Discussing Film Openings

 The genre I chose was sports. Many incredibly real, and emotional stories within the genre inspired me to finalize my decision on a genre. I will discuss the opening sequences from three films I will be taking inspiration from. 

Rocky (1976)

Directed by John G. Avildsen the opening scene of the film begins with panning across huge text saying "ROCKY" in big bold letters. It then zooms out of a mural of Jesus and shows a boxing event taking place in an old rundown church-turned-boxing ring. Here we see Rocky fighting and looking very beat up. He goes on to beat his opponent to a pulp.

    This scene is very raw and shows what this man does regularly. I enjoy the realism of his struggle and again the rawness of the whole scene displaying two men trying to kill each other while in a religious place with a mural of Jesus Christ watching them. The zoom-out of the mural of Jesus which is a symbolic representation of peace and kindness then shows two men fighting represents the realness of the world Rocky is living in. I'm greatly inspired by how something so little that isn't even talked about holds so much symbolism.

The Iron Claw (2023)

Directed by Sean Durkin the opening scene in black and white shows a lit-up ring with darkness all around it then fades into a wrestler's screaming face while he is beating his opponent up. It then again fades to display text saying "THE IRON CLAW" in black bolded letters. The rest of the opening sequence contains the wrestler greeting his wife and two sons outside the event their father then begins talking about how to be successful and that you have to be the toughest. There is an emphasis on one of his sons while he is talking showing that he is really listening and taking this to heart.

This scene inspired me because of the way it depicts the grit and fearlessness in this wrestler to then him being vulnerable to his family and having a meaningful heart-to-heart with his sons.

Facing The Giants (2006) 

Directed by Alex Kendrick opens during a football game and we are immediately shown a player tackling someone. We see the coach on the sideline call a play and then the players break the huddle. This next play is important because the announcer reveals that if they win the game on this play it will be the first winning season for this head coach in 6 years. After the play is started the player just can't make the throw leading to a big loss for their team. At the end the announcer while blocking the microphone talks about how the head coach might not be keeping his job next year.

I enjoy this opening scene because it displays something that happens quite a lot which is losing. As a football player myself this was realistic. Not every play is going to go your way. It sets the rest of the tone for the film and does a great job of expressing how important a moment it is for the head coach.