Art of the Opening Scene — How to Start a Movie 6 Different Ways, From Nolan to Baumbach

0:01In today's video, we'll break down

0:03the creative ways that writers and directors

0:06set the stage for a story

0:08and hook their audience.

0:15And it all starts with the opening scene.

0:18♪ Page To Script - Intro ♪

0:27The first scene is the most valuable

0:29real estate a film has to offer.

0:31"- Congratulations. You got yourself caught.

0:35- Sir? - Now onto the next step of your master plan.

0:39- Crashing this plane."

0:41- It should immediately hook the audience.

0:51Perhaps the most obvious example

0:53of how to hook an audience, well...

0:55"- Calm down, doctor.

0:56Now's not the time for fear."

0:58- ...is to start with a bang...

1:00"-...that comes later..."

1:05Commonly used in the blockbuster action flick

1:09the opening action sequence

1:11is meant to grab you.

1:16And sometimes has very little to do

1:18with the actual plot.

1:21Like in this opening from "The Dark Knight".

1:37It might not move the story in a big way...

1:39"- Where's the alarm guy? - Boss told me when the guy was done

1:41I should take him out.

1:42- One less share, right?

1:45- Funny, he told me something similar.

1:47- He what? No! No!"

1:49- But in five pages,

1:51we have a dynamic action sequence

1:53and a truly memorable introduction to our villain.

1:56"- I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you...

2:03...stranger."

2:08"Skyfall" on the other hand

2:11focuses on the hero.

2:20And it does so with a 10-minute chase sequence.

2:22[Music]

2:33Again, it's a white knuckle sequence

2:35that grabs you with spectacle.

2:36"- I may have a shot.

2:38It's not clean."

2:40- Until our hero falls.

2:43"- Take the shot.

2:45Take the bloody shot."

2:59♪ ♪

3:11- And while we're sure Bond isn't dead

3:13"- 007 reporting for duty."

3:16M. giving the order

3:17informs Bond's character for the rest of the story.

3:20"- What was it you said?

3:22Take the bloody shot?

3:25- I made a judgment call.

3:26- You should have trusted me to finish the job."

3:29This type of opening raises the stakes,

3:32introduces characters and key plot points

3:35while making sure the audience is along for the ride.

3:39Moving on.

3:43"- What I love about Nicole..."

3:45This opening to "Marriage Story"

3:47and its home video aesthetic

3:49tells us so much about the characters.

3:52"- She always knows the right thing to do

3:53when it comes to difficult family sh*t.

3:55- Call him.

3:57- I get stuck in my ways

3:59and she knows when to push me.

4:00And when to leave me alone.

4:02We immediately know who these people are

4:05because we know what they care about.

4:08"- What I love about Charlie...

4:10Charlie is undaunted.

4:11He never lets other people's opinions

4:13or any setbacks keep him from what he wants to do."

4:16In eight and a half pages,

4:18we get a crash course

4:19in Charlie and Nicole's marriage.

4:21Their relationship

4:23It's pitfalls.

4:24"- She is a mother who plays.

4:26Really plays.

4:27Never says it's too much.

4:29And it must be too much some of the time.

4:33- He disappears into his own world.

4:37- Sh*t. This is our stop.

4:39- He and Henry are alike in that way.

4:42- Let's stop right there."

4:43- But on page 9.

4:49"- Who wants to start?"

4:50We find out that it is failing.

4:55"- I'm not going to read this out loud.

4:58- As we mediate your separation

5:02and eventual divorce

5:05things can get quite contentious."

5:08Without this hyper-focused introduction

5:10our sympathy for this couple

5:12would be lacking

5:13and their demise less tragic.

5:19"Uncut Gems" however...

5:21"- I'm a block away. - Where the fuck are you man?"

5:23...a movie about wheeling and dealing in New York...

5:26"- I'm not a f*cking athlete.

5:27This is my f*cking way.

5:29This is how I win.

5:30All right?"

5:32...opens with an excavation scene in Ethiopia.

5:36But why?

5:45Because the movie revolves around the mysterious effects of this gem.

6:05"- Why's it got so many colors in it?

6:07- Man, what is this? - That's the thing.

6:09They say you can see the whole universe in opals.

6:11That's how f*cking old they are.

6:13- Holy snap-- - I've been telling ya."

6:15We need to understand its fascination.

6:18The hope it represents.

6:19This stone, I'm really connecting with this man.

6:21I feel like I'm gonna have 40 or 50 on this man.

6:26You understand that?!"

6:28- And the violence that follows it.

6:36How one men's gain

6:40is another's loss.

6:44The foundation laid in these opening moments

6:46impacts the way we view the gem.

6:48The characters and the power it holds over them.

6:52"- Feel it. Feel it.

6:53Come on, he's got the gem.

6:55He's got the gem. Feel that, f*cking, gem.

6:58Feel it."

7:10Now, let's look at opening scenes

7:12that forego plot and characters

7:13and aim straight for tone.

7:16Let's look at this scene

7:17from "La La Land".

7:24The power of the crowd.

7:27The lyrics.

7:28♪ I'm reaching for the heights, ♪

7:30♪ and chasing all the lights that shine. ♪

7:36The excitement, the vibrant outfits.

7:45And then...

7:49We are suddenly thrown back into reality.

7:52The daily grind of L.A.

7:54And only then introduced to our two leads.

8:05"- Ahh."

8:06- A half-page of script

8:08and a four-minute sequence later,

8:10the juxtaposition of fantasy and reality

8:12we would normally expect from a musical

8:14is established.

8:17La La Land strikes a single consistent note.

8:22In contrast.

8:24"Get Out" blends horror

8:28Comedy.

8:29"- I got hypnotized last night.

8:31- Bruh, I don't care if the b*tch is Iyanla Vanzant, okay?

8:34She can't fix my motherf*ckin' life. You ain't gettin' in my head."

8:37And social commentary.

8:40"- Why us, huh?

8:44Why black people?"

8:49The tone established in the opening scene

8:51prepares us for this hybrid genre.

8:54What we see reminds us of countless horror films.

8:57An isolated character walking through a dark neighborhood.

9:00"- They got me out here in this creepy, confusing ass suburb.

9:09I'm serious though.

9:11I feel like a sore thumb out here."

9:13- Andre jokes about the situation

9:15which lightens the mood.

9:23His assault places us firmly back into a thriller.

9:36But then the soundtrack rises in the mix.

9:39We hear a pop standard from the 40s

9:42with rather ominous lyrics

9:43given the context.

9:44♪ Run, rabbit, run, run, run! ♪

9:50In the original script,

9:52the driver was described

9:53as listening to a french language tutorial.

9:56But the effect is the same.

9:59In four and a half pages,

10:00the mix of comedy and horror

10:02is the perfect setup for a story

10:04that crosses genre.

10:05And prepares us for a complicated

10:07and multi-layered message.

10:09"- Good to see another brother around here."

10:14- Hi. Yes, of course, it is.

10:19- Sink into the floor.

10:20- Wait, wait, wait, wait. - Sink."

10:31Whether it be a whimsical music piece

10:33or a high octane action scene

10:35you really can do anything

10:37in your opening scene.

10:40You can use flashbacks.

10:42"- It began with the forging of the great rings

10:46Three were given to the elves.

10:48Immortal, wisest, and fairest of all beings.

10:52Flash-forwards.

11:28Dreams.

11:29"- I'm sorry, did someone say my name?"

11:53Metaphors.

12:15Bookends.

12:30Red herrings.

12:31"- It didn't make sense that'd be there.

12:34I mean these guys were hardcore hijackers.

12:37But there I was.

12:40Besides, it was fun.

12:42I got to make like I was notorious.

12:46- All right, you all know the drill.

12:48- Give me the f*cking keys, you f*cking c*cksucker.

12:52- Knock it off get back.

12:54Number 3 - step forward.

13:04- "Hand me the keys, you c*cksucker." - In English, please.

13:08Hand me the f*ckin' keys, you c*cksucker. What the f*ck?

13:12- "Hand me the keys you f*cking c*cksucker."

13:18- Or MacGuffins.

13:20"- The rabbit's foot where is it?

13:23- I gave it to you.

13:25Ethan, where's the rabbit's foot?

13:28- Wait.

13:30- What-- what are you saying that wasn't it.

13:32What I gave you.

13:34- I'm gonna count to ten.

13:36You're gonna tell me where the rabbit's foot is.

13:38Or she dies.

13:42- I know where the rabbit's food is.

13:46I could help you."

13:49- What are some of your favorite opening scenes and sequences?

13:52And why?

13:53Tell us in the comments below.

13:55For more examples of iconic opening scenes...

13:59"- You know what this is?

14:00It's the world's smallest violin

14:02playing just for the waitresses."

14:04- ...head over to the StudioBinder blog.

14:06We rank the best opening scenes of all time.

14:09"- I need you to step out of the car, sir."

14:12- So, the next time you dust off your typewriter...

14:14"- How to start..."

14:15- ...just remember a great opening scene

14:18can be more than simply a "Scene 1".

14:20"- Hi, babe."

14:23It is an opportunity to do something truly great.

14:28Whatever you choose make it count.

14:31[Music]

14:40Remember to subscribe and click the bell

14:42to stay in the loop with more filmmaking videos like this.

14:45We'll see you in the next one.

14:48♪ ♪