Task 4 - How can a film opening attract an audience?

How can a film opening attract an audience?

In the documentary ‘Watching’ Thomas Sutcliffe states that “films need to seduce their audience into a long term commitment, while there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is almost irresistible’. This means that the beginning of a film needs to instantaneously grab the audience’s attention without giving too much of the narrative away. The beginning of the film should be an unforgettable scene that anchors the viewer’s opinion of the rest of the film.

According to director Jean Jacques Beineix the risks of ‘instant arousal’ are that if too much happens in the opening the rest of the film will be bland in compare. Too much action will leave the audience asking too many questions that the film does not have enough time to answer. You have to nurture the desire to watch the film and slowly let it grow until the audience gets their arousal – in other terms ‘tease’ your viewer.

‘A good beginning must make the audience feel that they don’t know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure that they don’t know too little’. This is for the reason that giving away too much leaves nothing to expect: there is no long term commitment and there is no point in watching the rest of the film. It sets the audience up for disappointment. The audience shouldn't be given too much information at once as it can be overwhelming and intense.

Critic Stanley Kauffmann describes that a classic opening must have:

• An establishing shot of the city

Example: you can tell that this is New York as you can see the Empire State Building. It sets the location.

• A building/house

A significant and more specific place where the film is set.

• A window

Showing specific details in the mise-en-scene.

• Showing the inside of the room

To give better insight on the protagonist and further reveal the setting.

• Camera going through the door

This is as if the audience is entering the world of the film; it makes the audience feel significant.

• Introduction to the characters

This is a stereotypical aspect of a classical opening and is incredibly important.

Kyle coopers title sequence to the film seven is just as effective as other title sequences. However, there is no dialogue. This creates mystery and a creepy atmosphere – exactly what is needed to entrance the target audience.

Orson Welles wanted his film A Touch of Evil’s opening scene to suddenly jump into action. However, universal studios had another idea and added credits and the title into the opening scene thus ruining what Welles wanted to achieve. This weakens the affect he wanted and gave the film a much slower and stereotypical start.

The ‘favourite trick of Film Noir’ is when a film starts from the ending and then jumps back to the beginning in order to help the audience understand the ending. The film starts and ends with the same scene. An example is the movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. It begins by showing the protagonist answering questions in a game show and then slowly begins to explain how he knows the answer to the questions and who he is.

The opening of the film The Shining creates suspense as it starts very quietly and calmly: It constantly cuts to different shots with one shot following the next.  The camera following the back of the car makes it seem a sit the car is being followed, it creates a sinister atmosphere. Moreover, as the car continues along the path the mise-en-scene begins to get darker and this creates a negative tone.

The camera is always behind the car.