Task 10 - Conventions of Film Openings

Film opening are really useful as it establish a atmosphere so that the audience fall into the same mood as the film they are watching.  Film openings does not have to be big, it just has to catch audience's attention.

Successful film openings bring a well developed idea of what the film is going to be about which will make the audience settle into their seat desperately wanting to know more about the story and the characters. Some film openings also foreshadow or give hints about what will happen later on the film.

Conventions:

• Most film openings are around 2 minutes long.
• It introduces the key characters, Protagonst, Antagonist, sidekick etc.
• It introduces pre plot or beginning of the narrative.
• Establishes platform.
• It shows key credits such as production company, star system and director.
• Most sounds are non diegetic sound.

The film opening of 'The Cinderella Story' is a really successful opening as it really caught my attention when I watched it.  The film begin by showing us a classic fairytale-like castle which makes me immediately link back to the fairy tale 'Cinderella'.  Sam's character was presented really well as I know that Sam close to her dad since it show a lot of different scene of Sam doing different activities with her dad.  The shot showing us the evil look of her sisters looking at Sam suggests something bad will happen to Sam later on in the film due to her sisters.