How to Create Striking First and Last Frames in a Film

Beginning and Ending with a Single Frame

The beginning, middle, and end are the backbone that supports the structure of any story.

From a filmmaking perspective, a filmmaker’s story begins and ends with a single frame.

One is the first thing the audience sees before the journey truly begins. The other is the last thing they see, putting a period on the story and cementing its controlling idea.

Technique 1: Playing with Opposites

Whether it’s opposing emotions, environments, or transition techniques, many films use visual opposites to express their stories.

When the first and last scenes of a film are visually opposite, it powerfully emphasizes the transformation that has taken place.

Black Swan (2010)

The opening and closing shots of Black Swan say it all.

The entire film hovers between light and dark, with different shades of black and white visually representing the journey of the character played by Natalie Portman.

Beyond the choice of color, the rise and fall of the ballerina is also portrayed through the use of fades.

The opening shot gradually fades out as Portman dances.

The final shot fades out on her last tragic moment.

The film itself represents her era in the spotlight.

Another good example of playing with opposites can be seen in the screenplay of Silver Linings Playbook. The first shot shows Bradley Cooper’s character alone and in pain.

The tone is cold, Cooper is positioned far from us, guarded and closed off. In contrast, the last shot of the film shows him happily embracing Jennifer Lawrence’s character.

The tone of the shot is warm; their bodies are intertwined, unguarded, and open.

The protagonist’s entire character arc is reflected in the differences between these two shots.

Technique 2: Playing with Similarities

Gone Girl (2014)

We can see this approach in films such as Gone Girl, Saving Private Ryan, 12 Monkeys, and Forrest Gump.

When the first and last shots of a film are similar, it can give the impression that the story has “come full circle.”

Similar opening and closing frames may point to a bleak statement—perhaps history is doomed to repeat itself.

On the other hand, adding subtle but significant differences between the opening and closing shots can draw attention to how far the character has come since the beginning.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

A “similar but different” example can be clearly seen in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Two shots of eyes, framed the same way but with drastically different color palettes and expressions, emphasize the contrast between the characters.