Analyzing Film Openings

Getting Inspiration!

I have decided on a genre for my film opening: romantic comedy! I decided to take this route because I think I will have fun with it, plus it still allows me to incorporate the elements of teen drama that I wanted to include the most. I am excited to create a playful story that represents teenagers from my perspective. 

I have some ideas for the plot of my story but I thought taking a look at several film openings in this genre could help me solidify my choices and inspire me in the creation of my opening:

10 Things I Hate About You

The film opens with the credits sequence with a cartoony font that gives off a juvenile feel, the song playing also alludes to teenagers in the late 90s, when the movie takes place. It then shows the title and the scenery of the calm and residential town where the movie is going to place. The main character Kat is introduced by showing how different she is from girls her age. Lastly, the film opening shows her high school and how she walks in with a negative attitude.

This film's opening focuses mostly on character development and establishing the setting determining that these two are key aspects of the plot. In this case, music is utilized to show context and most importantly to show that Kat is not a conventional girl like her peers. The contrast between the four girls in the bright blue convertible singing together to One Week by the Barenaked Ladies in their pretty outfits and full faces of makeup with Kat in her red Dodge Dart listening to the rock song Bad Reputation by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts all by herself, judging the other girls shows that her personality being different from the stereotypical one is a key element to the plot. 

I like the way the music is used to showcase Kat's personality and how it works together with the credit's font to create a juvenile vibe. I would like to incorporate music in my film opening as I feel it is very effective at setting the tone and can also aid in developing key aspects of the plot. I would also like to focus my film opening on character development as it fits the genre and is important for the plot. 

Anyone But You

The film starts with the main character Bea speed-walking through the streets of Boston, trying to find a bathroom. She walks into a coffee shop where they tell her the bathroom is only for paying customers and the line to pay is extremely long. Then, the guy who is about to order notices what is happening and pretends she is his wife and buys her something to drink and bread to make grilled cheese sandwiches so that she can have the key to the restroom. She thanks him and they hit it off with conversation. 

This film's opening focuses on character development by showcasing the first interaction between the two main characters. It is shown how immediately they are drawn to each other and their personalities also show through the situation, with Bea being fiery with the coffee shop worker and Ben being charismatic and quick thinking by helping Bea without even knowing her. Their reactions to each other indicate their attraction and instant chemistry which opens the door to their upcoming complicated love story. 

I like the idea of the characters meeting in the opening scene because it sets the tone for their romantic relationship to start developing. Once again, I would like to focus on character development in my opening and now I would like to incorporate the first encounter with the love interest in the opening too. I think I am leaning more towards two characters who do not immediately like each other or meet in a situation that causes them to get annoyed at each other instead of them immediately hitting it off like in this opening, but I will be taking inspiration from this premise. 

500 Days of Summer

This movie's opening is a little different than the other two since there is a narrator's voice explaining who the characters are and their beliefs about love. The very first scene is the two main characters sitting on a bench visibly in love with each other, there is even a shot of the woman's hand with a ring. Then the narrator offers context by talking about the two character's childhoods and says that Tom has always wanted to find true love like the one in the movies while Summer did not believe in love because of her parents' divorce.

This opening focuses on character development as well as giving context and background information. Showing the contrasting personalities of both characters opens the question of how do they end up together, especially since they have opposing views about love. The narrator creates mystery with its last line before the credits seuqence being "but, this is not a love story." 

I am not the biggest fan of the narrator for the opening because even though it is well done in this film I think it is very hard to get it right without making it corny, what I am choosing to take away from this opening is the importance of focusing on character development and introducing both love interests in the opening instead of only focusing on one.