Hook

As its name implies, the hook must catch viewers’ attention right at the beginning of the story.

Think of a catchy beginning that will grip your audience.

Example To tell an anecdote, we instinctively use certain tricks to catch people’s attention. “Listen! Something amazing happened to me this morning!” we announce. Or we ask a question we already have the answer to: “Did you hear what they said on the radio this morning?” And while our voice inflects each word, our face also becomes more expressive. The teller does his/her best to catch and keep the attention of his/her audience.

EXERCISE 22 Imagine a catchy scene for your film, one that is guaranteed to rivet the audience from the start.

HELP As the word “hook” suggests, you have to catch your audience, draw them in to your story and make them stay in.

Think about the first picture of your film and objectively decide if it is truly fascinating and gripping.