Opening Techniques

A director is open to a wide range of choices when editing a films opening sequence. Many films from different genres will use an array of techniques to set the scene. For example the opening scene in Sleepy Hollow (1999) uses a series of close ups and extreme close ups to help create a sense of mystery for the story. However, opening a films with close ups could potentially confuse an audience. This is where another technique would become useful. This technique is the use of sound. The sound, which could only be described as spooky and mysterious keeps the audience gripped throughout the sequence.

Other films can open to confuse the audience. Analeptic openings or dream sequences can be used to show characters past or give the audience an important peice of information that will be relevant later on in the story. Openings like these can be used in a variety of genres from horror to comedy in films such as Shrooms (2007) the film opens with the main character running away from something. This sequence becomes apparent at the end of the film. Other films such as Kung Fu Panda (2008) use different animation to represent the dream sequence. Films could use effects such as muffled audio and add hazy visual filters to create the dream effect.

The Film Flags Of Our Fathers (2006) used misé en scene to show the dream sequence by including smoke, an empty and desolate wasteland, Eastwood also incorporated the use of muffled sound to make the audience question the sequence more, as the film does not actually tell you it is a dream until the end of the sequence when the character wakes up. The use of this technique could be used to open a film as it keeps the user gripped as it almost forces them to ask questions as to why the character is in a desolate environment and why you can hear the non-diagetic noises of people crying, even though there is only the main character there.

More recent films such as Drag Me To Hell (2009) have dedicated title sequences which actually drops hints as to what the film is about, the title sequence shows words and phrases such as '3 days' and 'curse' it also depicts images of the devil and shadows, the film can sometimes later reveal that these images are actually to do with the story and not purely aesthetic, but during the opening sequence these images will raise questions within the audience, this will keep them gripped throughout the film, seeing if those questions will be answered.