Art of the Opening Scene Pt. 2 - 6 More Ways to Begin a Movie, From Scorsese to Tarantino

Opening scene breakdown with six more options for how to begin a movie.
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro - How to Begin a Movie
00:47 - Flashback Scene
03:05 - Flash Forward
05:20 - In Medias Res
07:45 - Dream Sequence
10:16 - Bookend Scenes
12:54 - Red Herring
15:42 - Exercise - Hybrid Opening Scenes
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The opening scene can make or break a movie. That makes knowing how to begin a movie extremely important for screenwriters. In the last episode of this mini-series on opening sequences, we covered six types of opening scenes. This time, we’re covering six more, including the dream sequence, red herring, flash forward, in medias res, flashback, and bookend.
The flashback scene is a great way to begin a movie. The best opening scenes that begin in the past isolate a formative moment for the protagonist or antagonist. These scenes highlight what motivates them or haunts them throughout their character development. Instead of starting in the past, flash forward scenes throw us into the future. This is a moment in the story, either from the middle or even the very end, that sparks the question: how will we get there?
Similar to the flash forward opening scene is in medias res. For in medias res movies, we also begin in what seems to be the middle of the story. Often, these opening scenes skip over what would have been the first act and inciting incident in a traditional story. Unlike the flash forward, though, in medias res openings do very little (or nothing at all) to fill in what we missed. They simply start in the middle and keep going from there. The dream sequence opening scene is fairly self-explanatory - but WHAT you decide to use them for varies greatly. Most of the time, the dream sequence opening scene is used to pinpoint some deep and active psychological concern for the protagonist. It shows us what they are working on internally, which may or may not have direct bearing on the plot thereafter.
The bookend is an example of how to open a movie with imagery, scenes, or ideas that also close out the film. This creates a “circular” narrative that either illuminates how much or how little a character has changed. Finally, the red herring opening scene is an excellent way to begin a movie. This is especially important when dealing with movies that employ a surprise ending. By immediately planting a false clue, the audience will be less likely to assume there is any sort of deception. That way, when the truth is finally revealed, they will be even more shocked.
How to begin a movie is perhaps one of the most difficult decisions. However, by knowing your options for opening sequences and how they work, you’ll be able to better choose the best first scene.
#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking
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♬ SONGS USED:
"Hey Pluto" - Native Rebels
"Exit Strategy" - Alternate Endings
"Help Me" - Lost Ghosts
"Only One Spider-Man" - Daniel Pemberton
"Sincerely" - The Moonglows
"The Alien" - Annihilation OST
"Casino" - Mathaus Passion
"Dust My Broom" - Elmore James
"Track 1" - The Cell Soundtrack
"Everything Thing in its Right Place" - Radiohead
"From Rusholme with Love" - Mint Royale
"Svefn-G-Englar" - Sigur Ros
"Hang me, Oh Hang Me" - Oscar Isaac
"What Have We Done to Each Other" - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
"Consummation" - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
"The Big Smoke" - Audiomachine
"Gehenna" - 1917 OST
"Prelude" - Bernard Herrmann
"Symphony No.3 Passacaglia" - Allegro Moderato
"Old Skool (Instrumental)" - DaMarcus Van Buren
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Love this narrator's voice

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My monday improved by this

[@evanthia505]

I also love opening credits, it's a shame filmmakers have stopped using them as a way of introducing the story to the audience.

[@StudioBinder]

Really creative opening credits are hard to come by

[@saloksingh7]

Reminds me of The Man from UNCLE

[@joshua43214]

I offer for consideration The Secret Life of Walter Mitty as a candidate for the best of opening credits for introducing a character. Baby Driver also has excellent opening credits.

[@willmorrell488]

You're forgetting Zack Snyder.

[@user-eq2xd6yj6g]

Watchmen Being A Prime Example

[@joaquinhernandez6940]

In Disney's "Atlantis: The Lost Empire", the opening shows the city of Atlantis going underwater, and then it is shown thriving at the end. Flashback + Bookend.

[@inthemidle1486]

Flashward

[@StudioBinder]

Good call 👌

[@paradise_valley]

@@inthemidle1486 Blackend Flashbook.

[@biazacha]

I miss Disney 2D works, feels like they really dumbed down the writing and Pixar is hard carrying since.

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You can start with pre-lapping a convo over black. Never gets old.

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You have an amazing voice for content. Somewhat nostalgic to hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. Love it!

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We have a great guy with us ❤

[@sharanphadke4954]

arrival has a opening of red Herring, It misleads the audience to think its flashback but actually its a flash forward

[@axilator]

Parasite's opening and ending shots are my favourite of the bunch...

[@StudioBinder]

Great way to bookend 👍

[@resevoirdog]

This channel has given me so much. Such a beautifully written video essay and explanations our film schools' teachers perspectives never gave

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- whoismrclaudio: I think this is the best KZbin video I ever seen in my entire life. - StudioBinder: Thank you (with emotion)

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Cheers!

[@dudebro3846]

I love the straightforwardly put “Suddenly, the car explodes.”

[@StudioBinder]

No need to complicate anything 💯

[@grantous67]

@@StudioBinder was that clip in real time ? The horrendous Deniro dummy hovers on screen far too long

[@CorpeningMedia]

Opening scene of "Serenity" was a spectacular double whammy.

[@StudioBinder]

Love that opening!

[@CheapCharlieChronicles]

Thought provoking video.

[@StudioBinder]

Hope it helps :)

[@MunchingSawdust23]

I’m pretty sure it should be hyphenated. As in “thought-provoking”.

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I thought you were suggesting a prop making video

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i love this channel so much, oneday i will be a great director and i will thank you personally

[@StudioBinder]

Looking forward to it :)

[@mollywoodshots6503]

Inception's opening would make almost all of these 😅

[@StudioBinder]

Power of the movie haha

[@ZoeyKirituOfficial]

StudioBinder has become part of my life now.

[@temurmurodov2472]

Opening scene of Fight Club doesn't get enough credit. It is as good as its ending.

[@StudioBinder]

I think it's pretty well acclaimed?

[@MultiAustin86]

LMAO

[@ZTimeGamingYT]

Sonic the Hedgehog uses a brilliantly comedic flashforward as the titular character reminds the entire sequence of events up until that moment.

[@mythicalmop2354]

NICE! Re watched part one yesterday xD Right when Im researching about this

[@StudioBinder]

Good luck with your research!

[@kamalenderans7583]

Great video, loved the first part too. Something on "How to write (any genre)" will be helpful and something on "Conflicts in a Story" will be also be helpful

[@StudioBinder]

Appreciate the feedback!

[@PsychoticNinja]

My favorite is Fight Club with it being a flashforward and a flashback. "Ah, flashback humor".

[@LuisSierra42]

How is it a flashback? i think it could be in medias res + flashforward + red herring

[@StudioBinder]

It's a stunning opener

[@deyonedominic9500]

Good fellas has the one of the best opening scene No one expected that as a gangster movie

[@StudioBinder]

Scorsese is the best with opening scenes

[@dice268926]

Happy 'The Cell' got some love.. It was HATED, but had PHENOMENAL shots and cinematography (I liked it anyway too)

[@ashley.caldwelldp]

This was great. I vividly remember the movie ‘Inside Man’ that used a bookend where it has the same narration at the beginning and the end. When it plays right at the end it provides so much more context and makes so much more sense.

[@eduardogomez2232]

The flash forward reminds me Once upon a time in America, wich starts as a flash back in the middle of the story that cuts to the future and then goes flash back to the very start of the story, and there's where the movie really starts. It's so crambled, but is necessary to know the characters and some important plots of the story. I love it. Bravo Sergio

[@JasonFilmYT]

Oh my god! Annihilation!!! One of the most underrated and best movies ever.

[@StudioBinder]

Definitely an underrated gem

[@hrishikeshpatil3650]

In Medias Res -- perfect example is 'Momento'

[@StudioBinder]

Exactly 💯

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studio binder is the only thing getting me through my media course

[@StudioBinder]

Happy studying!

[@Light-at-Dawn]

In my opinion, a successful opening scene / sequence is like the one of a first episode of a series - you want to establish the basic setup of the story but have at least one significant moment that spark the interest of the audience. But movies just have much less time to bring these two conditions into their story's first shot

[@louispks]

Star Wars A New Hope, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Avengers Infinity War some of the greatest opening scenes ever. Especially IW in 5 minutes Thanos has fought and beaten The Hulk and Thor the 2 strongest Avengers. MAGNIFICENT.

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this channel is a blessing.

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We try our best!

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Wonderful video as always. This channel managed to make me look forward to Mondays.

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Trying to help with your Mondays every week!

[@babsbarry7042]

This was masterfully done and its a lot of great help! Literally just pulled me out ig my creative rut

[@soyitiel]

"you can flashback to our catalogue of videos" *_smooth_*

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👌

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the best movie guide channel ever.

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i wish studiobinder makes video related to superhero fictions and fantasies.....it would make our life better :]

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Do you mean a video covering those genres?

[@xtraspecialmango]

The start of Goodfellas is just a shot in the arm.

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Just the start of a wild ride

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Hope you're able to make a Directors Style for Spike Lee!

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Thanks for the suggestion!

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Beyond helpful

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Common..always a true piece of art

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Thank you ❤️ so much for this video 📸

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"there was a time above, a time before, there were perfect things, diamond absolutes, things fall, things on earth, and what falls....is fallen"

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You guys are awesome, thank you

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Great video as always

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Glad you liked it!

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I always enjoy your uploads. Your consistent quality never ceases to amaze me. Cheers!

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Consistent and quality are always the goals!

[@Jufn-1]

I love it. Thank you.🥰

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Glad you liked it!

[@sevenstarred77]

I didn't watch the full video yet and I'm up to Dream. You better say ⭐️Inception I'm serious😮

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These StudioBinder videos are KZbin gems. Thanks so much for the content, Studiobinder :)

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Happy to help!

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Incredible video. 👏🏼

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Impeccable Content

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Glad you liked it!

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Very informative!

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That's the goal :)

[@shreyasmandhare5449]

great video!

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🙏

[@daffanurfauzan1220]

In District 9, I think we've got flashforward (scientist & expert's opinion), red herring (Wikus' father's opinion scene) and flashback (video footage of scientists open the spaceship). Cmiiw

[@terrificfilms3599]

Narrator's voice🔥

[@Skulclaimr]

Bookends are definitely a personal favorite of mine

[@StudioBinder]

Great way to tie the story together

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Incredible & Thanks :)

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Thanks for watching!

[@TwistedTriggerEnduro]

Love the breakdowns and help seeing the full picture. Cheers. 🍻💪

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I love this channel!!!!

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Nailed it 💯❤️

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[@salvadorarreolarodriguez6165]

Awesome content!! :D

[@StudioBinder]

That's the goal!

[@adityarajeshirke64]

In every film showing the audience what you have created and taking the audience into the world you have created are the two different things in the film......Which can be acquired through opening scene..😎

[@StudioBinder]

It all starts with the first scene 💯

[@ComicPower]

Smashing good video

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Glad you liked it!

[@marcginsburg5355]

All good. I would have loved for you to have included "2001: A Space Odyssey", which has amazingly sinister opening and closing scenes. Or am I dating myself? Kubrick's unique technique can't be left out of any film studies course.

[@TheWoodEyeLyes]

Agreed! Thankfully they covered it in part 1 a while back kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKjCqqaXpLufqpY

[@StudioBinder]

Included in part 1!

[@marcginsburg5355]

@@TheWoodEyeLyes Oh I missed that.

[@marcginsburg5355]

@@StudioBinder Missed it. I get these through notifications so I'm not consistently looking for them.

[@thefrankonion]

What is the great opening 4 minutes of 2001? It doesn't have any. It just begins Dawn of Man.

[@ryanhowell4492]

I love this one

[@juliaurban7332]

I love the Aviator flashback opening scene

[@kevinphiri873]

Wow. I love movies so much.

[@sperinthalakkat9831]

Me after I watch a movie

[@pleasedontwatchthis3058]

I have always found the opening to casino so funny because you can see the switch from person to dummy and I always love pointing it out to my friends who haven’t noticed it!!!😂

[@TBS.tudios]

it looked so cheesy 😂

[@MrBrown-dh6iu]

Star Wars (1977) is a good example of medias res .

[@StudioBinder]

Yup!

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Narrator sounds like the narrator in a nature documentary

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Love this narrator

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We do too :)

[@bollywoodfightactionreacti9189]

Superb for filmmaking

[@StudioBinder]

Hope it helps!

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Very informative piece. Thanks for sharing!

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yet again another amazing things learned , i would love to learn how is your sound quality so good , as i have notice of marvel moves. if its a equipment or effects or something else.

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Quality mics

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[@Thenoobestgirl]

So many options, it's hard to decide!

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All comes down to your story!

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Thank you so much studio binder For an aspiring FILMMAKER like me this means so much thanks a lot♥️

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Hitler, dont get serious if they dont accept you just try another filmmaking school.

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lol I was about to upvote this but then I saw the name

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Stick to painting.

[@StudioBinder]

Happy to help!

[@JacqueyQuacky]

Fight club has a really clever red herring

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💯

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Keep uploading ...❤️💯🥰👌

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We will :)

[@harishganesan3575]

I was waiting to see what you say about Memento.. Also you missed the opportunity to mention about Predestination and Looper.

[@StudioBinder]

There were a lot of great options!

[@TheDibule]

The Searchers is probably the most iconic example of a bookend opening, but it’s nice to use more recent examples. 😊

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I love your videos (and software too.) I learn so much. They have been my film school.

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Happy to help!

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Thank you, I am really finding these videos useful! :)

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One of the best KZbin channels for filmmaking and film appreciation and doesn't even have 1M subs.....subscribe

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We're on our way! Welcome to the club :)

[@plutaojafoiplaneta8682]

sunset boulevard probably has the best bookend beginning ever

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I learned a lot here, thanks for all the helpful info,

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great of the greatest

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We only pick the best!

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Super💯🔥

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🙏

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Studiobinder is better than film school. Keep up the good work!

[@StudioBinder]

Will keep them coming!

[@daniellatteo_thefilmmaker]

Wonderful video Studiobinder!!✨❤‍🔥 It's also useful to know the technical name for some of these opening devices. One thing that I disagree with though is that, not always these tricks at the opening guarantee it will be a great film all the way through. Actually, I've seen quite a few films (mostly indies) developing from a smashing opening scenes to complete disasters. On the other hand, sometimes, films with a quiet opening and none of these tricks, have evolved their tension and narrative structure considerably in their 2nd and 3rd part. I think the most useless one is the Red Herring- I believe I saw it used effectively only once, in The Usual Suspects.

[@StudioBinder]

Agreed, these techniques alone are not what help make a scene/movie great, but their execution!

[@masakiejji]

You are amazing

[@StudioBinder]

These films are :)

[@gunghovagabond]

Now I got my head scrambled trying to think of what the opening scene to jurassic Park would be called. IMR I guess? But it's not really in the middle of the action. There's still a whole first act that follows the opening scene.

[@LilypadOW]

well i just spent 3 hours reading up on and watching opening scenes, thanks for the great content and the article!

[@men_del12]

I wonder what kind of opening Milenium Actress anime film is? Is it combination of flashback & forward? And maybe there's a little sense of dream from the big guy?

[@StudioBinder]

We have the information here for you to figure it out!

[@maximilianmolzer7768]

Difference between "red herring" and "MacGuffin"

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@sevenstarred77]

Macguffin is an object,or Event in the movie that is very important to the characters or Plot but in itself useless a Red Herring a perspective to the characters a mystery that is followed with false clues to intentionally mislead the viewers or readers about the main plot . So in that case there will be a twist

[@kjeet007]

We are in road to Million 🔥

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On our way!

[@MonkeyBars1]

3:45 Should be "raises" or "prompts" the question. Begging the question is a logical fallacy of circular reasoning.

[@jayaprakash387]

Part 1 is blocked in my country :(

[@semst.k.4056]

Same

[@StudioBinder]

Should be available now!

[@saulgoodman1236]

I love opening scenes so much, my favourites include: inglorious basterds Goodfellas Saturday night fever Raging bull

[@StudioBinder]

All classic openings!