Where+the+Red+Fern+Grows

Where the Red Fern Grows (1974) - by Norman Tokar

1. American Shot (camera distance) - This is an example of a classic American shot because the camera focuses on the body parts of the character that are above the knees. I think the director chose to use the American shot in this scene because it shows details of the character's facial expressions, and at the same time, it also gives the audience a clear idea and view of the setting.

2. Color - The colours shown in this scene are mostly cold colours, such as blue and black. This is to contribute to the mood and atmosphere of the scene, giving that the character is in a position of mystery and danger. In this scene, Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann are hunting deep in the woods where they are constantly in danger of being attacked. Therefore using cold colours can increase the sense of suspension and intensity for the audience to perceive.

3. Eye Level (camera angle) - An eye level shot is used in this scene to make the characters seem more "alive" and realistic to the audience that are watching this scene. Seeing this from eye level makes the audience feel that they are a part of this scene and in the dark forest along with the characters, which will increase tension for the audience.

4. Lighting - The lighting of this scene is in relation to the color, being very cold and dark. The use of the lamp in the middle lights half of the character's face to increase tension in the facial expression.

5. The Rule of Thirds - In this scene, Billy is placed in the top left corner of the view and Old Dan and Little Ann are placed near the bottom right corner of the view. This is applies well to the rule of thirds, and creates a balance across the image.

6. Props - As we can see in the scene, Billy is holding an axe in his hands and in full preparation for anything to jump out suddenly and attack. This use of prop is to increase tension and nervousness in the scene.

7. Acting of the Actors - Billy's facial expression is also a critical part of this scene, as the audience can see how tense and high the emotion surrounding this time is. The "acting" or the facial expressions of Old Dan and Little Ann are also very important as in the scene, they seem to trust Billy by their look in their eyes. This is an important aspect of this film because it adds on to the bond between Billy and the two dogs, which is what makes this film so touching to many people.

8. Setting - This scene is set on a cold night in the dark chilly forest to add suspension for mystery to what will be happening next. Personally, when I was watching this scene, I felt extremely nervous because I could expect anything to jump out of any dark corner in the forest and attack the characters. This is all due to the contribution of the dark setting this scene in set in.

The shot you describe is not from the film, it looks like an illustration.