Edward
Scissorhands
Screening
Activities
for a Style Analysis
Link to all clips:
https://sites.google.com/site/mrstestajfk/classroomnews/untitledpost
Opening Credits
 As
we view the opening credits to Tim
Burton’s film Edward Scissorhands, record
your observations in the chart on the page
“Reading Film: Edward Scissorhands”
What is happening in the scene?
What are the images?
What shapes do you see?
What type of music is played?
Group Discussion
What
can you infer or predict
based on your observations?
Partner Discussion

Discuss the following questions with your partner
and record your findings at the bottom of your
handout.
1. Describe the TONE in this scene. What type of
movie does it remind you of?
2. How does the lighting help create the MOOD of
this opening?
Opening Scene
 As
we view the opening scene continue to
record your observations on your chart.
 What
 How
is happening in this scene?
is the camera moving to highlight
specific details in the scene?
Group Discussion
What
can you infer or predict
based on your observations?
Partner Discussion

Discuss the following questions with your partner and
record your findings on your handout.
1. How has the music changed between the opening credits
and this scene? Why?
2. What does the camera do when it leaves the room where
the story is being told? Why do you think Tim Burton does
this?
3. What do you think this film will be about? On what do
you base your prediction?
Screening Day A

As we watch this scene pay careful attention to
any cinematic techniques that are used to
emphasize the setting and the characters.
**Remember we are viewing for analysis, so be
careful to mentally note your findings.
Group Discussion

In your groups, discuss and answer the questions on the
handout, “Reading Film: Screening Day A”
1.
What do you know about Peg from this segment?
2.
How has the director already established a connection
between Edward and Kim?
3.
How do you feel about Edward? What do you think will
happen to him?
4.
How do you feel about the town? Why do you feel this
way?
Splitting and Sharing
Choose a cinematic technique to take notes on while
watching the film and record them in the column you are
observing. Be sure that each cinematic technique is
covered in your group—you may be responsible for more
than one.
Once we have viewed the scene and you have recorded
notes for your cinematic technique(s), find one person in
the room who also watched for the same technique and
compare your findings.
Now, go back to your seat and share your notes with your
group filling in the rest of the columns.
Understanding the Analytic Triangle
Purpose of
the
cinematic
technique
WHAT/WHY?
Example(s)
of this
cinematic
element
WHERE?
Effect(s) of
this
cinematic
choice
HOW?
Writing an Analytical
Statement
Tim Burton, in Edward Scissorhands, uses a
long shot in order to show the vulnerability
of characters. For example, when Peg is
upstairs in the castle, the long shot makes
her look small so that the viewer worries
about her safety.
Homework
 Using
the formula we just discussed and
following the notes on your handout, write an
analytical “statement” for one of your
selected cinematic elements that you
observed and took notes on.
 You may write your analytical statement at the
bottom of your handout.
 Be ready to share this tomorrow with your
group.
Screening Day B
 As
we watch this scene pay careful
attention to any cinematic techniques that
are used to emphasize the setting and the
characters.
 **Remember
we are viewing for analysis, so
be careful to mentally note your findings.
Group Discussion

In your groups, discuss and answer the questions on the
handout, “Reading Film: Screening Day B”
1.
Why do the townspeople welcome Edward so quickly into
their lives?
2.
How does the town seem to change after Edward’s arrival?
3.
Kim’s reaction to Edward is played for humor, but in what
way is hers the most natural or realistic response?
4.
What hints in this segment indicate that all will not work
out well?
Splitting and Sharing
Choose a cinematic technique to take notes on while
watching the film and record them in the column you are
observing. Be sure that each cinematic technique is covered
in your group—you may be responsible for more than one.
Once we have viewed the scene and you have recorded
notes for your cinematic technique(s), find one person in the
room who also watched for the same technique and compare
your findings.
Now, go back to your seat and share your notes with your
group filling in the rest of the columns.
Writing an Analytical Statement
with Reflective Commentary
*The Reflective Commentary is the elaboration/explanation element of
your analytic statement.
Tim Burton, in Edward Scissorhands, uses a long shot
in order to show the vulnerability of characters. For
example, when Peg is upstairs in the castle, the long
shot makes her look small so that the viewer worries
about her safety. By making viewers worry about
Peg’s safety, Burton is setting up Edward as a
potential villan, even though it quickly shifts to
showing him as an awkward loner.
Teamwork

Using the analytical statement formula with the reflective
commentary and the notes on your handout, write an
analytical statement for one of your selected cinematic
elements that you observed and took notes on.

Share your statement and commentary with your group.

Choose a cinematic technique and the best parts of each
person’s statements, and as a group write a new
analytical statement with reflective commentary. Be
ready to share with the class in a few minutes.
Screening Day C

Today, we will continue to watch scenes from Edward
Scissorhands. Like the previous lessons, you will make note
of the cinematic techniques used in the film. Use your
handout, “Reading Film: Screening Day C” to record all of
your notes.
Pay careful attention to these factors in the scenes.
1.
Is Edward behaving differently than before?
2.
What is the effect of the scene with Kim dancing in the crystals? How
have her feelings about Edward changed? Why?
3.
How has Edward tried to fit in? Why has he failed? What does the “ethics
lesson” reveal about Edward?
Notes and Group
Discussion
Share your notes with your group on the
cinematic techniques you observed in this
clip and answer the questions as a group.
Writing an Analytical Statement with Reflective
Commentary and a Statement of Closure

Your Analytical Statement with Reflective Commentary is not complete without
closure. Now, you will add on a Statement of Closure to finalize your analysis.
Tim Burton, in Edward Scissorhands, uses a long shot in order to
show the vulnerability of characters. For example, when Peg is
upstairs in the castle, the long shot makes her look small so that
the viewer worries about her safety. By making viewers worry
about Peg’s safety, Burton is setting up Edward as a potential
villain, even though it quickly shifts to showing him as an
awkward loner. Therefore, Burton is able to portray Edward as
the anti-hero through the use of long shot which makes him
seem lonely and non-threatening.
Homework

Look over all of your notes you have taken on Cinematic
Techniques.

Choose one technique to analyze in a well-developed
paragraph. Remember to use each step we have practiced
in the last few days
 Analytical
Statement
 Reflective
Commentary
 Statement
of Closure