How can a film opening attract an audience?By Lara

How much is needed in an opening?

vTo attract an audience you have to include factors that will grab and shock your audience to keep them engaged in what’s happening on screen.

vThere is a lot of controversy on how much the trailer shows, that it gives away too much information however without the best parts in those quick snippets then the audience wouldn’t think it’s worth watching. The opening of the movie is the same. If they give away too much in the first 2 minutes no one is going to need to even bother finishing the movie or if there isn’t anything interesting, they wouldn’t want to finish it.

vThere is a thin line between too much/too little and just enough. By showing just enough to get the audience hooked can tell them that the movie is going to bring much more to the screen. However showing the most you can do, you ask yourself, well what could even come next?

What is needed in different openings?

vThe film opening has to hook the audience usually with a shock or thrill if it’s a horror or thriller. A comedy sketch or natural setting if its comedy or romance.

vIf the opening doesn’t appeal to any audience they would not stay in the cinema or stay watching the film because they would get bored and restless. An opening which people may have seen before will tell them that the story and plot would be the same and therefore not enjoyable.

vFor example in the film ‘A Touch of Evil’ the director didn’t want any titles in the opening. He wanted the story to start straight away without giving the audience any time to prepare and then start it with normality, and when the audience thinks they know what’s happening, an explosion occurs. This keeps the audience on their toes constantly and instantly gives an impression that the film is one that will be full of surprises and hence an interesting film.

What else could be included?vAdditionally, openings can also give subtle hints about the film and what it’s about but

the audience wouldn’t know unless they were to watch it again. This can be a good quality to have to keep the audience intrigued and subconsciously they would want to know what happens next.

vThis also engages them as they would begin to think about what they are watching instead of just watching it because it’s there. This makes the audience much more engrossed into the movie and it becomes almost interactive which audiences respond well to.

vThe film ‘Se7en’ is a good example of this as in the opening there are little hints about what is included in the storyline but you wouldn’t know until you finish it.