updated:What's the purpose of a film's opening sequence?

What's the point of an opening sequence?
The opening sequence of a film has many purposes, such as to establish mood and introduce visually a character to the audience. Other uses are to initiate the setting, plot, characters and narrative.

The opening sequence of a film is personal to each individual film, the opening should grab the audiences attention and create a sense of excitement about what is to come next in the film. The opening sequence could be what you remember most fondly about the film even if the rest of the film is terrible. Opening sequences can be iconic for recognising the film are they introduce the style of the film, an example of one of the best known opening sequences, perhaps not the best however, are the openings to James Bond. Perhaps it's the visual styling and sound that makes it globally instantly recognisable.

The sudden white dots blinking across the screen have become undoubtedly recognisable branding for the James Bond franchise. The classic silhouette of Bond introduces the character as well as imitating the excitement of the audience. Another exemplary example is Clockwork orange, the unsettling music comes in first setting the mood for the entire film as the music is un-nerving and is seminal of despicable things to later happen. The opening shot is a close up of a young male adult staring into the camera with an evil facial expression and heavily breathing, this suggests to the audience that he is a prominent character throughout the film and also that his character is dark and immoral. The style of the film is also first shown through this shot with the character wearing a bowler hat, white shirt and false eyelashes on the bottom left lash line, this illustrates clearly to the audience that it is an eccentric film. The introductory of the Social Network

however juxtaposes these two styles of opening sequences by the use of fast paced, witty and intelligent dialogue however visually not much is happening in the shot, for the first six seconds it is a dark screen but then fades into a mid shot of the main character and a young woman in a busy collage bar. The first six seconds directly highlight Mark Zuckerberg's intelligence and heightening his social awkwardness. The scene is set and the main character has been introduced all within eight seconds of the opening sequence. The main contrast between The social Network and James Bond and Clockwork Orange is the verisimilitude created through the opening sequence of The Social Network as both Clockwork Orange and James Bond do not have a sense of reality throughout their sequences.

                                                                        Inception Analysis 

The 2010 thriller blockbuster 'Inception' follows Dom Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, a thief with the rare ability to enter people's dreams and take their secrets from their subconscious mind. His unusual skill has made him a hot topic in the world of corporate espionage however it has cost him everything he loves in his personal life. Through this he gets a shot at redemption however it is offered through a seemingly impossible task that has not been done so far, he has to plant and idea in someones subconscious mind, however someone is anticipating his every move.

The opening shot, which is a an extreme close up, immediately begins with an incredibly tense music score, tension is being built even before the audience has met the protagonist. As this unnerving sound draws to a halt the audience can hear hyperbolic waves clashing against the rocks. This sound creates a sense of verisimilitude and suggests that this shot is in present day. The main character Dom Cobb is shown ( the protagonist) laying face down in the sand on a beach with the wave crashing against him, this wakes him up and here we get the first clear view of the main characters face, the audience can inference from his awakening on the sand that he seems to have been washed ashore. The sound of children playing and laughing can be heard over the waves crashing against the rocks and shore, when the children are shown they seem to be moving in almost a slow motion manner which suggests they are just a figment of imagination. This highlights to the audience that because they are a figment of his imagination that they are his children and he may have lost this connection with them due to past events. However this does not phase Cobb as he lays his head down again after looking up at the children showing he himself knows they are just a figment of his imagination. To some this may suggest his children have passed away so he knows they aren't there, although some may argue this would startle him however it does not which may convey his mentally weak state during this time.

The next scene shows a gun facing down on to Cobb's back, then they lift up his jacket, which is weltered and soaked, checking for weapons, Cobb has a gun tucked into his trousers. This gives the audience an insight to the plot as it coveys he could possibly be dangerous, it makes people think about why he would need a gun. Before all we know is that he has been washed ashore and has children, Although when the gun is pointing on his back a foregrounding of later danger to come is portrayed. The next frame shows what the audience assumes is a soldier or guard shouting to another man in a different language. The man pictured whom he is shouting to then runs somewhere to what appears to be to tell someone, perhaps this conveys that they know who he is or the alternative interpretation of that he intruding on private land however by Cobb's disorientation we can inference this may have not be deliberate, another interpretation is he may have been washed ashore by someone; maybe left in the sea by someone deliberate. The guards suggest to the audience that it is private land Cobb's has washed up upon, this may suggest that whom ever property he has washed up upon in involved in he story line as they are presented at the start of the opening sequence which is often used to present all characters that play an important role in the plot. As the camera moves upwards to show the other guard the audience are shown the setting, it is a beach with rocky cliffs and what appears to be either a house or a private building shown on the top right corner of the screen. This scene connotes danger and we wonder what type of character Cobb's is.

 This sequence captivates the audience through the use of wondering why Cobb's has been washed upon the shore.The director could have chosen to this to create a sense of mystery about the main character. Although the scene where we can hear children laughing and playing makes the audience think about his background, through this sequence the audience questions his personality by his un-emotive responses. Without giving away any major plot details the audience is immersed into the plot and remains excited wanting to find out more.