"Watching" Documentary about films and openings - research

I watched an half hour documentary about films and openings. In the documentary a man named Thomas Sutcliffe says "films need to seduce their audience into long term commitment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is almost irresistible." I think he meant that in an opening of a film you have to catch your audiences attention and keep them watching and that there are many 
ways to do this. He also mentions that many directors decide to do this from the start.


The risk of doing this is that you are then left to answer the question of what shocking things come next. There is always the risk, you have to take the chance but the negative outcome could be that you never quite answer the question and the rest of the film doesn't live up to the opening scenes.


A good beginning must make the audience feel that they don't know enough yet and at the same time make sure they don't know too little. You have to draw up rules of engagement, these crucial points at the beginning are crowded with anxiety. A deal has to be struck from the beginning, the film must come to terms with its viewers. You have to establish the tone so that the audience can adjust to its nature (whether they should be laughing, crying or scared).


A classic opening was described by a critic named Stanley Kauffmannn. He included the following:

• Film beginning with establishing shot (New York City)
• Close up of building
• Camera went up the building to a window
• Camera went into window
• Past receptionist
• To a private office

with all of this the opening informs the audience of the occupation of the main character, where they work and so forth. More importantly he said it highlighted the organisation of the world. It progressed, was rational and expected.

Kyle Cooper was created the title sequence to a film named Seven. It was very effective because it woke everyone up, told a story and introduced the obsessive nature of the main character. It also foreshadowed events and was incredibly influential.

Orson Welles created an opening sequence to the film 'A touch of evil'. He wanted the film to be done with no credits. This was done to plunge the audience into the story before they could even prepare for it. Universal studios put a nice score and credits over it so that the effect was lost. This is what happens when your signed a specific company.

'Favour trick of film Noir' means the beginning of a film is the ending, not quite a beginning at all. It is a quality many great films share and is basically a destination looking ahead to what is to come.

The film 'Shining' creates suspense because it has a easy uplift and the camera pursues the car like a predator.