Pre-production · term
Cold open
Also known as cold opening, teaser.
An opening scene or sequence presented before the main titles or regular opening credits, often used to establish a hook.
In practice
Cold opens are common in episodic television, comedy, and broadcast formats. Their length, recap relationship, act structure, and placement are editorial and delivery decisions.
Explore related entries
Sources
- E-learning glossary · ScreenSkills
Educational reference only. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, employer, venue, and production context.