So now that I have analysed the opening sequences from professionally-made well-known films I shall also analyse the opening sequences of some student made films. Enjoy! :)
1. The Edge
In the opening sequence of this student made film we are not told any of the plot although from what we are shown in this opening sequence we can assume that the boy with the skates is in trouble as he is constantly trying to get away from the men in suits. There also isn't any dialogue in this video and we aren't properly introduced to any key characters; although we can guess that a key character is the boy in the skates.
I think that this is a good opening sequence because it intrigues the audience to want to find out more and to want to know why the boy is being chased by these men.
2. The Workman
In the opening sequence of this student made film not much of the plot is given away although we can also assume that the workman has something to do with the disappearing's that are talked about in the film. There is some dialogue in this opening sequence although it is not from the 'workman'; instead it is from a news reporter that is on the television. Although we are not directly introduced to any key characters, it is clear from the title of this film that the workman we see getting ready in the morning has a significant role in the film.
Overall, I think that this film opening sequence is very good at creating suspense and making the audience want to see more of the film to find out what else happens in the story. However, there could be some speech in this opening sequence; something to give the audicence more information about the story and hints as to how the plot may develop further.
3. Inner Evil
In the opening sequence of this student made film we are not told about the plot although some could argue that we are given hints of the plot in the flashbacks that the girl character has in this video. There isn't any dialogue whatsoever in the opening sequence but there is a constant piece of music playing in the backgound. The girl that is shown in the opening sequence is presumed to be the main character of the film but we aren't given any information about her; only that we watch her morning routine.
I think that this is a good opening sequence because of the use of flashbacks, to the traumatic experiences, of this female character. In addition to this, the fact that there isn't any dialogue in this opening sequence isn't a negative factor in this case as it too helps to build tension and draws the audience in.
In my opinion I think that the opening sequences to any film should be engaging and make the viewer want to watch on. There doesn't have to be numerous scenes or lots of dialogue, but it just needs to make you want to watch it! So, having said that, here's my opinion on the openings of a few well known films...
1. My Week With Marilyn
This film is set in the 1950's and is about a man who decides to chase his dreams of working in the film industry, despite his parents wishes for him to get a 'normal' job like the rest of his family.
The film starts in a packed cinema where we see a video being projected onto the big screen. The cinema is mainly filled with men as they stare at the screen, captivated by the beauty that is Marilyn Monroe.
In the next scene we see Eddie Redmayne's character, Colin Clark, walking across the lawns of his grand family home in the countryside. In the next 2-3 shots we see Colin telling his parents that he is leaving to go to London for a job interview with a major film producer, Sir Laurence Olivier.
The scene then jumps to a street in London where Colin enters the film production buildings, to go to his interview.
In the opening sequences of My Week With Marilyn not much of the plot is given away and so it leaves a lot to the audience's imagination for them to then picture what might happen next. We are also introduced to a few key characters in these first scenes, like Colin Clark and Sir Laurence Olivier, although we are not yet introduced to Marilyn, but she is shown to us on the cinema screen. There is a considerable amount of dialogue in the first two minutes of the film as Colin narrates the montage of his life before his week with Marilyn.
I think that this is a good opening sequence because of the use of a montage. This helps to inform the audience of how one of the key characters got to where they were as well as also introducing some of the characters to the audience. The opening sequence is also fairly fast paced, which is good because it gives the audience a little bit of background information on Colin but not boring us at the same time by going into too much depth.
However, not a lot is given away about the rest of the film in the opening sequence and so it can be hard to understand what the film is going to be about and it can be a little miss-leading; in comparison to the trailer which states very clearly what the film is about and gives hints to what happens in the film.
2. This is England
This is England is a film that is set in the 1980's and is about a troubled boy growing up in England.
The film starts in the young boy, Shaun's bedroom where we see him waking up to get ready for the last day of school before the summer holidays. On his journey to school he stops by the local shop to read the newspaper, but only to be kicked out by the shopkeeper when he refuses to pay for it. When he gets to school Shaun is tormented by some older boys over the death of his father, which quickly results in a fight between the two boys. After a couple of teachers arrive to break the fight up we go to a shot of Shaun outside the headmaster's office, as he waits, listening to the other boy being disciplined for his actions. The final thing we see in the first few minutes of the film is the group of boys sitting under the bridge that Shaun befriends on his way home from school.
In the opening scenes of This is England only a little piece of the plot is given away, although it can be predicted what could happen further on in the film and there is also a little bit of dialogue between some of the characters. We are also introduced to a few key characters and from observing the scenery around them, we can figure out a little bit about them. For example, when the film starts in Shaun's bedroom we notice that on the walls and on the bedside table are some pictures of his dad; some of the both of them together and one of his dad in an army uniform. From this you can guess that either the boy's dad is away at war or that he was killed in action, and so the photos are there to show his love for his father.
I think that it is established very well in the first few minutes of this film that it is set in the 1980's as we see people dressed in iconic 80's outfits and the town it was filmed in fits into the setting well; showing that the producers behind the film have put a lot of thought into making sure the set portrayed the desired theme. Although the opening scenes are a bit slow-paced it allows for detail in these scenes to be interpreted by the audience so they can understand the film more.
3. Submarine
Submarine is a coming-of-age film about a typical 15-year-old boy named Oliver Tate. The film is an adaptation of the 2008 novel Submarine written by Joe Dunthorne.
In the first two minutes of the film we are shown the main character, Oliver Tate's bedroom and then some scenic shots of the area around his house. Whilst this is happening we hear some narration about himself, from Oliver.
In these first two minutes of the film literally none of the plot is given away as it is only a character telling us about himself; which means that there also is not a lot of dialogue in these first two minutes either. However, we are introduced to the main character and we do get to find out a little about him in what he tells us.
I think that this opening sequence is good in the fact that it clearly establishes the setting and scenery of both Oliver's bedroom and the area around his house. The scenic shots show that the film is based in quite a rural and quite area. I think that to make this film opening sequence better there could have been more information on the story/plot of the film; something to give us an idea of what the film is going to be about.
This has got to be one of my favourite films and so I have decided to share this with you!
One of my favourite things about the film has got to be that Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast to play the villain, Khan. In my opinion he is an amazing actor and great to watch in any film or tv series.
