The document summarizes research conducted on film openings for thriller genres. Surveys found that younger audiences care most about plot while older audiences also value characters and stars. Most want the opening to reveal some plot details but keep the main points mysterious. Action in the beginning engages audiences. Analyses of openings for films like Jack Reacher, Salt, and Casino Royale showed that suspenseful music sets the mood while limiting character details and dialogue builds intrigue for the full film. Influential openings featured characters alone in dangerous situations to create isolation and leave the opening unresolved to develop the story.
2. Primary Research
Before we could begin the creation of our project we had
to conduct surveys to better understand our target
audience. Each group member surveyed different groups
of people in order to achieve a wider scope of what our
audience generally expected from films of the thriller
genre.
3. Questionnaires
Younger people seemed heavily
interested in the plot of a film. Most of the
young people surveyed said that the plot
was the most crucial part of the movie in
their opinion.
Older people were attracted
towards characters and the star
power of actors and directors as
well as the plot.
Many people see a certain movie
because they like the director.
4. Most of the people surveyed
wanted for the opening to reveal
some aspects of the plot, but to
keep the main points a mystery.
A predictable plot is never a
good way to keep the audience
intrigued.
People surveyed also desired for there
to be some form of action present in
the beginning.
Actors are all important to the movie,
since the acting can make or break
any movie, but especially an
action/thriller.
5. Audience Analysis
Action/thrillers seem to be typically targeted toward the young/middle-aged
male population. Some of the women we surveyed said they did not like this
genre, but all the men did. That is not to say that women do not like action-
thrillers, but the target audience for the movie opening we are making is
relatively young men. This said, they want action. They want to watch a
movie and see “killing” or a good plot form. James Bond movies were a crowd
favorite in this category, and they have quite a good reputation. Other
movies such as Fight Club or Hannah were some favorites, possibly since they
are not only filled with action, but have a plot that has room to develop. So
action is a definite yes, but the movie cannot rely solely on killing and
explosions, it needs an unpredictable plot.
7. Opening Notes: Jack Reacher
● dramatic music
● interesting bullet making shot
● nice establishing shot
● cool cuts between driving
scenes (foreshadow something
big will happen)
● security camera shots
● gun shot (close up to gun)
● close up to face for intensity
8. Opening Notes: Salt
● suspenseful music sets mood
● echoing foreign voices indicate
trouble
● close up shows fear
● POV shot indicates vulnerability
● wide long shot from low down
gives sense of the cruelty going
on
9. Opening Notes: Die Hard
● very slow opening allows for
better introduction of character
● “dont worry im a cop” allows
audience to understand some of
the characters skills
● Combines the opening sequence
with the beginning of the movie
● conversation with man on plane
is an interesting twist to
openings for thrillers
10. Opening Notes: Casino Royale
● Soft yet foreboding music
● Empty building creates sense of isolation
● Rapid flashback to action scene builds
suspense
● Black and white color scheme adds to
gloomy setting
● Limited dialogue to act as exposition.
● Ends with an execution then transitions
into animated title slides
11. Conclusion: Film Openings
In all of the openings studied, with the exception of Die Hard, there is a
dramatic or dark orchestral track playing. Most of them also introduce the
main character but refrain from going into depth about them. In the case of
Casino Royale the main character, James Bond, is revealed but details
surrounding his personality aren’t disclosed. The movie leaves the opening
open ended so that it can build throughout the rest of the film. There can be
some dialogue included but for the most part it shouldn’t pertain to the main
plot in any major way. In all of the openings there is a character either
traveling alone, fighting alone, or being tortured alone, indicating that a
sense of isolation should be established.
12. Films That Influenced Us
If any films truly influenced the ours, they would be Salt
and the James Bond movies. The espionage/on the run
story of Salt is what we are going for. Both our movie and
Salt are propelled by deceit and action that will keep the
audience on the edge of their seats. The James Bond films
are the classic spy movie, so they had to have an
influence. The use of back tunnels, spy gadgets, and other
spy stereotypes that have sprung out of the Bond movie
franchise give us an idea as of how to portray our
characters.
