Camera Work in Life of Pi

This shot denotes a bird’s eye view camera angle/ high angle connotes sub ordinance and vulnerability.  Even though in this situation the tiger would have the most power, this shot denotes the protagonist and tiger in similar situations connoting vulnerability, could also connote the possible danger that they both may be in because of the whale. The effect on the audience is that it builds tension and this may also create spectacle for the audience. This shot could also be denoted as an establishing shot, as it sets the diegesis and the scene. This shot also connotes the genre being action and tragedy. Even though there is an imminent danger present the soothing, calm colours connote peace and calmness.

This shot denotes a two shot; this is good at promoting the relationship. These shots are usually used when establishing power roles, being dominant and subordinate, in this case the two characters are equal, even though the tiger would normally being dominant. This is opposing the binary opposition.  This shot connotes the power balance between the two characters, it also builds tension for the audience because of the imminent danger the protagonist is in.

This shot denotes an over the shoulder shot which connotes looking from the protagonists perspective. This gives the audience the effect that they are looking through the characters eyes, it connects the audience with the film. This an example of what is in focus, the protagonist is in focus where as the background and all the characters are not in focus. This shot is also a crowd shot as it contains more than 3 people. This is an example of the male gaze introduced by Laura Mulvey, which objectifies women as sex objects. This creates the idea that women are subordinate and men are dominant, this idea is further devloped when the male character is in focus and all the female characters are not in focus, this creates a binary opposition. This sets the diegesis as it introduces new characters and shows the sort of society that we are in.           

Most of the camera movements in this film are the camera swaying from side to side to mimic the movements of the boat in the ocean. In this scene the camera movements denotes a panning shot, with a sweeping movement. This recreates the effect that you are seeing through the characters eyes, it can be used to introduce new characters or setting. In this case it is used to introduce a new character by panning up to zooming into their face, denoting a medium close up. This is used to show the detail on a characters phrase and empahsises their facial expressions.

In this scene the camera tilts up and down to establish the scene. This is used to show what the protagonist is looking at, so it allows the audience to interact with the characters. The camera also sways with the rocking of the boat and direction of the wind, to create verisimilitude. The tilting of the camera allows the audience to see the new scene and see all the danger and devastation, this connotes the genre of the film being action and that the narrative stage has reached its disequilibrium.