FADE UP: NARRATOR (V.O)
And I had done an hellish thing,
And it would work ’em woe :
For all averred, I had killed the bird,
That made the breeze to blow.
Ah wretch ! said they, the bird to slay,
That made the breeze to blow !
Nor dim nor red, like God’s own head,
The glorious Sun uprist :
Then all averred, I had killed the bird,
That brought the fog and mist.
‘Twas right, said they, such birds to slay,
That bring the fog and mist.
The boat came closer to the ship,
But I nor spake nor stirred ;
The boat came close beneath the ship,
And straight a sound was heard.
The ship suddenly sinketh.
Under the water it rumbled on,
Still louder and more dread :
It reached the ship, it split the bay ;
The ship went down like lead.
This is my story.
My rattle.
My finality.
I am Mike.
This is one possible opening scene. The above is from ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ by Samuel Coleridge Taylor. Which I sort of love for a number of reasons. It’s a weighty intro even as a voice-over and should be able to set an opening tone. It’s public domain and no releases are needed for it’s use. This V.O. would be audio to a sequence that fades up from black.