1. Ryan Jamniuk
Film Openings

2. Film Opening
Every film has an opening but these vary from genre to genre and films in general.
A film opening can set the scene or a mystery to the audience and immediately establishes a tone with the viewer
This is the films first impression and as the saying goes; cant have a second chance to make a first impression
3. Cold Opening
A cold opening is when the director presents the audience with a short scene before the title credits start to roll
This is used to entice the viewer into watching the rest of the film as this opening scene will not present too much information into whatthe plot is or whats going on. This makes the viewer want to find out more about the program
4. Example
An example of this is Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
In the opening sequence we are introduced to a selection of the characters and also what they do
This is a good opening as its bright and vivid and grabs your attention. This also makes the viewer want to watch more of the film to find out whats going on and what will happen next
Initially the film was just to have a title card and nothing else but after consultation from Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright decided to change it so that the titles were a prologue. Wright did this because he felt that the characters would be shown to the audience too quickly
5. Animated Opening
Some films have an animated opening for live action instead of using the actual actors
This is to make the viewer think about whether or not the film is animated or will it be live action
It is again mysterious as it uses no actors so you have no idea who is in it or even what the film will be about
6. Example
A good example of this is Catch Me If You Can (2002)
This is a fully animated title sequence which gives you some of the names of the production crew
This was painstakingly made and had been designed many times by Olivier Kuntzel and Florence Deygas until the effect was achieved
Looking back on the film opening you find that most of what happens on the title sequence is scenes in the film itself which is another reason why this is the most creative title sequences in film
7. Acted Opening
This is an opening that has the actors or actor acting out a scene to camera as the credits role over the top
This is used to immediately put you in the action and also give you information
It also draws the audience in immediately and makes them try and work whats happening
8. Example
An example of this type of opening is Road to Perdition (2002)
This opening sequence shows the young boy Michael Sullivan Junior going about his day of a delivery boy
This is a very mystery opening as it doesnt give any information into what the film is about, it only shows where it is set and one of the main characters
This is also a very good opening as it immediately shows how every shot in the film can be frozen to look like a work of art