What are the best ways to make your opening shot stand out?

In order for an opening shot to really stand out, it should tell a story. We can learn about a character through the production design of their home as we track through it. A grand spaceship seemingly larger than a planet can ominously approach. A helicopter can carry soldiers through the sunrise in Vietnam. An old decrepit house can creak and moan under the force of a thunderstorm as something sinister passes through it. The blocking, composition, lensing, lighting, color, and atmosphere should all support this story. Some of the best films foreshadow what the film is really about or set up a character or theme right away, so we know what we're in for as we sink into our seats to watch.

That opening shot matters. In order to keep the interest of viewers, that opening scene sets the entire tone of what’s to follow. Think of lens, angle, lighting, color, tones, intensity, mood, message, and remember the first person we see is who the story must be about. Music. Cinematography. Opening lines/scene. Color and tone. And ambiance. Watch the difference between the opening scene on “The Fall of the House of Usher” - vs the opening scene in “When They See Us” - vs the opening scene in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. They all have their own unique tone, opening sequence, role, etc. Don’t compromise if you don’t have to.

Location - blocking - camera! Start with this formula, not the other way around as do a lot of beginning/student filmmakers. Don't start with the camera, start with location, then blocking. Good blocking will always tell you WHERE to put the camera. The opening shot is your first chance to engage the audience and also to tell us what your film IS. For example, I had an opening shot in a film where the protagonist is outside in the rain, reveling in being IN the rain -- this I thought developed her character and was cinematic -- as she was in a lush, green environment, that was glistening wet.

I find one thing that helps, after you know your story and the journey you'll be taking your audience on... is a strong opening 'experience'. Something is happening whether it is finding you character in the middle of something. Or my favourite, giving the audience an almost sensory experience. Playing with our senses. Use light, use noise, use movement. People have short attention these days but we can build respect and the wanting for experience back if we consider our opening sequences more carefully.

The Story is what is being told. The opening shot sets up the primary emotions and ideas that the audience will experience. The locations and characters in the story are there to elicit specific emotional responses from the audience.

For the opening shot for a movie I'd suggest making it as long as you possibly can... The opening shot dictates the look and feel of a movie... If done right you'll have the audience in the palm of your hand...

Less is more. Many films or shows pummel the viewer with too much (dialogue or narration, score etcetera) at onset. The viewer must be afforded a beat to settle in, and thoughtfully setting the tone with the right camera shot, a shot that jives with your intent (meaning could even be contrary to what is typical or anticipated, such as a lovely camera movement and a scenic or warm shot despite a dark or emotionally heavy genre) will intrigue and allow a viewer a beat so able to grant you the full attention required for the engagement to grasp every nuance…

Personally I would try simple movements first. a simple nice dolly or pan would convey so much meaning or emotion if done properly. nowdays it's easy to be tempted to just go bananas with a Ronin, but "more" and "easier" do not always mean "better"

Sometimes moving the camera is the right move. Sometimes creating movement and dynamism with a fixed frame is the right move. Do you want us to be 'with' the character as they move through space or to be observing the character from a distance in their environment. Is our perspective subjective or objective? How will the movement or lack thereof compliment or contrast what will come next? Important to remember that your first shot is only the first of your shots. Understanding how movement flows from a strong first shot onwards, make your subsequent shots stronger.

I prefer dolly zoom in slow-motion to hypnotize the audiences and get attention of them to the main subject of the shot, mostly the face of the character in the shot.

One obvious thing to keep in mind: Don't be obvious. Do something that stands out, and if you can't for some reason, and must do something more traditional, try to give it a twist. Try to find and give meaning to your shots, consider the multiple layers and try to make "Every Frame A Painting".

A close-up of a character thinking or staring out of the frame; She/He experiences different feelings like terrifying, being happy or sad, etc.

The arena (location) of your opening shot should at best be a great methaphor for the true and underlaying story. E.g If your story is about someone who is struggling with choices in life you could have an opening shot at a labyrinth.

The opening shot might be the most important shot of your film. Visual elements such as colors, lighting, props and even people, are your tools to establish your aesthetic and convey your story to the audience. The best thing you can do is study your favourite opening shots; what makes them so good and made you love them in the first place? Don't be afraid to take notes.

Sound design is a powerful tool to elicit emotion. Use it!! If your film is moody and broody choose music to set this mood. Upbeat and hopeful? Let us know it. Going on an adventure? Escaping certain death? Sound design is essential in creating the mood of a scene. Consider the movie Jaws. The iconic few notes played anywhere near a beach will have people running for their lives. ?? A well placed voice over with a simple line, the sound of a train coming and the scream of brakes. These kinds of effects create a whirlwind of emotions, fears and intrigue. And there are endless possibilities. Sound should be used to support your visuals and enhance the opening scene experience. All of our senses should be stimulated by your vision.

Think about every great movie that has been released, opening shot is usually the production company along with a familiar music theme. The music should go along with the overall theme of the movie itself.

Sound is often overlooked in the video world. Sound design as an art form was seen as a luxury when creating short films at film school and it’s often still seen as an after thought. Good production value is only valid if it sounds as good as it looks! If you are an aspiring editor, learn what audio effects do and take advantage of their portential. I’m lucky enough to have made a lot of music and know these skills naturally. Adding extra sounds and customising with effects can keep retention, increase quality and help tell the story.

To put your audience in a certain mood you can add matching sounds. This tells the audience what to expect from the film. Watch a classic movie like Frantic and the sound is telling you exactly where you are and what to expect from the film. It is an accordion that is telling you we are in Paris and the tone is somewhat suspenseful. The busy traffic sounds telling us to expect chaos.

Music as a narrative of the whole story and to make the sense of the opening scene is a great way to achieve the audiences' engagement. I think the best example is Lost Highway with David Bowie's "I'm Deranged" song or A Clockwork Orange with Henry Purcell's music.

This way of teasing audience to stay watching our video is best for me. It must be a statement that is strong but has to provoke curiosity.

People turn away in seconds these days. Providing an interesting "in," much like experienced storytellers do in movies can make the audience sit up straight and pay attention. I have found it helpful to create the story with the ending in mind and then find your opening shot to ensure that you can pull something from your story that will open in the way you want, and connect to what you want viewers to learn/do by the end.

one thing i have discovered is when it comes to making an opening shot, creating that sense awe or shock, that sparks the sudden interest of the viewers must be executed with the utmost precision making sure you do not give too much away about what the entire story is about, as such it's best to go with something bold and unconventional and yet familiar, for example your opening shot does even have to be picture, or sound , it could be text mixed/layer with sound.

intrigue. Engage your audience with something ambiguous or unexpected, so that they do not instantly think "Aah. This is what the film is about", and mentally switch off.

Controversial statements are a great way to stand out as they provoke a reaction from the viewer. If it makes them feel a certain way they are more likely to engage with your video.

Watch the opening shot of the 2002 film "Narc." It starts with a close-up of a man. This shot holds for a long time. And then Boom! You are taken into the driving action of the film. Brilliant!

Fortunately, we've got the internet, and there's plenty of compilations of opening shots, closing shots, every single kind of shots. There's pages, websites, channels, dedicated exclusively to that. Be inspired by it, sure, but don't copy it. Make it your own, and make it meaningful. If you have time to plan, get deep into it.

- Lost Highway's opening shot: Fade-In a close-up; The man is nervous and is smoking aggressively; It explains the mood of the main character and how the movie will be about. - A Clockwork Orange's first shots: Red Frame - Blue Frame - Extreme Close-Up of the main character with an exotic eye-lash looking at the lens of camera, tries to hypnotize us and calls us to the world he experiences. - Melancholia's opening shot is a slow-motion includes Close-Up of the main character in a semi-melancholic mood, then some birds falls from the sky behind her with the Richard Wagner's Tristan and Isolde Music. It tells about the strange world we will experience in the movie and unachievable feeling that the main character has.

Be a student of film. Great Openings....Swordfish, Narc, Safe House, Pulp Fiction, and many more. You have to do something different that makes the film stand out. Surprise people and that doesn't necessarily mean action. Just take them in a different direction. Study, Study, Study.

To make the topic short, watch more films and learn from them. You can quote some ideas and change them with your personal perspective. With time, you will build a great memory of knowledge about filmmaking.

Think out of the box. A unique or unexpected scene will always leave an impression (good or bad), thus making the viewers advise others, not to miss the opening scene. The same goes for the climax as well. If the opening shot is very impressive, rest assured that the viewers will stay glued to the screen till the very end.

Sam Fuller said if you can’t get them in the first three pages, then throw the thing out. if somebody has already started to watch your movie or any kind of video for that matter, you want to keep there attention. Just remember what brought them there in the first place and played to the audience.

An opening shot can be made to stand out If you consider the impact that will have on the rest of the story visually. This becomes tantamount with the motif of the film and theme of the scene leading and following the desired timeline.

The initial frames of a video are comparable to the cover of a good book. If done right, they can establish the appropriate mood and serve as a prelude to what is to come. When I am in the library looking for a good book, the cover, in conjunction with the description on the back, guides my decision. I often consider sound, color palette, genre, as well as how the beginning can accentuate the climax from the very start.

An opening shot should convey the theme of the film/series. What is this story about? Or what kind of movie am I am about to watch? Let that eye-candy mean something. An opening shot should let the audience know they are in good hands.