CONVENTION OF OPENING SEQUENCES IN MOVIESBy Natasha Johnson

WHAT IS AN OPENING SCENE• “The opening of a short story or novel that is just – the very beginning”

- Les Edgerton• The opening credits that are shown at the very beginning of a film

including the important production members like the producers and directors, which may or may not include music

• A title sequence by which there is the title, key production and cast members, utilizing conceptual visuals and sounds presented

• Many people can judge a whole film based on the opening scene• Examples like James Bond, Paranormal Activity, The Hangover etc…

WHAT SHOULD AN OPENING SCENE INCLUDE?

• Credits including:• Producer• Executive Producer• Main actors/Actresses• Director• Movie Title• Production Company• Any other executive assisstants

• A gripping opening scene that will capture the audiences attention to draw them in causing them to want to watch the rest of the film

DIFFERENT TYPES OF OPENING SCENE

• In an action film the majority of them will start by going straight into action rather than dialogue first

• In a horror or thriller film, it normally begins with a bit of background film such as a thing that happened in the past that will affect them now

• In a drama there tends to be very little dialogue and just a lot of skipping scenes to different places that are shown to be happening at the same time

• In comedies, it tends to be a gripping start by having something funny instantly happen so you want to watch the rest of the film

• Nearly all films start with a gripping beginning otherwise the audience will not want to watch it where as if something interesting happens, the audience are enticed into watching more

• They all either give a background or a big beginning like an explosion which is what the rest of the film will be based around so it provides background information

EXAMPLE 1 – STAR WARS (1977)SCI-FI

The opening scene introduces what will happen using the film production company and then the famous writing to introduce why the film is happening. It then jumps straight into action using an explosion and then uses various shots to introduce each of the main characters.

EXAMPLE 2 – THE HANGOVERCOMEDY

The opening scene starts with the ideal dream wedding of what it will be like so it seems happy and introduces the main characters. It then jumps to somewhere the complete opposite where they’ve woken up in the middle of no where to present a funny contrast. It shows how the rest of the film they will be finding their way back to the ideal. The music then starts and the film begins.

EXAMPLE 3 – PARANORMAL ACTIVITYHORROR

Paranormal Activity is a hand-held camera horror so it starts with the camera man chasing the child then jumps to show where and when it is. To prove it is the date they say they have fun doing family things like making pumpkins. They go trick or treating and then small creepy things happen which makes them run away and it instantly jumps back to a happy scene again

EXAMPLE 4 – FAST AND FURIOUSACTION

In fast and furious it begins introducing the scene so cargo is lifted around then packaged into trucks like a normal day then a car appears and it ends up being a chase and raid. It then cuts back to reality and slowly starts to introduce the main characters.

EXAMPLE 5 – TITANICDRAMA

It starts of with background history of what it would have been like using real footage back when the titanic was first set off. It uses the credits over the top and then after the history shows the film title to change the mood. It then skips to modern day where they are finding the ruins before starting to actually tell the story.