Film Opening Analysis

1. Film Opening Analysis
Iron Man (2008)
Josh Pyne

2. Scene 1
Lighting :
Natural light,
very bright.
There is no
dark parts
meaning
nothing sinister
or evil.
Editing : Editing
is mid paced. It
starts off with a
simple pan
across the
desert. This is an
establishing
shot.
Sound : There is both
diegetic sound and non
diegetic sound. We can hear
the wind rustle and we can
hear in the background
AC/DC’s Back in Black,
playing. This is definitely
setting the stage for iron
man as a “Bad Ass”.

3. Scene 2
Sound : We can
now just hear non
diegetic sound.
AC/DC’s Back In
Black is paying as
the primary audio.
Lighting :
Natural light,
very bright.
There is no
dark parts
meaning
nothing sinister
or evil.
Editing : Nothing too
fancy we are still
establishing the
environment. The
camera is placed in
front of the camera and
coming towards it,
giving it a aggressor
like role.

4. Scene 3
Lighting : Is still quite
bright, but now there
is more darkness as
we are in the interior
of the hum vee.
Editing : The editing
becomes much faster,
as most of the shots
are medium close ups.
This is for the purpose
of conversation.
Sound : There is just
diegetic sound, the
background music is
being played of the CD
player which is
positioned in the centre
of the vehicle, and the
actors are talking
amongst each other.

5. Scene 4
Lighting : Starts
to get dark,
indicating
something bad is
happening, or
sinister work is at
play.
Editing : Editing
becomes fast paced, as
the actors are engaged
in a fire fight. Quick
cuts, medium close ups,
close ups and POV
shots are used.
Sound : Both diegetic
and non diegetic
sound is present. We
can hear and see the
actors talking, but the
bullets being fired and
the mortars are not
visible.

6. Scene 5
Lighting :
Bright lighting,
but it seems a
bit darker than
it was outside
in scenes one
and two.
Sound : We can hear
Robert Downey Jr.
struggle as he is hit by a
explosion. This is
diegetic sound, but we
also hear non diegetic
sound such as guns
firing, explosions in the
background and
shouting.
Editing : Is fast paced
up till here, then it
slows down. When
Robert Downey Jr. Is
hit, this is similar to
the rush of
adrenaline. And
signifies that the
action scene is
finished.