Developing an Opening Scene

Not much happens in dramatic terms in the opening minutes of a film, because of this the job is to create a reason for the audience to carry on watching by establishing the character/setting and narrative context for the audience and to set up some degree of enigma. This is something that the audience will not understand what is going on but will find out later in the film.

This will help the audience understand easily where we are, who is involved but fundamentally, why we should be interested.

The idea needs to be developed in broader terms before a plausible opening sequence can be constructed.

Show the character in a changing situation which will become dramatic, show them in an everyday reputation must be achieved through micro elements: 

·        Appearance

·        Costume

·        Performance

·        Location

·        Dialogue

·        Lighting

·        Props

·        Music

·        Possibly Voiceover