Introducing characters - Introduction

Depending on the genre, the introduction of a character is one of the most important things an opening scene has to accomplish. The main character/s are usually introduced to convey their importance within the film and give the audience a brief idea on what to expect. If a main character is recognisable from previous films, this could also determine the genre. This introduction has to be dynamic, interesting, and clear, and filmmakers spend an enormous amount of time trying to find the perfect way to introduce their characters. I'm going to analyse the opening scenes from Pirates of The Caribbean and The Social Network and look at how they quickly establish character, and then I'll look at one of the most famous character introductions in film history, Willy Wonka, and look at the differences employed when introducing a character later in the story.