The document discusses different techniques film openings use to engage audiences, such as flashbacks, establishing shots, narration, action scenes, chases, and title scenes. It provides examples from films like Saving Private Ryan, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Hitch, Hot Fuzz, James Bond: Casino Royale to illustrate how these techniques introduce characters, setting, genre and draw viewers into the story.

1. By Sophie Morton

2. The purpose of a film opening to entice
the audience straight away so that they
will carry on watching the film. The
opening should show the genre and
introduce the main most important
cast. A direction will decide to do this
in many different ways...

3. A flash back is a scene in which takes the narrative back
in time to an event which perhaps plays a major part to
an event which happens later on during the film
At the start of the film Saving
Private Ryan, it opens with a
flashback to 1944 showing a war
scene, which has relevance to
scenes later on in the film.

4. This is used to set the scene and inform the audience of
where the film is taking place.
This is the opening shot
from Confessions of a
Teenage Drama
Queen, and it is an
establishing shot of New
York, letting the
audience know that's
where it is set.

5. Narrations are a very easy and effective way of getting the
audience involved straight away. They are a technique
used to give background information on what has
been happening or who the characters are giving the
audience and insight so that the rest of the film makes
In the opening to hitch you have sense.
the main character talking directly
and rhetorically to the audience In the opening hot fuzz it
really involving them straight has one of the main
away. characters giving you
background information
about who they are and
what they have done, again
involving the audience and
providing them with facts
which relate to the later
story line.

6. Having a fast paced opening to a film attracts the
audience straight away and will make them want to
carry on watching. This opening will automatically
show the genre of the film.
At the start of this film it goes
straight into a bit of action by
there being a character with a
sword and then the main
character shooting someone, the
audience then wants to know why
and how this has happened and so
will carry on watching.

7. Very similar to an action scene these catch the audiences
attention too. It involves them as they will want to see
what happens after the chase. The chases are normally
intense weather it is in a car or on foot.
At the start of the James Bond film
Casino Royale there is a very intense
chase, with the characters climbing
and jumping over buildings and
walls and end up on top of a crane,
this entices the audience as they
want to know why bond is chasing
the other character.

8. At the start of most films they will always shoe the
production or distribution logo’s. If the film has a high
budget the logo will be adapted to reflect the genre
and story line of the film.

9. All films have title scenes too, these show the cast and
production team for the films. The titles can be a way
of building up the suspense and can show the genre of
the film.