Film Openings

 Writing a Catchy Movie Introduction to the Coming-of-Age Film.

As I stated previously in my post, my project will deal with the coming-of-age genre, which is characterized by a young hero (or heroine) going through the process of personal growth, self-discovery, and struggles in order to enter adult life. Since the opening scene is the first impression of the audience about the story, it is an influential part of the introduction of the character, tone, and main motifs of the movie. Before making my decision on how I would like to form the opening of my own project, I went ahead and did some research on the openings of some famous coming-of-age movies to understand what tricks they apply and how they establish the story.

Research

Most of the coming-of-age movies start with the setting of the main character and their emotional state. These introductions usually depict daily life, school environment, or scenes that allude to the things that the lead character is going to undergo during the movie.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

At the beginning of The Breakfast Club, the five main characters are presented when they are heading to school to receive detention on a Saturday. The scene depicts that every student is being dropped off by their parents, and at the very beginning of the scene, it is clear that the personalities and family orders are different. As an illustration, some parents are tough and confrontational, whereas other parents appear remote or indifferent.

This introduction is effective since it immediately forms the stereotypes that each of the characters displays, being the athlete, the nerd, the princess, the rebel, and the outcast. Meanwhile, it is a clue that the movie will be a more profound exploration of the issue of identity and misconceptions between adolescents and adults.

Lady Bird (2017)

The opening of Lady Bird starts with the protagonist, Christine Lady Bird, driving with the mother, who has just been to a college campus. The quiet scene soon changes into a situation of arguing about the future of Lady Bird and her wish to escape her hometown.

This introductory line is successful since it directly presents the main conflict of the book: Lady Bird and her family struggle with the issue of independence and her connection with her parents. The scene was also helpful to establish the emotional atmosphere of the movie, as it revealed some comedy and tension between the characters.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012).

The Perks of Being a Wallflower starts with Charlie writing letters about his life, where he is looking forward to entering high school. This narration is an introduction to his ideas and feelings, alongside depicting his solitude and worry.

This is a strong opening since the reader finds himself right inside the mind of the main character. Listening to the inner monologue of Charlie, there is no need to explain to the viewers that it is the story of his personal development, his friends, and his identity issues.

Conclusion

Having read about these openings, I have observed that most coming-of-age films revolve around bringing the personal conflicts of the main character to the forefront, be it in family conflicts, the school setting, or a narration of the character. These introductions enable the viewer to grasp the character and the issues that they will encounter fast. In my own project, I would also prefer the first pages to set the emotional state and environment of the main character in a natural manner, like Lady Bird and The Perks of Being a Wallflower do with their characters. Meanwhile, I would like the scene to give subtle foreshadowing to the personal journey that the character will have in the film.