The 5 Different Types of Opening Scenes

For the past week in my media studies class,  my teacher has assigned us to create a blog on the research I have gotten about opening scenes in film. 

This is very important because in this quarter in school, we will get a chance to create an opening scene as if its in a movie.

The following is all the research that I have found about the different openings in film. My source is  "The 5 Types of Opening Scenes: An Analysis of 80 Films" created by Laurie Stark. 

Everything I found is based off her analysis. I recommend viewing her post to get a deeper understanding of the types of opening scenes. 

The 5 Types of Opening Scenes

1. Prologue
2.Inciting Incident 
3.Day in the life
4.Cold Openings
5.Flash Forward

Prologue

Prologue was defined as a montage or scene to create backstory that happened in the past. Prologue was cut into two parts. Prologues with voice over, and prologue without voice over.

Prologue with Voice-over

These types of prologues were viewed as a montage with voice over narration. This usually gives the audience a lot of exposition of the story.

Prologues with voice overs can be effective when used thoughtfully.

Common in fantasy and epic movies.

These films commonly hinge on unique voice and point of view of the main character.

Prologue without Voice-over

When a prologue without voice over is done well, it can be very effective at catching the viewers on important background and building sympathy for a character.

Another form of prologue without voice over is flashbacks.

Flashbacks lack tension because the events that happened in that scene already happened.

Inciting Incident  

In some films, inciting incident happens on the first page.

Some opening scenes introduces inciting incident that sets  sets the story into motion.

Typically a wedding, funeral or apocalypse.

A Day in Their Life

(The Killing of a Sacred Deer 2017)

A scene that introduces the main character.

This scene usually reveals a key strength and key liability of the character.

Shows what the life is like for the main character before its changed by the main event.

Could be exciting or uneventful day in the life.

Cold Opens

(The Dark Knight to Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981)

In television its sometimes called a teaser.

The section of an episode that is shown before the opening credits.

Common in horror, crime and action films. 

The main purpose is to grab the audience’s attention and establish their genre.

Usually never involves the main character.

Separated from the events in the story.

Flash Forward 

When a movie starts with a scene in the present.

The rest of the movie takes place in the pass working up to the present.

The Elements of An Opening Scene

1.Introduces the protagonist to communicate their main skills, and weakness.

2.Introduces their world.

3.Offers the audience a before picture to later compare with the after.

4.Presents a “Save The Cat” moment for the protagonists, even if its very subtle.

5.Tense and suspenseful.

6.A surprise or big reveal.

7.Sets the tone and genre of the film.

Source:  http://www.storybreakdown.com/writing-great-opening-scenes/