Film Openings and Audiences

Film Openings and Audiences

A good film opening includes factors that will grab an hook the audience to keep them engaged and eager to see what happens next. It also should reveal the protagonist.

independent films

The way in which some independent films attract their film openings is that they drop their viewers in the deep end, with no introduction just straight into the action, usually without the use of an establishing shot. This is done to make sure that the viewers know as little as possible of the film. independent films sometimes do this as they want the viewer to get more out of the film. By doing this it makes them think and acknowledge more  as they will be purposely thinking about what is this about, when is it set, where is it set, whats happening, whats going on, who the protagonist and so on

Mainstream films

Mainstream films like to give the story to their viewers, they like to serve the audience themselves like waiters in a restaurant, unlike independent films which like the audience to stand up and collect the information by themselves like a buffet. they usually start off with an establishing shot. This draws the viewers in as it tells them where the film is set, how the story will be starting and what the genre could be. Mainstream films also like to introduce their protagonist as soon as possible, as well as this they like to make their characters relate able to the vast majority so that the viewers will be able to relate to the protagonist. this will make the viewers care and feel more towards the characters, which will make them want to know more about the film and makes them part of the story. To do this some films like to add narration to the film. this way it means that they can easily give information to the viewers instead of them being forced to find out themselves. An example of this is 'Paranoia'. In this film openiong the protagonist talks about his background, his ill  farther and the hardship of finding a job in this day and age. By doing this the audience straight away feel sorry for this character and are immediately drawn into the film.


From doing this research am I now going to consider using the information i have taken from the mainstream points and put them in my own film opening.