Student Film Openings

To help me gain a better understanding of film openings i have looked at 3 student film openings, i have stated their strengths and weaknesses to find out what i need to include and what not to do in my final piece.


Student Opening One- Peephole





Strengths-

• The transistions fit in with the piece and do not look out of place and enhance the piece by making it easier to understand.
• The setting was well chosen and fit well with the genre.
• The editing made the genre stand out and made a difference to the atmosphere by making it scary.
• A wide variation of shots were used to create a larger view of what was happening so the film was not one dimensional.

Weaknesses-

• Too much information was given away so you couldn't see where the film was going.
• It had a closed ending so you could not see the film going anywhere from there.
• The titles dont match the genre, they felt out of touch and took away the concentration on what was happening. 
• The title duration changes, which made the piece looked rushed.
• Storyline was not easy to follow so concentration dwindled.

Student Opening Two- Fugitive

Strengths-

• The characters were introduced well and allowed the viewer to have their own views on them.
• The editing create fear with jump cuts and the editing of people into the frame then quickly out again.
• The music created tension which helped portray the genre of horror well.
• The jump cuts went throughout the piece but they did not break up the piece so much it wasnt hard to follow.

Weakness-

• The opening looked to much like a trailer, with the extended use of jump cuts it didn't look like the opening was going anywhere.
• Again with the inclusion of jump cuts the opening became discontinous so couldn't see where the opening was going.
• The titles are on too long so takes away fear factor

 Student Opening Three- Solitude

Strengths-

• The opening finished with an open narrative so was a good film opening as could see the film progressing.
• The titles are subtle but easy to read.
• The lack of speech creates tension.
• The music enhances tension

Weakness-

• The production company and name creates different feel to the theme
• With the over use of jump cuts means the opening is harder to follow.
• The continuity was not the best for example - the window wipers are in different positions in different shots.
• The opening means you are unable to view the characters situations.

Viewing other students work has highlighted common mistakes, two of the story openings have closed narratives, this gives them the feeling of a film trailer in comparison to a film opening. The use of music in all three creates the tension and mood of the opening, Peephole and Fugitive both allow the viewer to understand the characters situation whereas Solitude did not so the viewing of this clip was not as easy.


In my piece I will be sure to check for continuity in my filming so the opening is easier to follow and looks proffesional, my work will end with a open narrative so it shows that it is a film opening.