Conventions of film openings

Key conventions of film openings

A film opening  is created to excite and interest the audience , delivering a hook (sudden ending, keeping the audience interested). The opening will give hints into the storyline of the film and reveal the genre. It will usually last around two minutes .Although it doesn't seem long the opening  is responsible for gripping the audience . Film openings will usually include these key conventions:

Genre

The genre of the film will be established in the opening. This is done by adapting the mise en scene to suite specific needs of the film genre. Portraying the genre in the opening gives the audience and insight onto what the film will be about .The genre can be established through the:
Music-(light-hearted-comedy).
Lighting-(Dark , shadows-horror)
Costume-(combat clothes-action)
Set-(Isolated cabin-horror)
Props-(lasso-western)

Main Characters

If characters are included in a film opening they are most likely to be main characters. This means the character will be an important part of the film narrative. Main characters will often have some dialogue in the opening scene or have a focused appearance. The audience will able to identify key characters as they will have more focus than the extras who will have little focus.

Introduce pre-plot

Hints of the narrative are shown in the opening to give the audience a taster of the storyline .This will get the audience guessing or listing the possible significance of the opening scene in the later stages of the plot. keeping the audience engaged throughout in the film and paying attention to detail. The pre-plot can also be shown in a flash back in the opening scene to emphasis that scenes effect on the storyline.

Key credits

Key credits are the names of the most important people and contributors to the overall development of the film. This includes the production company. The credits make it obvious to the audience the film has started. The main names that are shown in the opening are:

-Director/producer 

-Main actors/actresses

-Production names

-Features credits

-Screenplay

-Director of photography
-Film Editors

-Music by ...

-Associate producer
-Production designs

-Executive producer

Sound

Other than important dialogue, music is crucial in the opening of a film as it sets the scene. The music represents the genre and mood of the opening. The music determines whether the audience see the opening as happy ,sad or funny.

Shot types

The shot that is often used in an opening is a tracking shot (following a person or moving object). This emphasises the person/object being tracked and having an important role in the narrative. This is used in Forrest Gump to open and end the film by tracking the floating feather. Close up set the tone of the opening as they reveals the characters emotion/reaction towards the events in the opening scene . This helps the audience understand the mood set in the opening.

Production companies / Institutions

The Production company is usually stated at the beginning of the film before any clips are shown. This highlights the institution . Audiences who watch films by certain institutions will have trust in them and assume the film is good . The company logo may have a variation to set the scene, warner bros does this a lot to portray the genre of the film.