I'm currently working on a supernatural horror and I begin with a cold open scene. In the cold open I scene, I introduce the antagonistic threat. Is it wise to begin a spec script with a cold open?
Screenwriting : Cold Open Scene by Bartholomew Scott
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Yeah, Bartholomew Scott. A lot of Horror spec scripts and movies have cold open scenes. I took a Stage 32 webinar yesterday that talked about that.
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Here's the webinar if you're interested, Bartholomew Scott:
"How to Keep Pacing and Jump Scares on Point in Your Horror Feature Film" www.stage32.com/education?p=9227568185651
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Bartholomew Scott i had a perfect video explaining this ! when i come back across it ill dm it to you . Basic moral of the video was that the human attention span today is about 13 seconds before they scroll, get up to grab a drink ect so hook there buts early !! , he said blow a car up kidnap somebody kill somebody !!! but its all perspective i feel based on the film and on who the target audience is , as for me im going the "GET OUT" route , im opening everything with a bang ! And then bring it down and then bang , roller coaster style writing ! ( also i feel like films are almost like every other creative business , if you start a fashion house first question is who is going to be wearing these clothes ? , my mom and grandmother went to see Where the Crawdads Sing right !! everyone in my lane was like no ill pass on this one lol , because we weren't there target audience .... no your target , study stuff they like and hit em with a bang!!! (also remember horror can be more about what they see than what they here, focus on some good visual scenes/expression
-Chase Cysco (:
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Thanks Maurice, I'll be sure to check out the webinar. Every lit bit of information helps.
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Brilliant! Thank you Chase Cysco for the advice. I'll be looking out for the video.
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You're welcome, Bartholomew Scott.
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You can definitely open a spec script with a teaser/cold open. It's usually best if the content of the cold open will play into the main characters journeys heavily though. Good examples of movie cold opens include: The Social Network, Heat, The Dark Knight, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Children of Men, Baby Driver, Halloween, Scream, Inglorious Basterds, Jaws, Up, It, and Seven Psychopaths.