There are various ways to approach a film opening to get your movie started on the right track! In order to get a better grasp and understanding to the genre that my group has chosen for this project, as well to receive inspiration, I was tasked with the mission to watch, analyze, and discuss 3 film openings from our temporarily chosen Western and sci fi genres!
FILM OPENING 1: RANGO (Western)
Rango's whole opener focuses on the main character himself, as well as establishing the temporary setting of his cage that later breaks due to a car crash. Throughout the opener, Rango is shown to be imaginative, charismatic, and lonely, as there is no one else inside of the cage he's living in other than a select few objects such as a toy fish that he talks to, showing his dreading loneliness. This focus on the character allows for the audience to become attached to him which will serve later on in the film when he eventually faces conflict.
This type of opening is my personal favorite as developing and establishing a character in a film is imperative in order to have an effective story that audiences will care about! For a western film however, I would like to approach establishing the setting first in the opening before the character, as the genre heavily relies on developing an isolated, arid landscape that will immediately immerse audiences and evoke that western feeling.
FILM OPENING 2: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (Sci-Fi)
This opener really focuses on establishing both character and setting, but instead of just one character, two of them are introduced as well as their relationship! Evelyn and Waymond Wang are shown to be a married couple living in an average home that is very disorganized and chaotic, already developing their character, especially for Evelyn, as she is the one mainly shown to be taking part in the disorder, working hard on her desk cluttered with papers and other objects. Throughout the opening, Waymond attempts to talk to Evelyn about an important matter but she continuously shoves him off as she is concentrated on getting work done while also preparing noodles for her father. At the end, it is revealed that Waymond has requested for divorce, adding more depth to the relationship and characters shown. This opener is unique, as for being a sci-fi movie, instead of beginning the film in space or an alternate dimension right off the bat, it opens in a mundane, everyday life laundromat/house setting, which will make the expected out of wack conflicts to feel more relatable.
This approach of establishing two characters, their situation, and relationship really appeals to me as it already can introduce major aspects of the story, immediately driving it forward and allowing viewers to be fully invested in what's going on in the film! As for the overall genre, I feel like opening with the setting is imperative to the plot, as it will most likely revolve around the world and gadgets normally shown in a sci-fi movie, allowing viewers to understand the story and characters better!
FILM OPENING 3: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (western)
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly opener!
This movie spends its first three minutes establishing setting, creating mystery, while also introducing one of the main characters named "the ugly." Throughout the opener, multiple shots focusing on the desolate, arid, and dry setting are incorporated, telling audiences that the production is taking place in the wild west and therefore further immersing them! Other shots here focus on the faces of three characters what it seems looking at the same place, which is the building situated in the middle of the setting shown. These slow shots create a sense of mystery and intrigue, as it leaves viewers to wonder what is about to happen with the three characters and the place surrounding them.
I think for a western film, creating mystery is a cool approach to go for, as leaving audiences at the edge of their seats within the first 2 minutes already drives the whole story forward and keeps them hooked throughout the film!
However, I still do think that establishing setting in this genre is the best way to go. These films, especially The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, have inspired me with their set and costume designs and I'll for sure be incorporating some of those mise-en-scene aspects in my groups production!
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