Film Openings: Exploring the Art of Film Openings I

Last time, we dove into why film openings matter and how they set the stage for everything that follows. Now, it’s time to get a little more hands-on. After all, understanding the why is only half the equation. Now we've got to figure out the what and how too. What kind of opening should you go for? What makes that first minute unforgettable? If you want to turn casual viewers into hooked participants, the first impression has to land perfectly.

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1. PROLOGUE:

A prologue serves as a glimpse into the world before the main narrative unfolds, often providing context, tone, or crucial backstory that enhances our understanding of the upcoming story. It's like stepping into the foyer of a grand mansion, offering a taste of the journey that lies ahead.

Example: The Matrix (1999) The Matrix opens with a dramatic prologue featuring Trinity being pursued by a mysterious spy following the curve of reality. We don't know who she is or what's going on. But the severity of her escape combined with the surreal physics of the world Attracts us immediately. This sequence gives us a taste of the high-concept treatment of reality. We are constantly caught up in the action. It's a thorough tease of the cyberpunk world we're about to dive into. Creating something interesting before Neo's main story begins.

2. COLD OPEN: A cold open starts the film with immediate action or intrigue, throwing the viewer into the middle of a scenario before any context is provided. There’s no time for exposition; instead, it demands that the audience keep up, often hinting at themes and tensions that will unravel later.

Example: Get Out (2016) In Get Out, the cold open throws us into an eerie situation where an African-American man is abducted in the dead of night. We know nothing about the world of the movie yet, but this unsettling and suspenseful scene immediately sets a dark tone. The tension is palpable, and the mystery of what’s happening grips the audience, leaving them eager to uncover the underlying horror in the plot.

3. DAY IN THE LIFE: The "Day in the Life" opening offers an intimate shot of the protagonist's routine, grounding the viewer in their everyday world. It establishes a sense of normalcy, which will be disrupted as the narrative unfolds. This type of opening is a great way to introduce a character’s personality or relationships without any direct exposition.

Example: Uncut Gems (2019) In Uncut Gems, we follow Howard Ratner, a New York City jeweler. As he lives his chaotic life The camera follows him down a crowded street. into his shop and through close relationships with customers and creditors. The opening scene is a dynamic atmosphere that reflects Howard's fluctuating lifestyle. It's the perfect metaphor for the first days of life. Because it immerses us in the protagonist's world of gambling, debt, and constant stress. This sequence draws us in not only by showing us Howard's daily routine. But it also introduces us to his high-octane, tense reality. It is what creates the mood of this movie.

4. TEASER: A teaser opening crafts intrigue by offering tantalizing snippets of the story while withholding enough details to leave the audience grasping for more. It presents a brief, often intense moment that sparks curiosity, setting the tone and stakes without full clarity.

Example: Tenet (2020) Christopher's Tenet Nolan delivers a masterful teaser to open the film. The film opens with the chaos of an opera house. Masked men, gunfire, and a tense atmosphere. The protagonist's mission is unclear. The motive is unclear. And viewers are thrown into intense, high-stakes situations without any explanation, full of reversing bullet physics and cryptic dialogue. This troubling scene immediately attracted viewers. Nolan immerses viewers in a world of espionage and mundane chaos. It cultivates a mystery that makes the mystery before us impossible to resist.

In the next post I will explore and break down a few more types of film openings, until next time.