(4) How can a film opening attract an audience?

                           'Watching' Documentary

1) What does Thomas Sutcliffe mean when he says "Films need to seduce their audience into long term committment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is almost irresistible"

Grabbing the audience in the first 5 mintues is crucial to make the audience want to continue watching, they have to feel like they want to know what is going to happen. It is important to grab audience attention so they are interested in continuing to watch the film.

2) According to Director Jean Jacques Beineix, what are the risks of 'instant arousal'?

If directors start with a strong beginning then they have to raise the question of what they want to do next, the audience has been aroused then questions have to be answered, however ofcourse directors have to take the risk and never answer the questions.

3) Explain why "a good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesnt know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure that it doesnt know too little"

The audience is making an early adjustment to what kind of movie it is, for example, horror, comedy, romance etc. the audience need to know whether to laugh, be serious or be afraid if it was to be a horror movie. The audience are establishing many things at once therefore the beginning should be good and interesting.

4) What does critic Stanley Kauffman describe as the classic opening? Why does this work?

Kauffman described a classic opening as the film beginning with an established shot in New York City, then a close up is seen of a building which then goes up of the building to a window, the camera goes through the window and through the reception to the office where the main character is seen. This worked as it told the audience where it was taken place, the occupation and told the organisation of the world.