My ideas so far...

For my opening I have decided to do a post-apocalyptic style film. My idea is to have a radio broadcast which will be a voiceover in the opening. This voiceover is how I'm introducing my main character. On screen I'm having setting shots showing a derelict, abandoned objects and buildings to show the setting and hint at the storyline.

Location Scout

 I've been looking at locations which would suit with my plot synopsis, that I could use to introduce the setting in my opening. I want an abandoned, derelict and run down look, which this location seems to fit well. 

 

 

Inspiration for my Opening Sequence

This contains the main components that I want to include in my opening scene, the narration and setting is what I would like to recreate and I really like the mood and atmosphere which we feel due to the combination of the music and narration. The main character is introduced which I also intend to do but not a lot of the storyline or plot is given away.

Group Opening Sequence

For this task we were put into groups and were each given a role, one of  creating a plot, casting and location, filming and directing or editing. The idea was to replicate a real life situation because in the film industry you do one part you don't have complete control over the whole production but have to work with what you are given. I chose to do the editing, which completely proves this situation because I have no control over the quality of the filming and just have to edit what I'm given. We were given 1 hour to come up with the first minute of an opening sequence.

Plot Synopsis

My plot idea is to have a future set film, in a fantasy world where there has been an event which has taken out most of the population. For the beginning I would like to do lots of establishing shots to get a strong sense of setting and then introduce the main character with either narration or a monologue.

Target Audience

A particular group at which a product such as a film or advertisement is aimed, normally separated by age so children and adults.

Comedy - would be aimed at probably teenagers or young adults if its films like American Pie or Step Brothers as they tend to contain adult humour and sexual references. However a film like grown ups are more aimed at family as the filmed is centred round several families.
Horror - Mainly horror films are aimed at teenagers. As above, so below and cabin in the woods use a complete cast of young adults which will definitely appeal to teenagers, also they are a group of friends which can be related to by teenagers who watch horror films with their mates.
Action - This is definitely family orientated films like the golden compass, Indiana Jones contain and variety of ages in their cast and have a lot going on to interest everyone, they are seen as typical movies you would watch as a family.
Drama - This can be a teenager and adult aimed genre, they tend to be more complicated and try to be parallel to life so are more relatable to an older audience. Drama can be based on relationships between characters so hard to understand by children.
Romance - Can be aim at young adults and mainly the female gender.
For my target audience I was thinking of a young audience of teenagers.
I'll attract my target audience by using young actors so they appeal to teenagers and using appropriate music.

Dialogue

Dialogue is whatever the actors are saying in a film. Dialogue is not necessary for the opening two minutes of a film and many successful films don't have dialogue. Dialogue can give away a lot of the plot and mean that good acting skills are required to make it look professional and effective.

Dialogue is useful to explain the story and create a connection between two characters, it can also mean body language and expression becomes more important and noticeable. Dialogue, for example in comedy is essential for humour or in romcom to show the relationship between the two main characters. Dialogue can destroy an atmosphere or mood that has been created, also if acting isn't professional lines won't have the desired effect they are supposed to.

In this scene from wolf of wall street there is little to no dialogue used. It is what makes the scene so funny, unusual and hard to take your eyes off. Because there's no dialogue we have no idea what's going to happen and really can appreciate the skill of the actors.
In the horror/ action film dark knight there's a dramatic tense scene which is created by the lack of dialogue, between the Joker and several other groups of people. Anticipation is built up over what's going to happen and we see that even though the Joker is completely outnumbered he has control in this situation over these people who would normally have the control.
In my own work, without quality acting, dialogue would have less effect and I would like to avoid, I'd prefer to use narration or monologue because then the scripted is controlled and I don't have to worry about the way the two characters are together.

Narration

Narration is a form of commentary that accompanies a movie clip or story.

Dark Comedy - Submarine uses narration at the start of the film, it really sets the mood and creates an atmosphere which is kept through the film. I t also gives us an incite into the main character.

Horror - This can use narration to set a scene in a horror, a detailed description can set a dark, tense scary mood that can be maintained by music.

Action - May use narration during a flashback scene to state times, day and location. The film Avatar uses narration for the beginning of the film, this is to set the mood of the scene which is very serious and essential to the rest of the film.

Romance - narration is normally used to explain a characters thoughts as if they are doing a monologue for example A to Z. Narration can also be used to explain the story to the viewer as done in summerhood a romcom which features a summer camp, narration is used all the way through to enhance the story and the boys feelings so its more funny, but also because it's aimed at a young audience.

I would consider using narration in my opening, as long as you can find the right voice and use it to create the right atmosphere to fit with the genre of my opening, I think narration is very effective.

Character Profile - Lara Croft

Lara Croft is an iconic because she is a strong independent female competing in a male dominated role. We she her as strong, a completely badass and very good looking making her an instance role model for the female sex. This is added to by the fact she defeats the villains and comes out on top. Lara is almost a female version of James Bond, she is just as confident and has the same cool  and strong presence. She is fearless and determined while remaining calm and composed, showing her female dominance surrounded by male characters. They make the narrative and storyline very unpredictable because she's a closed off character. She is unpredictable, mysterious and has high barriers so we don't learn much about her in the opening but eventually they breakdown as the film goes on.

Character Profile - James Bond

James Bond is an iconic character because he represents the high class British male and appeal to women as well as being a role model for men. He is presented almost as a God and made to be perfect he's fit, charming, confident and a womaniser this makes him a role model and an idol for men. He is the hero in the story who always defeats the villain and gets the girl. His excellent physique mixed with his confident charm makes him desirable to women and therefore likable. The villain is always presented in a bad light making James seem better and means most people forget his out of line behaviour. The way Bond is always with an elegant, sophisticated and strong woman can make him seem even more Godly and of high status. They add excitement a humour to the narrative by being able to charm the audience and being confident means his cheeky one liners have more impact. We discover the first layer of James Bond in the beginning, he is always introduced first and shown in the thick of action, doing what we expect. It's not until later on that see the true depth of his character.

Character Profile - Jack Sparrow

I don't think characters are important for the first 2 minutes of a film. Many films characters aren't introduced until later on and the first thing many films will focus on is introducing a setting. However an audience likes to follow a character through the film and the earlier they are introduced the better connection and understanding the audience have. If characters are introduced it is the beginning its very important how they are presented, as the audiences' first impression can effect their opinion of the character for the rest of the film.

Jack Sparrow is such a iconic character because he is able to connect to the audience, the humour, charm and lack of sense in the characters actions make him enjoyable to watch. Jack is very much alone through the films so empathy is created with the audience. He is unusual and mysterious on screen and very likeable as the protagonist of  the films.  His sense of humour in dealing with tricky and dangerous situations makes him a likeable and admirable character but also how he is with other characters he is often betrayed by them and isolated that it creates sympathy. As the main character the audience can build a bond with Jack and understand the depth of his character compared with other characters in the films. He reacts differently to certain characters with the female ones there's a flirty relationship, most characters use Jack for their own personal gain as Jack has his own purpose and aim making the other characters seem like the villains in the story. We learn a lot of about the character from the start and instantly like him as he grabs our interest.

Game of Thrones Season 6: Tease (HBO)

Narrative

The narrative is the way a fictional or non fictional story is told in media texts.

Comedy- This genre tends to follow a simple narrative, its aim is to be funny not complicated. We tend to start with being introduced to several different characters and we see them go through different situations, building up a relationship with these fictional characters. Next something tends to go wrong, for example a dispute between some of the characters before an eventual make up and a happy, united ending to make you feel good.

Horror - A horror narrative can often be based around characters normally a victim, a predator and a hero. The audience is left guessing and not much of the narrative is given away. We normally follow the victim through a stressful and scary experience. there tends to be a few deaths in a horror film and a last battle between the hero and villain.

Action - In an action film we follow the good guy, hero through a constant battle with the villain. They normally get out of a few tricky situations, rescue a damsel in distress. The narrative in action can sometimes be predictable. Normally late on we see the hero get captured by the villain for which he somehow escapes and kills the villain. The audience form a attachment to the hero but not villain as they are always presented in a bad light.

Drama - In drama there is more of an attempt to create emotion and relatable characters. Characters are more complicated and developed than stereotypes. They tend to fail and make mistakes and presents life as it really is.  The narrative is driven by the types of characters and their reactions to the situations.

Romance - In romance it's important that a connection between the viewer and characters builds throughout the film to cause the audience emotion. The narrative is however just as important because it's causes these characters to meet and interact, it can really shape the story. The narrative can often be given away in the beginning of the story, by the presentation of the characters.