specific attention to these elements but they really are the difference between a bad movie and a good movie. After all, isn’t it one of the main things that set the mood of a scene?