Analysing Film Openings

Before creating a successful and eye-catching opening, it is important to understand what makes a film opening and how to make it work. The only way to do this is by watching various film openings. From the openings that I watched, I learnt the basic conventions that they are mad up of and how they are used to make them effective.

The conventions of a film opening
 - Studio/Production company logo - This is important as it credits the studio/production company involved and lets the audience gather a general idea of the direction and genre of the film, for example, when a Walt Disney logo is shown, the audience can tell that the genre of the film will most likely be a fantasy with a happy ending, as is the style of Disney studios

 - Establishing shots - These help to set the scene, atmosphere and genre. This is often before the film introduces a character. For example, in the establishing shots of Quantum of Solace, we see a scenic shot of a mountain with a tunnel and a body of water, followed by cuts of a car driving through the dark tunnel. These shots indicate to the audience that the film is set somewhere abroad, e.g. in Italy, and is picturesque. The shot zooms in to focus on the tunnel, and thus focuses the attention of the viewer to this as the main point of action. The car indicates that the film will be fast paced and full of intense action, aided by the help of fast editing. From these few shots, the viewer can tell that this will be an action film set in a foreign country.

 - Titles of the major members of the cast - These titles are important, especially if the cast list includes famous actors. These draw the audience in and confirm that the film has a high budget and will, therefore, be good. An example is the opening credits of Spider-Man, as they introduce the actors, including Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco, all of whom are famous in the Hollywood industry. It also gives them credit for their roles within the film

 - Genre is introduced - This is very important as it helps set the overall atmosphere of the film. Without genre, there would be no specifically relevant storyline. The genre is introduced through establishing shots, music, presentation of the titles, and action. The opening for The Woman in Black starts with dolls at a tea party in a dull light and eerie music that sounds similar to a music box. From this the audience can tell that the film is a horror/thriller and involves children in some way. We then see three girls, who are dressed in periodic costumes of the 19th Century, along with the mise-en-scene. Despite the cheerful mood of the girls, the eerie music adds a sense of discomfort and unease, adding to the idea that this genre is gothic horror. As soon as the girls all face the camera, the audience is unsettled as they seem to break the fourth wall. Although there is no other sound except for the music, the way the children turn to face the window may imply they are communicating with someone off camera. The destruction of the toys they were playing with adds to the ambiguity of this and indicates the presence of the paranormal, as if the girls are possessed. When the girls jump out the window and the camera zooms back to reveal a veiled figure, the viewer's thoughts are confirmed; this film is a gothic horror.

 - Characters are introduced - These characters tend to be the people who will be the focus of the action throughout, therefore we must know who they are and what they are like in a short space of time when the film starts. A good example would be the opening of Trainspotting. In this we learn that our main characters are Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud, Tommy and Renton, and that they are people who are delinquents and thieves and live in a run down apartment. We get a sense of who they are in terms of personality as well, which helps us to emotionally connect to, and empathise with, these characters.

 - Narration/Text - This broadens the audience's understanding of what the film will be about. This also helps to confirm the genre and our knowledge of the characters. The Bucket List starts with "Edward Perriman Cole died in May. It was a Sunday afternoon and there wasn't a cloud in the sky." From this, the audience knows that the film will be related to death and possibly about self discovery. It also tells the audience that this film will be a social realism.

 - Action/Event - An action/event draws the attention of the audience to the film, much like a book in which the opening has to be gripping in order to hook a reader. It helps confirm the genre and scene and gives us a context we are able to understand. For instance, Zombieland starts with what seems to be a car wreckage until a man covered in blood runs towards the camera, currently in a PoV shot. When the camera's PoV trips and the person attacks, we can draw that this is a zombie film which entices the viewer into watching the rest of the film.

 - Non-diegetic sound - This sets the mood, atmosphere and genre of the film. It involves music, narration and any form of sound that cannot, or would not be visible in the shot. The opening of Resident Evil: Afterlife is simple yet effective as it uses music only to build up the tension and drama. an audience can tell that the film is going to be filled with action and suspense. There is use of heavy drums and discordant strings that add a sense of speed and unease, keeping the audience on the edge of their seat. However, if you were to mute the original sound and replace it with more comic music, such as the Benny Hill theme tune, the atmosphere changes to become more comical. When it comes to openings, non-diegetic sound is a key part in setting up how the viewer will view the action taking place.