Blog Post: Different shots/angles example

In lecture last week we learned about different shots and their literal and emotional purpose. The long, medium, and close-up shot are used everywhere, but my example comes from the show "Lost".

In the series finale, the final shot is of monumental importance to the show. It shows that our hero, Jack has saved the island and the original castaways left safely thanks to his efforts. When Jack is about to die and and enter a heaven with his fellow castaways in a purgatory for them all, the final shots show the beauty of his sacrifice.

At first there is a long shot of Jack finally crumbling to the ground after walking through the jungle mortally wounded. The long shot is a sad one representing isolation and loneliness. It does this to perfection.



Then they employ a medium shot of Jack to show the information that Jack is dying but he is not sad as the long shot implied. He is satisfied to know his purpose in life has been fulfilled and happy to see that his friends are safe.



Then the last shot of the show is a close-up which shows Jack's eye with a tear forming. From this close-up, we see that our initial perception from the long shot about Jack was wrong. He is not lonely our isolated as we feared. He is overwhelmingly happy and reflective on what he has done for the island and what the island has done for him, changing his life to see more than himself and his place in the world. As we have seen in the purgatory flash-sideways, we know this isn't the end for Jack, just the beginning of something new and wonderful that he sees too.



With that sense of closure, Jack can finally die in peace. He knows that there is more than just this and also that he has done what his destiny foretold, and changed his life in the process. His eye closes on another close-up for emotional impact signaling the end of Jack and "Lost" as a whole...



Great stuff...