107 - Film Language and Audience - Film Opening Techniques

 

TYPE	WHY ITS EFFECTIVE	GENRES	EXAMPLE
Enter the hero	It is effective since it provides a protagonist to root for and encourages the viewer to stay with them to see the future challenges they may face.	It is present in action, thriller and even horror genres.	Demon slayer Mugen train introduces our protagonists immediately as they embark on their journey.
Enter the villain	Its effective since it introduces an antagonist without a hero leading to the audience anxiously waiting for a juxtaposing force.	It is present in action, thriller and even horror genres.	The opening scene of Star Wars episode IV: A new hope introduced darth vader and his immovable power.
Plot catalyst	It is the main progenitor of the issue within a movie which leads to viewer to want to see the issue solved.	Mystery, sci-fi, horror, action, thriller	The introduction scene of saving private Ryan brings fourth the issue facing the plot and the people involved
Establish relationships	Usually combined with many other styles simultaneously it serves to provide an emotional connection for the audience with a specific character whether that be negative or positive.	Romance, drama, action, thriller, horror	The anime movie Konosuba legend of crimson introduces a cast of characters that can all be laughed at and connected to in a unique manner.
Follow Genre
Flip Genre	Flip genre introduces a genre only to have it overturned withs something else found as the movie progresses.	Mostly action and thriller movies where the protagonist turns out to be an antagonist, but it can also be present all genres such as romance but usually not horror and comedy.	Saga of Tanya the Evil: The Movie begin by introducing a man who has been reincarnated as a little girl in a new world. It seems silly at first, but it swiftly turns into a dark story about warfare and mass destruction due to the world he was brought into.
Flashback	Flashbacks provide exposition on a particular character usually in great detail allowing the viewer to fully see and understand the complexities of a character and their reason for certain actions.	Most genres contain flash backs to produce exposition. Exceptions may be comedy and Drama. A specific exception would be the minions 2 where Gru flashes back to how he never had any romantic success and was bullied even as a little boy.	The Slaughter house 5
Flashforward
In Media Res
Dream	Dreams reflect all aspects of wonder for real people and those within films. Whether that be the past or future or a synthetic situation that’s improbably yet longed for.	Most genres utilize this style relatively frequently and it is not alienated from one. Th exception may be sci-fi but that can be easily shown to have large influences from dreams.
Red herring	These are false clue that lead the audience with the plot in a different direction that what it actually happening. This usually serves as a plot twist in many films.	Thriller, Mystery, Action, Drama	The Clue uses red herrings to mislead the audience as if they are members of the movie background.
News reel	News reels provide mass exposition in movies that have large scale plots. This allows viewer to scale the effect of the problem relatively and understand all aspect of the plot.	Horror movies that feature a post-apocalyptic scenario employ this the most.	Zombie land uses a news reel top establish all exposition of the theme and situation the character are entrapped in.
The crime	The crime is like the plot catalyst in that it introduces a main issue and reason to investigate. The only difference is that it is more exclusive to mystery genre films.	Mystery	Sherlock Holmes (the one with Robert Downey jr) does this exceptionally well and continues to perpetuate mystery in a straight forward yet exciting plot about catching a killer.
The tragedy	The tragedy provides something the viewers and empathize with despite not being directly connected or reached out to by the film.	Essentially all genres have equal application of this style. The only possible exception could be slice of life or horror considering they use very streamlined stories. Without immense emotional trauma that can be projected to the audience.	Arrival showed a mother losing their daughter and the pain felt by the mother but great emotional detail and impact.
The settings	Provides the viewer with a scale and sensibility of an environment a character is placed into allowed the viewer to understand the situation further.	Sci-fi, Horror	Evil dead (2013) places viewers in a forest embossed in a hazy mist and with low visibility. The movie then introduces a dark a worn cabin in the center of it all.
Day in the life	Allows for a very mundane yet incredibly personal comparison between the viewer and the character that it being exhibited within their day and life.	Drama, Thriller, Romance, coming of age
Direct address	This is the breaking of the fourth wall in film. It serves to connect the plot with the audience in the most6 straight forward fashion.	Nichjou, some comedies, and romance genres often use this style of storytelling within movie intros.	The Movie High Fidelity uses this style much like other Woody Allen films to connect with the audience.