SYMBOLISM

USING CAMERA SHOTS AND

ANGLES

1. Film Shots

Extreme Close Up: Shows part of object in extremely

close detail.

Mid Shot: Waist or knees up.

Long Shot: Overall view from a distance of whole scene.

Close Up: Person - shows either head or head & shoulders.

Full Shot: Shows the full height of the subject.

Establishing Shot/Extreme Long Shot: contains a lot of the landscape.

2. Camera Angles2. Camera Angles Low Angle: Camera shoots up at

subject. Used to increase size, power, status of subject.

High Angle: Camera shoots down at subject. Used to increase vulnerability, powerlessness, decrease size.

Overhead Angle / Birds-eye-view Angle

Eye-level (no angle): standard

Canted Angle: off kilter

Camera MovementCamera Movement

The Tilt: Movement up or down from a stationary position.

Zooming: The camera is stationary, the lens moves closer to the subject (zoom in) or further away from the subject (zoom out). This is used frequently throughout the film and often rapidly.

Panning: Camera moves from side to side from a stationary position.

Camera Track/Crane Work:

This enable the camera to move, arc and

swoop in a fluid motion.

Moving On…

Now lets look at how these camera shots and angles are used to position the audience and enhance the symbolism in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”

First of all…What is Symbolism?

Symbolism can take place by having the theme of a story represented on a physical level. A simple example of this might be the occurrence of a storm at a critical point when there is conflict or high emotions.

Examples:

A river in a scene could represent the flow of life, from birth to death.

Flowers can symbolize youth or beauty.

Transition from day to night could symbolize goodness to evil or hope to despair.

Forms of Symbolism

Visual

Written

Music and sound effects

Non-verbal

Verbal

Symbols around us

Think of some symbols that are in our everyday lives?

A green light tells you it is your turn to go

A bell may signal the beginning of the school day

A gold cross on a necklace suggests the wearer is a Christian

Line of Caravans heading through the town

Journey is initially perceived through the effective long shot of the endless road that stretches towards the horizon symbolically suggesting possibilities and opportunities or in other words freedom.

However they appear just out of reach of Gilbert who remains stationary in the foreground, sitting while Arnie, his mentally-handicapped brother, is strutting around impatiently.

As the caravans come into view in the distance the peaceful music picks up and the caravans seem to be ‘sparkling’ from their reflectors. This symbolizes a form of escape.

Mumma

Symbolises personal, psychological journey from emotional entrapment and basically a prisoner in her own home- which is basically was gilbert is – trapped in this small town where there is nothing to do and nowhere to grow as a person.

Mid shots are used mostly to position the audience that the size of the mother takes up the whole shot- symbolising her major domineering role and dependency role on her children.Long shots are also used, to show the true scale of the mother’s size compared to objects and other characters.

Symbolism

Endora- Extreme Long shot and Panning which stops at the sign Endora Pharmacy- “End of Line Drugs”

Becky- Close ups of emotion

Fire as a Threat & Cleanser- Extreme Long shot of house burning

The Water Tower and Arnie- Long shot of tank then zooms in on Arnie on the top

Activity:Choose 4 Symbolic features to examine

Write a paragraph on each symbol on what it represents (4-6 sentences)

What is the symbolic feature and where does it fit into the plot?

How does it contribute to the overall theme of the movie?

How does the shot angles used position the audience and enhance the symbolism in that scene/s