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 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 solidifying its controlling idea.

Technique 1: Play with Opposites

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

When the first and last shots in 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 oscillates between light and dark, with different shades of black and white visually representing the journey experienced by Natalie Portman’s character.

Beyond the color choices, the rise and fall of the ballerina are expressed through transitional fades.

The opening shot gradually fades out as Portman dances.

The final shot fades out during her last tragic moments.

The film itself stands as a representation of her time in the spotlight.

Another good 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. In contrast, the final 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 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 impression that the story has “come full circle.”

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

On the other hand, introducing subtle but noticeable differences between the opening and closing shots can draw attention to how far the characters have come from where they started.

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, are used to emphasize the differences between the characters.