The FADE IN has a specific function and that is to establish context. Most successful stories hit the ground running (you only have a very short time with which to capture and keep your audience engaged).
In Scarface (1983), the first sequence uses visuals and narrative to explain the expulsion of criminals from Cuba by Castro.
In Gladiator (Academy Award Winner Best Picture, 2000), the first shots use text to establish the state of Rome and the resistance of the Germanic tribes.
In War of the Worlds (2005), the first sequence uses narrative and visuals to show bacteria and that the Earth has been watched for millennia.
In Trading Places (1983), the opening sequence exposes us to the disparity between rich and poor.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEARN MORE AT: http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------