Art of the Opening Scene Pt. 2 — 6 More Ways to Begin a Movie, From Scorsese to Tarantino

Opening scene breakdown with six more options for how to begin a movie.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro — How to Begin a Movie
00:47 - Flashback Scene
03:05 - Flash Forward
05:20 - In Medias Res
07:45 - Dream Sequence
10:16 - Bookend Scenes
12:54 - Red Herring
15:42 - Exercise — Hybrid Opening Scenes

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The opening scene can make or break a movie. That makes knowing how to begin a movie extremely important for screenwriters. In the last episode of this mini-series on opening sequences, we covered six types of opening scenes. This time, we’re covering six more, including the dream sequence, red herring, flash forward, in medias res, flashback, and bookend.

The flashback scene is a great way to begin a movie. The best opening scenes that begin in the past isolate a formative moment for the protagonist or antagonist. These scenes highlight what motivates them or haunts them throughout their character development. Instead of starting in the past, flash forward scenes throw us into the future. This is a moment in the story, either from the middle or even the very end, that sparks the question: how will we get there?

Similar to the flash forward opening scene is in medias res. For in medias res movies, we also begin in what seems to be the middle of the story. Often, these opening scenes skip over what would have been the first act and inciting incident in a traditional story. Unlike the flash forward, though, in medias res openings do very little (or nothing at all) to fill in what we missed. They simply start in the middle and keep going from there. The dream sequence opening scene is fairly self-explanatory — but WHAT you decide to use them for varies greatly. Most of the time, the dream sequence opening scene is used to pinpoint some deep and active psychological concern for the protagonist. It shows us what they are working on internally, which may or may not have direct bearing on the plot thereafter.

The bookend is an example of how to open a movie with imagery, scenes, or ideas that also close out the film. This creates a “circular” narrative that either illuminates how much or how little a character has changed. Finally, the red herring opening scene is an excellent way to begin a movie. This is especially important when dealing with movies that employ a surprise ending. By immediately planting a false clue, the audience will be less likely to assume there is any sort of deception. That way, when the truth is finally revealed, they will be even more shocked.

How to begin a movie is perhaps one of the most difficult decisions. However, by knowing your options for opening sequences and how they work, you’ll be able to better choose the best first scene.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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♬ SONGS USED:

"Hey Pluto" - Native Rebels
"Exit Strategy" - Alternate Endings
"Help Me" - Lost Ghosts
"Only One Spider-Man" - Daniel Pemberton
"Sincerely" - The Moonglows
"The Alien" - Annihilation OST
"Casino" - Mathaus Passion
"Dust My Broom" - Elmore James
"Track 1" - The Cell Soundtrack
"Everything Thing in its Right Place" - Radiohead
"From Rusholme with Love" - Mint Royale
"Svefn-G-Englar" - Sigur Ros
"Hang me, Oh Hang Me" - Oscar Isaac
"What Have We Done to Each Other" - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
"Consummation" - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
"The Big Smoke" - Audiomachine
"Gehenna" - 1917 OST
"Prelude" - Bernard Herrmann
"Symphony No.3 Passacaglia" - Allegro Moderato
"Old Skool (Instrumental)" - DaMarcus Van Buren

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[evanthia]

I also love opening credits, it's a shame filmmakers have stopped using them as a way of introducing the story to the audience.

[fekuduc]

Studiobinder is the only good thing about Mondays.

[resevoirdog]

This channel has given me so much. Such a beautifully written video essay and explanations our film schools' teachers perspectives never gave

[laikathespacedog]

I won't lie but it took me around 5 hours just to understand this video thoroughly and to make notes out of it.

IMPECCABLE STUDIOBINDER...

[joaquinhernandez]

In Disney's "Atlantis: The Lost Empire", the opening shows the city of Atlantis going underwater, and then it is shown thriving at the end. Flashback + Bookend.

[MoviesRemastered]

You have an amazing voice for content. Somewhat nostalgic to hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. Love it!

[whoismrclaudio]

- whoismrclaudio: I think this is the best YouTube video I ever seen in my entire life.
- StudioBinder: Thank you (with emotion)

[dudebro]

I love the straightforwardly put “Suddenly, the car explodes.”

[marwanabdulbasset]

i love this channel so much, oneday i will be a great director and i will thank you personally

[axilator]

Parasite's opening and ending shots are my favourite of the bunch...

[kamalenderans]

Great video, loved the first part too. Something on "How to write (any genre)" will be helpful and something on "Conflicts in a Story" will be also be helpful

[sharanphadke]

arrival has a opening of red Herring, It misleads the audience to think its flashback but actually its a flash forward

[mythicalmop]

NICE! Re watched part one yesterday xD
Right when Im researching about this

[CorpeningMedia]

Opening scene of "Serenity" was a spectacular double whammy.

[Niubriid]

You can start with pre-lapping a convo over black. Never gets old.

[mollywoodshots]

Inception's opening would make almost all of these 😅

[claiiromen]

studio binder is the only thing getting me through my media course

[deyonedominic]

Good fellas has the one of the best opening scene
No one expected that as a gangster movie

[eduardogomez]

The flash forward reminds me Once upon a time in America, wich starts as a flash back in the middle of the story that cuts to the future and then goes flash back to the very start of the story, and there's where the movie really starts.

It's so crambled, but is necessary to know the characters and some important plots of the story.

I love it. Bravo Sergio

[ZTimeGamingYT]

Sonic the Hedgehog uses a brilliantly comedic flashforward as the titular character reminds the entire sequence of events up until that moment.