The town of Endora represents entrapment and lack of opportunity. The endless road symbolizes possibilities beyond the town. Gilbert's mother symbolizes his emotional imprisonment and dependence. The burning of Gilbert's house acts as a cleansing that allows Gilbert freedom. Camera shots are used to position the audience and enhance the symbolism of these key features.

1. SYMBOLISM
USING CAMERA
SHOTS AND
ANGLES

2. Extreme Close Up:
1.Person - shows either head or head &
Close Up:
Film Shots
Shows part of object in extremely close detail. shoulders.
Full Shot: Shows the full height of the subject.
Mid Shot: Waist or knees up.
Long Shot: Overall view from a distance of Establishing Shot/Extreme Long Shot: contains
whole scene. a lot of the landscape.

3. 2. Camera Angles
Low Angle: Camera shoots up at subject. Used Overhead Angle / Birds-eye-view Angle
to increase size, power, status of subject.
Eye-level (no angle): standard
High Angle: Camera shoots down at subject.
Used to increase vulnerability,
powerlessness, decrease size.
Canted Angle: off kilter

4. Camera Movement
The Tilt: Movement up or down from a
Panning: Camera moves from side to side
stationary position. 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.
Camera Track/Crane Work:
This enable the camera to move, arc and
swoop in a fluid motion.

5. 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”

6. 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.

7. Forms of Symbolism
 Visual
 Written
 Music and sound effects
 Non-verbal
 Verbal

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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