Regarding this OWC https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-oct19/m-1570230923/s-0/ and further to quite a few people's observations of the unimaginative and repetitive nature of opening headers in the challenge specifically. EXT. SUBURBAN HOME - NIGHT...

I was going to say: If the script is fantastic you're probably not even going to care about that opening slug but having looked at some fantastic and imaginative opening grabs, I've since changed my mind, or at least acknowledge there are better ways to grab a reader and suggest the opening visual to a director:

So, if you have some examples of alt Openings that would have been terrific for this challenge, e.g., the POV of an eye maybe? Or the dark yawing depths of of a mouth screaming - or just in general -

Here are some other examples of pro script opening slugs:

Scream:
FADE IN
ON A RINGING TELEPHONE.
A hand reaches for it, bringing the receiver up to the face
of CASEY BECKER, a young girl, no more than sixteen. A
friendly face with innocent eyes.

Fight Club

David Fincher’s Fight Club is another solid example of the usage of an opening scene as a teaser. We float through the synapses of a human brain, exit out of sweating pores on a forehead, continue to pull back down the barrel of a gun to reveal that the weapon is shoved in the mouth of Edward Norton’s character, who narrates: “People are always asking me if I know Tyler Durden.”

Mind you, that one above seems to be a director's choice and not how the actual script opening is written.

SCREEN BLACK
JACK (V.O.)
People were always asking me, did I know Tyler Durden.

FADE IN:
INT. SOCIAL ROOM - TOP FLOOR OF HIGH-RISE - NIGHT

Saw
FADE IN:
INT. UNDERWATER
The low roar of deep water.

There's also a previous SS Sluglines thread here:
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1101250486/

And this:
https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3508288/10-best-opening-scenes-horror/

Thanks to Dave and Jeff for suggesting it can and should be done another way and that we should extend our imagination.

Quoted from LC Regarding this OWC https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-oct19/m-1570230923/s-0/ and further to quite a few people's observations of the unimaginative and repetitive nature of opening headers in the challenge specifically. EXT. SUBURBAN HOME - NIGHT... I was going to say: If the script is fantastic you're probably not even going to care about that opening slug but having looked at some fantastic and imaginative opening grabs, I've since changed my mind, or at least acknowledge there are better ways to grab a reader and suggest the opening visual to a director: So, if you have some examples of alt Openings that would have been terrific for this challenge, e.g., the POV of an eye maybe? Or the dark yawing depths of of a mouth screaming - or just in general - Here are some other examples of pro script opening slugs: Scream: FADE IN ON A RINGING TELEPHONE. A hand reaches for it, bringing the receiver up to the face of CASEY BECKER, a young girl, no more than sixteen. A friendly face with innocent eyes. Fight Club David Fincher’s Fight Club is another solid example of the usage of an opening scene as a teaser. We float through the synapses of a human brain, exit out of sweating pores on a forehead, continue to pull back down the barrel of a gun to reveal that the weapon is shoved in the mouth of Edward Norton’s character, who narrates: “People are always asking me if I know Tyler Durden.” Mind you, that one above seems to be a director's choice and not how the actual script opening is written. SCREEN BLACK JACK (V.O.) People were always asking me, did I know Tyler Durden. FADE IN: INT. SOCIAL ROOM - TOP FLOOR OF HIGH-RISE - NIGHT Saw FADE IN: INT. UNDERWATER The low roar of deep water. There's also a previous SS Sluglines thread here: https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1101250486/ And this: https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3508288/10-best-opening-scenes-horror/ Thanks to Dave and Jeff for suggesting it can and should be done another way and that we should extend our imagination.

Excellent!

What a good moderator you are, Libby. Thanks for this. You’re worth every penny Don pays you.

This one from GONE GIRL always resonated with me.

BLACK SCREEN

NICK (V.0.)
When I think of my wife, I always
think of her head.

FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM - SOMETIME

We see the back of AMY DUNNE’S HEAD, resting on a pillow.

NICK (V.0.)
I picture cracking her lovely
skull, unspooling her brain,

Nick runs his fingers into Amy’s hair.

NICK (V.0.)
Trying to get answers.
He twirls and twirls a lock, a screw tightening.

NICK (V.0.)
The primal questions of a marriage:
What are you thinking? How are you
feeling? What have we done to each
other?

AMY wakes, turns, gives a look of alarm.

BLACK SCREEN

Aww thanks, Steve. So nice of you to say. Right back at you.  

And Dave, a great example you posted there. I remember reading that one and it definitely stuck with me. It really makes a difference setting a scene.

I really learned something - sometimes I'm  a bit slapdash with an opening, so this OWC has been worth it just for this alone.

The one that immediately springs to mind is the opening of Lord of War - starting off with a businessman standing in the middle of a battlefield (the arms dealer) and then following a bullet from manufacturer to selling, to transport, to loading, to firing and eventual victim, a child fighter in Africa.

Immediately set's up the morality of arms dealing and profiting from war.

I also quite like the opening of In Brugge - Clips of the beautiful cobbled streets, canals and paints Brugge as a magical place - Then Ray comes on, repeatedly calling it a shithole.

Inglorious Basterds is also another great opening that comes to mind - Sets up the antagonist wonderfully, immediately hits us with theme and tone, and also comes full circle later in the movie (rather than a stand-alone opening just to get our attention)

Quoted from LC Aww thanks, Steve. So nice of you to say. Right back at you.   And Dave, a great example you posted there. I remember reading that one and it definitely stuck with me. It really makes a difference setting a scene. I really learned something - sometimes I'm  a bit slapdash with an opening, so this OWC has been worth it just for this alone.

Me too - I really never paid attention to it

Quoted from Matthew Taylor The one that immediately springs to mind is the opening of Lord of War - starting off with a businessman standing in the middle of a battlefield (the arms dealer) and then following a bullet from manufacturer to selling, to transport, to loading, to firing and eventual victim, a child fighter in Africa. Immediately set's up the morality of arms dealing and profiting from war. I also quite like the opening of In Brugge - Clips of the beautiful cobbled streets, canals and paints Brugge as a magical place - Then Ray comes on, repeatedly calling it a shithole. Inglorious Basterds is also another great opening that comes to mind - Sets up the antagonist wonderfully, immediately hits us with theme and tone, and also comes fall circle later in the movie (rather than a stand-alone opening just to get our attention)

Those were both great.

FADE UP

     CLOSE UP on the face of YURI ORLOV.

     Late-thirties, maybe the wrong side of forty, cigarette dangling
     from his fingers, wearing a conservative suit and tie.

     Black smoke wafts in front of his face.  He speaks matter-of-factly,
     directly into camera.

                             YURI
                 There are over 550 million firearms in
                 worldwide circulation.  That's one firearm
                 for every twelve people on the planet.  The
                 only question is...
                      (taking a draft and stubbing out
                       the cigarette)
                 ...how do we arm the other eleven?

     The camera zooms away from his face, revealing:

     Yuri alone on a battlefield surrounded by the charred carcasses of
     armored military vehicles and other equipment, discarded weapons and
     ammunition, desert floor stained with what appears to be blood.

     The faint sound of gunfire, some distance away, carries to us on the
     wind.

Lord Of War, Andrew Niccol.
Opening scene.

Thanks, Matthew.

Full script here:
http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/lord-of-war.html

Interesting, cause if you read on to the next scene the POV is of a bullet.

Quoted from LC FADE UP      CLOSE UP on the face of YURI ORLOV.      Late-thirties, maybe the wrong side of forty, cigarette dangling      from his fingers, wearing a conservative suit and tie.      Black smoke wafts in front of his face.  He speaks matter-of-factly,      directly into camera.                              YURI                  There are over 550 million firearms in                  worldwide circulation.  That's one firearm                  for every twelve people on the planet.  The                  only question is...                       (taking a draft and stubbing out                        the cigarette)                  ...how do we arm the other eleven?      The camera zooms away from his face, revealing:      Yuri alone on a battlefield surrounded by the charred carcasses of      armored military vehicles and other equipment, discarded weapons and      ammunition, desert floor stained with what appears to be blood.      The faint sound of gunfire, some distance away, carries to us on the      wind. Lord Of War, Andrew Niccol. Opening scene. Thanks, Matthew. Full script here: http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/lord-of-war.html Interesting, cause if you read on to the next scene the POV is of a bullet.

I quite liked this - a lot of violations of the so called rules - and it worked perfectly.  Great opening image.