How to Create a Striking First Frame and Last Frame in a Film

Beginning and Ending with a Single Frame

The beginning, middle, and end are the skeleton 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 very first thing the audience sees before the journey truly begins. The other is the last thing they see, which puts a period on the story and reinforces its controlling idea.

Technique 1: Play with Opposites

Whether in opposing emotions, settings, or transition techniques, many films use visual contrast to express their stories.

When the first and last scenes of a film are visually opposed, 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 darkness, with various shades of black and white visually representing the journey of Natalie Portman’s character.

Beyond the choice of color, the rise and fall of the ballerina is also expressed through fade transitions.

The opening shot slowly fades out as Portman dances.

The final shot fades out in her last tragic moment.

The film itself represents her time under the spotlight.

Another great example of playing with opposites can be seen in the way Silver Linings Playbook is written and shot. 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. By contrast, the last shot of the film shows him joyfully embracing Jennifer Lawrence’s character.

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

The protagonist’s entire character arc is embodied in the contrast between these two shots.

Technique 2: Play with Similarities

Gone Girl (2014)

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

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

Similar opening and closing frames can suggest a bleak statement, perhaps that history is destined to repeat itself.

On the other hand, introducing 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 identically but with drastically different color palettes and expressions, emphasize the differences between the characters.