JG: What techniques might you use in an opening?

The different techniques you could use for a film opening all depend on the genre. As we are doing a thriller for our film opening we may include some of the following:
Camera Techniques:

• Pan to show the location as it needs to be suitable for the genre.
• Establishing shot showing the protagonist for character exposition.
• Montage editing can be used to condense the action and create tension.
• Flashbacks or references to the past or future are helpful as it gives the audience a clue as to what happened or is going to happen.
• Rule of thirds shows the most important parts of the scene so that the audience focus on these.
• Over the shoulder shots are often used in conversation with a shot/reverse shot to show both characters facial expressions in relation to what is being said.
• Shot/reverse shot indicates the relationship between two characters, it signifies and sometimes exaggerates their closeness or opposition.

Editing

• Prevalence is how much screen time a character gets, it is given to a character in order to reveal to the audience their importance. This can develop during a scene to change a characters' status.
• Pace of editing is significant as it can be used to create many different perceptions of a character, especially if only one or two characters are in the sequence. A fast pace might suggest energy or panic, but infrequent cuts (long takes) might be used to imply a sense of calm or casual attitude or provide documentary-style realism.
• Motivation is important as a motivated edit is any transition 'forced' on the editor through the development of action, narrative or character. It can also be used to judge a character's worth or importance by the number of cuts they motivate.
• Intercutting is useful as it can be used to draw two storylines together this can be planned to create tension and therefore heighten the audience's identification with a particular character. However it can also be used set up juxtaposition between parallel storylines, thus exaggerating the impact or meaning of each by highlighting a point of difference.
• Eyeline match could be used to provide insight into a characters thoughts this is useful for character exposition as it enables the audience to realise what they are like as a person.

Sound

• High tempo music and a lack of dialogue creates tension as it is jumpy and the audience will be in suspense as they don't know what is going to happen next.
• Selective sound is important as it can be used to amplify a crucial moment or draw the audience's attention to something such as a bomb ticking. This can be used to help the audience identify with a character as we hear what he or she hears.
• Sound effects are sound from  any source other than synchronised dialogue, narration or music that have been dubbed-in to add to the illusion of reality.

Mise-en-scène
Is anything put in the scene, this includes:

• Characters - Hero (Protagonist) or Villain (Antagonist) etc.
• Locations
• Sets
• Props
• Costumes includes make-up
• Lighting
• Colour design
• Non-verbal language - gestures, facial expressions etc.