Opening Sequence: “Pulp Fiction”

Source: Go Into The Story

Last week, I posted this question: What are the best opening scenes in movie history?

I was having this discussion with a writer the other day. So many fantastic opening scenes of all sorts. Some of them bombastic, some subtle, some of them funny, some brutal, all of them great. Tough to write, too, because it’s not only about being entertaining, it’s also about introducing the story universe and key characters, setting the mood and so forth.

And while we’re at it, let’s analyze the scenes as to why they’re so stellar, and hopefully get some takeaway as far as our own writing goes.

The list of suggestions was so great, I thought it would be a good idea to post some of them over the next week or two because here is the reality: A great opening scene or sequence can go a long way in how a reader perceives your script. In other words, they can be pivotal to the success of your screenplay.

Yesterday we featured the opening sequence from Once Upon a Time in the West. Marc Omeyer had these comments:

No surprise why Q.Tarantino mentions Sergio Leone as major influence. This opening seems in his logic close to the opening of Pulp fiction : take time to install the set up that others normally cut. PF is all about dialogue, here there’s none. It’s a silent opening of an opera. The function of the scene could be “harmonica comes, shoots well, wants Franck”. But as in PF, Sergio Leone installs his own iron hand upon a powerful and economic narrative.

So as a natural follow-up, here is the opening scene from Pulp Fiction. Why is it so powerful? Why does it work so well? What screenwriting lessons can we learn from it?

Tomorrow: Another great movie opening.

NOTE: If you haven’t checked out Teddy Pasternak’s analysis of yesterday’s opening sequence, be sure to do it here. Great stuff.

Source: Go Into The Story