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: Play with Opposites

Whether it’s opposing emotions, settings, or transition techniques, many films use visual opposites to express the story.

When the first and last scenes in a film are visually opposite, this powerfully underscores 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 black-and-white tones visually representing the journey experienced by Natalie Portman’s character.

Beyond the choice of color, the rise and fall of the ballerina are also conveyed through transitions using fades in and out.

The opening shot gradually fades out as Portman dances.

The final shot fades out during her last tragic moments.

The film itself represents her time in the spotlight.

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

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

The tone of the shot is warm; their bodies are entwined, 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 such as 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 first and last frames may suggest a bleak statement—that 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 in the same way but with completely different color palettes and expressions, are used to emphasize the differences between the characters.