Characteristics of Film Openings

on

 Sebastian Silva                                                                                                           October 28th, 2021


Film openings have a variety of common characteristics, most movies may use similar techniques in their opening sequences, including:

  • Flashbacks
  • Flashforwards
  • Dreams
  • Metaphors
  • Bookends
  • Red Herrings (Misleading the audience from the truth
  • MacGuffins (The opening element is unimportant by itself, but it sets the plot into motion)
To analyze film openings, you can ask yourself some questions regarding what's happening in the opening sequence:

  1. What is likely to happen?
  2. What type/genre film is it?
  3.  Who would most likely watch this movie and why?
Also, you can look for cinematography and mise-en-scene techniques used. For example, if you are trying to look into the cinematography aspect of the opening sequence, you could look for the type of shots being used, the type of camera angles, camera movements, parallel editing, etc.. On the other hand, if you are     analyzing mise-en-scene, you can look at the lighting, set design, make up, costumes, proxemics, etc.

There are times when action, horror, and comedy movies begin to share characteristics. Most movies in these genres begin by introducing us to the main crew of characters, or by showing us the landscape in which the movie will take place. These three types of movies may also share other traits, including
  • Using stereotypes to engage with their audience.
  • Having dumb/illogical characters develop into being smarter by the end of the movie.
  • Introduce the audience to the main conflict of the movie, and many other characteristics.
Even though horror, comedy, and action films contain similar techniques and traits, they also differ in some subjects. For example, in a horror movie it is normal to hear high-pitched strings play during stressful/scary scenes. On the other hand, you are not likely to hear this in a comedy or action movie. Camera movements, angles, and editing also differ in these movies. Accordingly, you are highly likely to see parallel editing being used in an action movie, but less likely to see it in a comedy movie. 




 


Comments

Post a Comment