ABSTRACT
Staying power or otherwise of the opening shot. Simplicity or complexity of the opening shot. Possible functions. Possibilities of its components. Effects of aspect ratio. Space/depth in the opening shot (The Insider, Star Wars IV – A New Hope). Human or god-like perspective? Nature of the opening shot. Sound before image or image before sound. Nature of meaning. Effects on the audience. Events in medias res. Simple openings (Looper, Beasts of the Southern Wild). Less exact openings (The Big Sick). Opening shot in screenplay vs. in film (A Clockwork Orange). Ambiguous space in the opening shot. Lack of human POV. Poses story questions (Three Colors Blue). The game of meaning, in story and storytelling. Complex opening shots (The Earrings of Madame De ...). Analysis of the opening of Earrings. Other complex openings (Flowers of Shanghai, Touch of Evil, Boogie Nights). Making the audience complicit (Rear Window). Shifting audience perception (see Hereditary). Economy in the opening image (see Blue Velvet). Title sequence image (see Raging Bull).
