in today's video we'll break down the creative ways that writers and directors set the stage for a story and hook their audience and it all starts with the opening scene [Music] the first scene is the most valuable real estate the film has to offer congratulations you got yourself caught sir now onto the next step of your master plan crashing this plane it should immediately hawk the audience perhaps the most obvious example of how to hook an audience well calm down doctor now's not the time for fear is to start with a bang that comes later commonly used in the blockbuster action flick the opening action sequence is meant to grab you and sometimes has very little to do with the actual plot like in this opening from the dark knight [Music] it might not move the story in a big way where's the alarm gun boss told me when the guy was done i should take him out one last share right honey you told me something similar no no but in five pages we have a dynamic action sequence and a truly memorable introduction to our villain i believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you [Music] stranger skyfall on the other hand focuses on the hero and it does so with a 10 minute chase sequence [Music] again it's a white knuckle sequence that grabs you with spectacle i may have a shot it's not clean until our hero falls take the shot take the bloody shot and while we're sure bond isn't dead 007 reporting for duty m giving the order informs bond's character for the rest of the story what was it you said take the bloody shot i made a judgment call you should have trusted me to finish the job this type of opening raises the stakes introduces characters and key plot points while making sure the audience is along for the ride moving on what i love about nicole this opening to marriage story and its home video aesthetic tells us so much about the characters she always knows the right thing to do when it comes to difficult family [ __ ] call him i get stuck in my ways and she knows when to push me and when to leave me alone we immediately know who these people are because we know what they care about what i love about charlie charlie is undaunted he never lets other people's opinions or any setbacks keep him from what he wants to do in eight and a half pages we get a crash course in charlie and nicole's marriage their relationship it's pitfalls she is a mother who plays really plays never says it's too much and it must be too much some of the time he disappears into his own world [Music] he and henry are alike in that way let's stop right there but on page nine who wants to start we find out that it is failing i'm not going to read this out loud as we mediate your separation and eventual divorce things can get quite contentious without this hyper-focused introduction our sympathy for this couple would be lacking and their demise less tragic uncut gems however i'm a block a movie about wheeling and dealing in new york i'm not a [ __ ] athlete this is my [ __ ] way this is how i win all right opens with an excavation scene in ethiopia but why [Applause] because the movie revolves around the mysterious effects of this gem [Music] why's it got so many colors in it man what is this that's the thing they say you can see the whole universe and noble that's how [ __ ] old they are holy [ __ ] i've been telling you we need to understand its fascination the hope it represents the stone i'm really connecting with this man i feel like i'm gonna have 40 or 50 on this man that's that game and the violence that follows it's so sick [Applause] the foundation laid in these opening moments impacts the way we view the gem the characters and the power it holds over them yeah feel it feel it come on he's right at the gym he's got the gym feel them [Music] now let's look at opening scenes that forego plot and characters and aim straight for tone let's look at this scene from la la land summer sunday night the power of the crowd the lyrics the excitement the vibrant outfits and then we are suddenly thrown back into reality the daily grind of la and only then introduced to our two leagues a half page of script and a four minute sequence later the juxtaposition of fantasy and reality we would normally expect from a musical is established la la land strikes a single consistent note in contrast get out blends horror [Music] comedy i got hypnotized last night bro i don't care the [ __ ] are yanavon okay she can't fix my [ __ ] life you ain't getting in my head and social commentary oh yes [Music] why are black people the tone established in the opening scene prepares us for this hybrid genre what we see reminds us of countless horror films an isolated character walking through a dark neighborhood creepy confusing as suburban gosh i'm serious though i feel like a sore thumb out here andre jokes about the situation which lightens the mood his assault places us firmly back into a [Music] thriller but then the soundtrack rises in the mix we hear a pop standard from the 40s with rather ominous lyrics given the context in the original script the driver was described as listening to a french language tutorial but the effect is the same in four and a half pages the mix of comedy and horror is the perfect setup for a story that crosses genre and prepares us for a complicated and multi-layered message good to see another brother around here [Music] ah yes of course it is sink into the floor wait wait wait wait [Music] whether it be a whimsical music piece or a high octane action scene you really can do anything in your opening scene you can use flashbacks it began with the forging of the great rings three were given to the elves immortal wisest and fairest of all beings flash forwards foreign dreams i'm sorry did someone say my name [Music] metaphors foreign [Music] bookends red herrings it didn't make sense that i'd be there i mean these guys were hardcore hijackers but there i was besides it was fun i got to make like i was notorious all right you all know the drill give me the [ __ ] keys you [ __ ] [ __ ] knock it off get back number three step forward [Laughter] having the hand me the keys you sucker or mcguffins the rabbit's foot where is it i gave it to you ethan where's the rabbit's foot wait what what are you saying that wasn't it what i gave i'm gonna count to ten you're gonna tell me where the rabbit's foot is or she dies i know where the rabbit's food is i could help you [Music] what are some of your favorite opening scenes and sequences and why tell us in the comments below for more examples of iconic opening scenes you know what this is it's the world's smallest violin playing just for the waitresses head over to the studio binder blog we rank the best opening scenes of all time i need you to step out of the car sir so the next time you dust off your typewriter how to start just remember a great opening scene can be more than simply scene one hi babe it is an opportunity to do something truly great whatever you choose make it count [Music] remember to subscribe and click the bell to stay in the loop with more filmmaking videos like this we'll see you in the next one you