Opening sequence

2. The opening sequence
The opening sequence can be the most crucial aspect
of any film, whether it be a long or short film. The key
purposes of an opening sequence can be essential
when introducing the film to the audience. These
purposes of an opening sequence to a film consists of
establishing key locations that are relevant to the film,
introducing main characters, such as the protagonists
and setting the theme of a film as the audience will
have a clear image of what genre the film will be. This is
what we would like to achieve in our opening
sequence.

3. Establishing Locations
It is important that main locations/locations that are relevant to the
short film are introduced at the beginning of the film in the opening
sequence, as the audience may be familiarised with the location and
may be able to work out or relate a certain genre with the location. For
example, in a film with a romance genre, the first setting may be a
restaurant/park as this may be seen as fitting to the genre of romance,
as the audience may relate the restaurant to being a romantic setting.
We can consider this to our film as in the opening sequence, we plan to
film on the moors. Also, to represent further that the character of Eve is
not normal, we will film on the moors as that is not a usual location for a
girl to be sat at night. This can relate to the genre of a psychological
thriller as it represents isolation and detachment from society, which a
spirit/ghost(Eves character) may experience. We will then film in the car,
using the go pro. We will do this because our film relies mostly on
dialogue to get the story across. We will also be filming transition shots
such as cross cuts of the van driving past, to break up the usage of go pro
footage.

4. Introducing the Protagonists
Introducing the protagonists/main characters in a film is a crucial step for
film producers, as the audience is then clear who the main people are
and what character type they are, for example the innocent character is
normally made the protagonist and are seen at the very beginning of the
film. This shows a story through the protagonists perspective, which
relates to our film as the story is seen through one of our protagonist
Richard’s perspective as he finds Eve. We will introduce Richard first and
then in order of appearance on screen. Meaning after Richard, Eve will be
introduced as she is the other main character as the narrative are built up
around them. We will introduce Richards character as a happy Yorkshire
man, who is content with his life and who is caring. To portray Richards
characteristics, we will have him singing along to a happy song very loud
in his car before he notices Eve. Eve will the be introduced as very pale,
unwell, unhappy and cold and scared. We would also like to portray that
she may have a spiritual/ghostly sense about her, to leave some suspicion
to the audience about who she really is.

5. Setting the Genre/theme
Setting the genre of the film may be difficult as there are many
themes for film and sometimes they can get confused with similar
themes. Our narrative becomes more of a psychological thriller
towards the end of the film as Richard realises Eve has been dead
for four years. We will however, we will film in the evening, as this
is usually the theme to psychological dramas to create a sense of
darkness and scariness to the film, to accentuate there might not
be something quite right with Richards journey. Also, Mise en
Scene is used in our film, as placing a young girl on a white dress at
night doesn’t fit the norm, which represents the psychological
thriller as it is not what the audience would feel comfortable with.
She will be wearing a white dress, connoting innocence from Eve’s
character. We would like to create a world where everything is
okay and a nice state of equilibrium. However as the film goes on,
the disequilibrium gets more powerful and clear. This fits the codes
and conventions of a psychological thriller theme.

6. Our Opening Sequence
For our short film, we would like to have the beginning shot of Richard
driving across the moors in his campervan late at night in his
campervan. We want him to be singing to loud old music that fits his
characteristics, this will represent that he is a happy and joyful, aged
man who has no worries and is seen to be living a happy retired life.
We will then cut to a shot of Eve (protagonist) who will be sat on a rock
on the moors and wearing a thin white dress. This will connote
innocence and purity towards Eve. Her bod posture should be hunched
up as if she is cold and scared. This will also signify that Eve could be
seen as very vulnerable, instantly making the audience feel empathy
for her. As Richard drives past and notices her, he turns his music down
and pulls in. We can use transition shots and transitions when editing
to make these shots more interesting and to break the film down to
make it of a slower pace. Eve will appear as timid and scared when she
walks over to the car and keeps herself to her self during the start.
However, she becomes more revealing towards the end of the film,
leading to audience suspicion.