Jaws shot type analysis

Jaws shot type analysis

• 1.
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• 2.
  * As theshot of the beach opens, it is a tracking shot of a boy coming out of the sea. As we follow him, in the background, no lifeguards can be seen. This could be foreshadowing the shark attack later on. Or possibly to help make the audience unconsciously aware that there is very little that can be done in this situation if there is a shark attack, as there is no one around who knows what to do.
• 3.
  * Here, wecan see sheriff Brody in the foreground in a medium close up, with a long shot of the beach in the background. This emphasizes the contrasting emotions of Brody, who appears quite concerned and anxious, with his happy environment of families enjoying the sea-side.
• 4.
  * In thisextreme long shot, the woman who is centre framed appears vulnerable and isolated because of the lack of people surrounding her. * Although the sea does appear quite calm, which relaxes the audience as nothing is happening yet. This is backed up by the lack of music, suggesting that there is nothing to worry about.
• 5.
  * The sereneshot is suddenly disturbed by the dog jumping into the water. This long shot is designed to bring a sense of unease to the audience as the loud noises could attract the shark. Spielberg has taken advantage of the diegetic sounds of this shot and focused on the splashing noises that the dog is making.
• 6.
  * Here thereare cuts mimicking vertical wipes as people walk in front of Brody’s view and the camera gets closer (from a medium wide -> medium -> medium close up). * This could be used to show the passage of time, and possibly to lure the audience into a false sense of security. * The closer we get, the shallower the depth of field becomes. This helps to enhance the idea of Brody’s segregation from the rest of the beach, enjoying themselves. It aids in keeping the focus on him alone.
• 7.
  * Now wehave cut to Brody’s Point Of View. The POV shot shows us what the character is looking at, and in this case, he can see the woman from earlier, who is again, alone. This has been done deliberately to show to the audience that Brody is worried about those who are far away from the beach, this woman in particular. * As Brody this POV shot appears to show us that Brody is worried about the safety of this woman, we begin to wonder what will happen to her and fear for her safety.
• 8.
  * In thisshot, a man comes to talk to Brody, but we are immediately made aware that his attention is elsewhere. This makes the audience also not worry about what this man is saying, and focus on Brody. * The over the shoulder shot has been used to emphasise Brody’s obscured view, which makes him and the viewer worried that the person shown in the POV shot will come to harm. * The POV shot is used to show us Brody’s lack of attention to the man talking to him. If he was paying attention, the eye line of the man opposite would be directly down the camera. However it is on the woman shown alone in the distance. * The extreme long shot of the woman in the distance highlights the physical distance that Brody is, and possibly the idea that even if something was to happen, he couldn’t do anything about it.
• 9.
  * We thencome to shots of children running into the sea to play. This section consists of lots of medium close ups and quick cuts. This has been done to exaggerate the action of the scene, and also to bring us back to the idea that sharks are attracted to sound and movement, and these children are making a lot of noise and splashing around. * The use of diegetic sound is again shown here, as the sound is dominated by the splashing, shouting and screaming of the children.
• 10.
  * There isthen a cut to this wide shot of the sea and mid shot of a boy calling for his dog. The sea is shown again in this manner to emphasise its vastness and its potential.
• 11.
  * This longshot of the deflated lilo has been placed in the centre to emphasize that the boy’s death is at the centre of attention, and can’t be covered up like before. * The yellow may have been used to represent happiness, but it is deflated, which could represent the loss of happiness and life. Also the blood red contrasts well on the yellow.