Film openings

Film openings:

The purpose of a film opening is to entice an audience into carrying on watching the film. A film opening should also establish characters and the genre. Directors do this in many different ways.

1. A flashback: s scene set a period of time before the rest of the narrative showing a key event that will define the rest of the movie.
2. Planning of landscape/establishing shot: Used to set the scene and inform the audience where the narrative is taking place.
3.  Narrations: Easy and effective way of getting the audience involved straight away. Technique used to give background information on what has already happened and/or who the main characters are, giving the audience an insight into the world of the narrative so that the rest of the film makes sense to the audience.
4. Action sequence: A fast paced opening to the film that will throw the audience into the action straight away and make them want to watch the remainder of the film – the nature of the sequence reveals to the audience the genre of the film that they are watching so that they know what to expect from the rest of the film.
5. Production logo’s: At the start of most films they will show the production/distribution company’s logo, if the film has a high budget then the logo may be adapted to fit the film.
6. Title sequence: most films have title sequences, this will include the list of names of the key cast and key production team that helped put the film together.
7. Animation: Portrays the beginning of the film in a more creative way and sets it apart from the rest of the film.
8. Soundtrack: rather than having any dialogue, the title sequence will usually contain a piece of soundtrack to play and in a higher budget film they likely will have had a piece of soundtrack specifically designed for the sequence.