What is an Opening Sequence?

Conventions of an opening sequence include continuity editing, a specific order of titles, and introduction to the characters, settings and events. It is a highly important part of a film as it introduces the audience to the themes, main characters, and time and place of the setting and establishes the genre, and makes the audience become invested in the film world, making them want to watch on. This is the primary function of a film's opening sequence. 

For example, in the opening to 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' questions are posed through a voiceover by the protagonist that make the audience want to find out more about him, like:
- who is he writing to?
- why has he so much spent time in a hospital?
- why has he not spoken to anyone outside his family all summer?

This is an effective opening as it doesn't give too much away, beginning with the credits and a shot of driving at night time that cuts to a scene of a boy sat in his bedroom and at first the two seem unrelated. After, it cuts to various scenes throughout his first day at high school, still narrated by his voiceover. Atypically, this opening uses montage editing but it still meets the purpose of an opening sequence as it introduces the audience to what type of person the main character is and to his situation which sets up the basis for the rest of the film, and makes them want to watch on.




An example of a more conventional opening sequence is that of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' in which the audience is introduced to the setting, via an establishing shot, and what type of person the protagonist, Ferris, is - i.e, the type who tricks his parents into thinking he's ill so he can skip school. The credits show over shots of a conversation between him and his parents in which they decide he isn't going to school, which sets the scene for the rest of the film as the narrative which proceeds follows his adventures that result from bunking off school. Continuous editing is used throughout, for example the 180 degree rule during Ferris' conversation with his parents. This opening is effective as it poses questions like:
- why does he skip school?
- what is he going to do on his day off?
This makes the audience want to watch further to find out what happens next, so is a successful opening sequence.



The opening sequence to 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is also a good example of an effective opening sequence as it begins with the credits and a voiceover helps introduce the audience to the setting of the film, then continuous editing of the town singing the opening song follows. This opening introduces us to every character, as opposed to the other openings I have looked at where only the protagonist is shown, this is effective as some characters are introduced very explicitly through the song lyrics such as 'I am the one hiding under your bed' whereas some are shown briefly and with an air of mystery about them, for example Sally. This poses questions about who she is, and makes the audience want to find out more. Furthermore, introducing them to all of the characters completely immerses them in the world of the film, which is the job of an opening sequence.