Does Your Independent Film Put the Audience to Sleep?

The above picture is an actual frame (minus the walls) from WebcamMurder.com, the movie for the Internet generation. (See the computer with the webcam on top? That's the kind of thing the Internet generation goes for.)

This is a typical shot that puts the audience to sleep. You can't see it here, but, trust me, there is a gentle breeze blowing through the windows, resulting in a subtle movement that both gives the audience something to look at while they're still awake and helps them doze off. To put your audience to sleep quickly, line up several shots like this one all in a row at the top of the movie, and you won't have to worry about what you fill the rest of the film with because nobody will be watching.

If your opening scenes do not put the audience to sleep now, consider re-editing. You'll be glad you did.