opening scene
Story's initial moments
The opening scene is the first scene of a film, play, or other narrative work—the initial moments that establish setting, tone, or character before the story unfolds.
A strong opening scene hooks the audience: The opening scene of Jaws made everyone afraid to swim.
In figurative use, any beginning stage of events: The opening scene of their rivalry played out at a conference in 1987.
- prologueIntroductory literary section
- once upon a timeTraditional narrative opening
- curtainFabric hung for privacy
- fade-inGradual visual emergence
- establishing shotOpening scene showing location
credits · beginning · intro · first act · in medias res · hook · exposition · setting · dawn · threshold · entrance · dramatic entrance · stage · spotlight · silence · anticipation · overture · prelude
- scenesdream sequence, climax, confrontation, first kiss, first meeting
- storytellingstorytelling, story, tale, narrative, narrator
- film elementsplot, credits, soundtrack, score, cinematography
- openingsaperture, gap, hole, slit, crack
- story scenesclimax, prologue, epilogue, flashback, dream sequence
- show openersoverture, curtain raiser, preshow, warm-up act, first act
opening sceneclosing scene
Final segment of production
final scene · finale · denouement · final act · epilogue
opening sceneresolution
Formal decision or determination
conclusion · wrap-up · payoff · culmination · climax
opening, scene, open, opens, opened, opener, openers, openly, openness