Opening Hook

The Hook is an opening scene that seizes the audience’s interest, investing their attention in the story.

A hook should make the audience ask questions such as "What is that?" or "What’s going to happen next?" It should create a sense of mystery and suspense, prompting the audience to feel curiosity.

The hook is a special plot point because it occurs at the very beginning. It transitions the audience into the story, rather than from one sequence to another.

Starting "in medias res"

A good hook often starts the story "in medias res", which in Latin means "in the midst of things". To use this technique, start a story in the middle of action, bypassing traditional setups. Thrust the audience directly into a pivotal moment. This will engage viewers by immersing them in immediate drama or conflict—​compelling them to invest in the unfolding story to understand how the characters arrived at this juncture.

Here are examples from tv shows and movies that effectively employ this technique:

  • Jaws (1975): The opening scene of "Jaws" is famously terrifying, showing a young woman swimming alone in the ocean at night, suddenly jerked underwater by an unseen force. This scene effectively establishes the menacing presence of the shark, setting the tone for the suspenseful thriller.

  • Breaking Bad (TV Series): Starts with a scene of Walter White driving an RV in the desert wearing only his underwear, and the story then unfolds to explain how he ended up in that situation.

  • Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977): Starts with a space battle between rebel and imperial forces, immediately drawing viewers into its epic science fiction universe. The opening sequence introduces the central conflict, key characters, and sets the stage for the saga.

  • Saving Private Ryan (1998): Opens with the harrowing and chaotic D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach during World War II. This intense beginning immediately plunges the audience into the horrors of war, setting the emotional and narrative tone for the story that follows.

  • Inception (2010): Begins with the protagonist, Cobb, washed up on a shore and then taken to an elderly man. The scene is part of a complex narrative puzzle that the audience must piece together, as the film explores themes of dreams within dreams.

  • Pulp Fiction (1994): Opens with a diner scene in which a couple decides to rob the place, instantly engaging the audience with its sharp dialogue and sudden shift to a robbery. The nonlinear storytelling that follows maintains the initial momentum.

  • The Dark Knight (2008): Starts with a brilliantly executed bank heist, introducing the Joker’s character without initially revealing him. This opening sets a tone of chaos and brilliance that permeates the rest of the film.

How to write the Hook "in medias res"

To achieve the purpose of the opening hook in films, especially using the "in medias res" technique, follow these steps:

  1. Identify the Core Conflict: Determine the central conflict or action that defines your story, and introduce it right from the start.

  2. Choose a Pivotal Moment: Select a moment deep within the story that is both intriguing and important to the plot. This moment should be capable of immediately engaging the audience.

  3. Craft a Compelling Scene: Design the opening scene to grab attention and evoke curiosity about what led to this point and what will follow. Don’t reveal the details. Just pose a puzzle or mystery.

  4. Ensure Clarity and Relevance: Make sure the scene is clear enough for audiences to understand the stakes, even without the context of preceding events, and ensure it is directly relevant to the main narrative that comes later.

  5. Set the Tone: Use this opening scene to establish the tone and atmosphere of the film, giving viewers a taste of the style and hint of the journey to come.

  6. Spark Curiosity: Leave enough unanswered questions in the opening scene to compel the audience to want more, encouraging them to stay engaged as the story unfolds and fills in the backstory.

In novels, its all about the opening line…​

In many novels, the reader’s attention is grabbed by a clever opening line. Consider these opening hooks from famous novels:

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."
— George Orwell
1984

Orwell’s hook creates a sense of unease and sets the tone for the dystopian world of the novel.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
— Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice

Austen’s hook humorously introduces the novel’s central theme of marriage and social status.

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."
— J.D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye

Salinger’s hook establishes the unique voice of the protagonist and draws the reader into his world.

"In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since."
— F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald’s hook sets the stage for the novel’s exploration of wealth, love, and the American Dream.

These authors hooked their readers with a single opening line!