How the openings of films engage the audience

How the openings of films engage the audience

Film openings vary on their genre but include many of the same conventions to draw in their audiences, many popular movies help draw in their audiences using a strong opening using techniques such as enigma. The main aim of any film opening, of any genre, is to hook and encourage the audience to watch the rest of the film. Openings are usually either unclear and create mystery or they jump straight into the main film plot. The reasoning between the choices of the two relies on what genre you are watching and who the targeted audience are. For example, horror films such as insidious start of very scary and begin to scare the audience where as another film from the horror genre such as orphan starts of very happy and joyous which hooks the audience into seeing how the film develops.

Other skills are also used such as editing to create titles that appear on screen. Some openings also customise their titles to suit the genre they are aiming for such as making a horror movie title drip with blood.

Overall I believe that the most important element of a movie opening is suspense and mystery as when these two are placed together it can draw in an audience with ease. Many movies use these conventions and some of which can also be picked up on in the first couple of seconds into the film.

Lighting is used in the opening scenes to hook the audience and make them engage with the film, in the film Jurassic park the lighting is used for the opening scene, it was very dark and gloomy to create a scary, and tense atmosphere. As the audience wonders what’s rustling in the trees. However, it instantly brightens up dramatically to focus on the box as the audience wonders what’s in it. The audience’s attention instantly concentrates on this as the lighting makes it, the lighting can catch your attention just like a loud bang would. The tense music will connect with the lighting and help create the dark gloomy effect.

The shot types help engage the audience as it helps the audience get a clear view of the scene. In Jaws there is a variety of shot types used within the opening sequence such as long, to establish the scene and so the audience can get a clear image as to where they are. It is also used when the girl is in the sea alone to show how far out she was into the sea and that she is isolated therefore it is a dangerous situation. 

A tracking shot has been used when she is running into the sea to get the scenes of action, they have used close ups when she is screaming in the ocean to emphasise her pain and emotion throughout the attack. This makes the scene a lot more intense and horrifying for the audience.

The sound that is played during the begging of a film is closely paired with the scenes, most horror movies have a slow tense music playing to engage the audience and have them in fear from the begging. Whereas romantic comedies have music that makes you ‘feel good’ and you engage because you want to watch the story unfold, this music is planned to engage with a certain audience.

The genre of horror commonly combines both slow and fast cuts to build up and release tension. Slow paced shots are used to distress the audience but also to convince them into carry on watching. Low angled shots are used to create fear as this shows to the audience the characters fear and intimidation. The sound alongside a scene is chosen wisely to closely match the events of the scene.

Romantic comedies is a genre that uses sound to convey an emotion. Slow paced shots and cuts are used to allow the audience to understand the emotions of certain characters as romantic comedies are usually based upon two main characters. The editor is responsible for controlling the actor and actresses performance as they are able to choose the most realistic and believable shots taken.

The credits in the opening of a film can engage the ready due to celebrity endorsements, Leonardo DiCaprio in the film ‘Shutter Island’ is a reason why some people may engage in with the film more as it is a favourite actor or you know that the films he stars in are usually good films.