Independent research on film openings

Through all of the research we have done into film openings some things have become clear which are common denominators in creating a successful film opening. The opening must not give away an crucial information but must either be straight into the action or create an instant mystery leaving the audience questioning. Also some openings are artistic beautifully creative which is another way of keeping a grip on the audience by providing stunning visuals like various James Bond opening title sequences. This all comes down to keeping the audience engaged in the first few minutes of the film to make sure they stay put to watch the rest. Examples of gripping film openings that I have been inspired by the most are as follows;

The Casino Royale opening was one of the first I was shown in class and it has stuck with me due to the artistic design created by Daniel Kleinman. It is a great example of how artistic design and instant action can be intertwined to produce such a gripping animation to open a film. 

The Lost In Translation opening sequence is different to any other that I have seen but uses and completely relies on the Male Gaze Theory by Laura Mulvey to attract the audiences and keep them fascinated. Scarlett Johansson's body is the centre of attention in this opening and apart from being a great example of the Male Gaze Theory it also adds a effect of mystery because her face is hidden. The audience are questioning who the person is and how she is vital to the story.

Inception, being another one of my favourites is a very gripping title sequence. The work by director Christopher Nolan and Cinematographer Wally Pfister has resulted in a beautifully shot landscape of waves and sandy beaches whilst Leonardo DiCaprio's character is providing mystery for the audience due to being unexplainably washed up on the shore. 

The Sherlock Holmes opening trailer uses music to attract the audience. The face paced non-diegetic sound gives the impression that there is action about to take place and builds a suspense about the opening which keeps the audience engaged. Also, shots of mysterious characters running and chasing each other around London displays an action-packed opening sequence which will be followed by an action-packed film. 

Researching film openings like these has shown me that any film, genre irrelevant, needs an interesting opening to grab an audiences attention and ensure they watch the rest of the film. It could be a Rom-Com film or a Horror film but without action, mystery and beautiful creative art, the film opening will not successful. This motivates me to make sure Peacock Production's film opening will be one of the most interesting and mysterious title sequences, with a cleverly thought out narrative to ensure a mystery and complex, yet understandable piece of film.

By Jack Jolly