Film Openings

As my group continued discussing the plot of our film, we realized that we needed to stay focused on the fact that we're only shooting the first two minutes. We want the opening scene to set the stage for what's to come, providing essential background information while still being a crucial moment in the plot. There are two film opening types that apply to our film: Enter the Villain and Plot Catalyst

Enter the Villain 

'Enter the Villain' is a fitting description, as it immediately introduces the antagonist, setting the tone for the rest of the film. The Avengers (2012) uses this technique as it immediately introduces Loki, who is the primary antagonist in the film. In my group's film, we envision opening with a stalker lurking in the shadows, their face barely visible as they scroll through a girl's social media accounts. The only light comes from the glow of the computer screen, leaving the rest of the scene dark. This contrast will immediately set a tense tone, signaling to the audience that this character is the antagonist driving the story. 

Plot Catalyst

'Plot Catalyst' refers to the event or situation that sets the main story in motion, introducing the central conflict. Tangled (2010) uses this technique by beginning the film with essential backstory that lays the foundation for the entire narrative, setting up the events to come. I want to draw inspiration from the opening scene in Tangled for our film because I love how it seamlessly transitions from storytelling into "real-time" action. In our film, the opening scene will focus on a girl's disappearance, but the rest of the story will shift to follow the life of her friend, unraveling the mystery through her perspective.