This scene analysis summarizes a shot from Jurassic Park featuring a Tyrannosaurus Rex. The T-Rex dominates the shot due to its large size, central focus, dark backdrop, and green coloration which casts it as threatening. The lighting is low-key, creating a dark and ominous atmosphere, with spots of high contrast from a flame and the T-Rex's skin. The camera uses a medium shot from an eye-level angle, placing the viewer behind the central character John Hammond. The composition features diagonal lines that increase tension between the man and dinosaur.
3. Dominant: The dominant in this shot is the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The dominant is created by:
Size. The T-Rex fills almost a third of the screen.
Focus. The T-Rex is in sharper focus than the rest of the shot.
Lighting. Because of the low-key light, the T-Rex is juxtaposed against the dark background
Color. The T-Rex is green, while the rest of the shot is composed of muted blues and yellows.
Note that Tyrannosaurus Rex is in the upper-left hand corner, which is where our eyes tend to gravitate to
first.
4. Lighting: The lighting key in this shot is low. The night is diffused by dim light, reflecting off the raindrops.
This lends to the shot’s dark, ominous atmosphere.
However, there are two spots of high contrast light here. One is the flame, and the other is the highlight on
the T-Rex’s skin. These add a touch of drama to the shot.
5. Camera Proxemics: This is a medium shot. In the foreground, John Hammond is shown from waist up. In
the background, we see most of the T-Rex.
6. Camera Angle: This is an eye-level shot: the camera is shooting the scene foursquare. The viewer is
transported immediately behind the man, as if she or he were present.
7. Color Values: The dominant colors in this shot are the green and red. Green can be symbolic of
unhealthiness and otherness. This casts the T-Rex as malevolent and inhuman. In nature, red often
signifies danger. This subconsciously elicits fear in the audience.
The brighter colors -- red and yellow -- act as foils to the darkness of the rest of the shot.
8. Lens: This was probably shot with a telephoto lens. The background is in focus, while the foreground is
blurred.
9. Subsidiary contrasts: The main subsidiary contrast in this shot is John. Though he is out of focus and his
back is facing the viewer, he is centralized and fills the foreground. We understand that he is the
protagonist, because he has our vantage point.
10. Density: This scene is moderately detailed because it has many different objects and essentials based on
where they are exactly, but they’re as dense. The main focus is the T-rex, the man and the car in between
the two that makes everything else seem to fade from the viewer’s attention.
11. Composition: Both the T-rex and the man show a diagonal composition that suggest a relationship with
tension or fear. You can also say that there’s a Triadic composition sense. The man is intensely observing
the T-rex and the T-rex has it’s focus on the flare.
12. Form: The form of the shot is very open. It’s also very neutral and simple, not all the information is in the
shot as you can see the truck is only halfway in the shot.
13. Framing: The framing of this shot is very loose, a lot of open space within the scene for the T-rex, but not
much for John himself.
14. Depth of Field: The scene seems very shallow, only having the enemy in focus from the rest of the scene
in general. Since the truck is also in focus
15. Character Placement: The T-rex is placed near the top of the frame showing dominance while John is
placed at the mid-bottom of the frame expressing vulnerability. :
16. Staging Positions: John has his back to the camera, not giving attention to the rest of the world. His main
focus is on the dinosaur.
17. Character Proxemics: The T-rex and the man are within public distance, the distance between them tells
the audience that the relationship is rather detached and cautious.