'What does an effective opening sequence need to do?'

Our class was split into groups and each were given a question to answer.

'What does an effective opening sequence need to do?'

In our group (Myself, Tiffany Pickford and Brogan Adams) we came up with the following criteria: 

-Introduce protagonist/antagonist (at least one main character).

-Set the scene.

-Create mood and/or tone.

-Hint or suggest at the plot.

-Create enigma.

-Suggest some information about the plot.

-Include an event or sub-plot that is important and relevant in the main story.

-Establish the genre. (signal/hint to the audience without blatancy).

-Introduce the narrative (Todorov's theory). Equilibrium.

-Introduce relationships within the plot.

-Introduce important places within the plot.

-Introduce impacting events within the plot.

We then created a table and began to think of ways in which we could meet each point in our criteria giving specific examples of Media Language and Purpose.

For example, 

PURPOSE                                   MEDIA LANGUAGE            EXAMPLE

Grab the audience's attention      Editing                           Fast paced

Confusion/enigma                       Camera shots                  Canted angles

Establishing the genre                 Mise-en-scene                Costumes to create stereotypes

Setting the scene                       Camera shots                  Establishing shot