Researching Film Openings

     Earlier this week, I began researching openings of popular sci-fi films to get inspiration for my own project and get a better understanding of the genre as a whole. I made a couple of notes as I watched these openings. I watched the openings to The Matrix, Blade Runner, and Dune, and I noticed a couple similarities within them all. One thing I noticed was the inclusion of the setting right from the start. For instance, in Dune, the viewer is immediately introduced to the setting, a vast desert, while a voiceover plays during the scene. In Blade Runner, the viewer is introduced to the setting with an aerial view of a city while multiple explosions are seen throughout. Both of these openings create setting while also establishing the tone of the film and engaging the audience. The explosions throughout the opening scene of Blade Runner set a more serious tone while also engaging the audience, as they start to wonder why so many explosions are going off. In Dune, the shots of the setting and some of the characters also creates this serious tone, and the voiceover introduces conflict that engages the audience and makes them more interested in watching the rest of the film to understand this conflict better and see how it may be resolved. Additionally, shots throughout the remainder of the opening scene show the conflict being described in the voiceover. 

 

    The Matrix also uses these elements throughout the film's opening. The scene opens with a computer screen and a call between two characters that establishes conflict, as one character mentions how they are planning to kill someone. The tone of the scene is set through the dark atmosphere, with the only sources of light being from green flashlights. Mystery and suspense is present throughout mainly through the use of sound and the high action within the scene. The dialogue throughout is vague, leaving the viewer confused. All of these elements are used to engaged the audience. The viewer is thrown into the middle of an action sequence with little context, leaving them interested in learning more. 

    Overall, these openings seem to focus on establishing tone and setting. I'm not entirely sure how I'll be able to establish the setting in my own opening the way these films do, but I can definitely establish tone through the use of lighting, like in The Matrix. If I decide to establish setting as well, I can look into using Photoshop to make my surroundings look different and fit with the theme of my film. Other elements within these opening will definitely be easier to incorporate, such as how Blade Runner immediately starts with the location and the date that the film takes place in. This would be great to add into my own film opening, as it will take place sometime in the future. Additionally I can use dialogue to create interest similar to how dialogue is used in Blade Runner and The Matrix. In Blade Runner, dialogue is used for a comedic effect while also drawing the viewer into the plot. And as already mentioned, the dialogue in The Matrix is vague and leaves many questions to be answered.

Works Cited

“Blade Runner - Opening Scene (HDR - 4K - 5.1).” Www.youtube.com, youtu.be/P1jXmJmmj3o?si=mBhO3Cvj_GSMLZjn. Accessed 19 Feb. 2024.

“Dune - Opening Scene - (HDR - 4K - 5.1).” Www.youtube.com, youtu.be/tzqYZGTC2H8?si=7C2mhT7Jmk2Q-aBT. Accessed 19 Feb. 2024.

“The Matrix - Opening Scene (HDR - 4K - 5.1).” Www.youtube.com, youtu.be/GVYTd4dH0Uc?si=2-hSmO10zAbm2P5D. Accessed 19 Feb. 2024.