Film Openings and Trailers

In order to be able to produce an effective film opening, it is important that we understand the difference between film openings and trailers.

Film trailers do the following:

• Provide information about the film
• Show a montage of clips
• There is normally a voice over, and the title of the film is shown at the end of the trailer with the actor's names
• Have a tage line
• Show the institution logo

For example, this is the official film trailer for My Sisters Keeper (2009)

It is clear that this is a film trailer because the main characters are introduced as is the plot line. The montage of clips and narration helps demonstrate what the film is about and shows both the difficulties and happiness the family faces. Also, institution logos and the film titles is seen at the end of the trailer.


In contrast, film openings do the following:

• Provide details of cast, crew and institution
• show the film title
• Introduce the main protagonist
• Introduce the setting and historical period
• Provide information providing mood, tone, theme and genre that will be echoed throughout the film
• Invites the audience to ask questions about the film
• Shows patterns in the types of editing that will be echoed throughout the film
• Sets the film up but does not reveal anything of the plot.

This is the opening for The Shining (1980)

It is clear that this is a film opening. This is because credits are seen and unlike the trailer for My Sisters Keeper, there is not a montage if clips and none of the plot is revealed, only the setting which seems isolated. The open narrative invited the audience to ask questions about the film, and the slow paced editing and slow, low toned non-diegetic music helped to created a dark and sinister atmosphere that would be echoed throughout the film.