Jaws (1975)

Jaws (1975)

Synopsis
The peaceful community of Amity island is being terrorised. There is something in the sea that is attacking swimmers. They can no longer enjoy the sea and the sun as they used to, and the spreading fear is affecting the numbers of tourists that are normally attracted to this island. After many attempts the great white shark won't go away and sheriff Brody, with friends Hooper and Quint decide to go after the white menace that has turned the Amity Island shore into a feeding ground.

Production
Richard D, Zanuck and David Brown, producers at Universal Pictures, independently heard about Peter Benchley's novel Jaws Brown they came across it in the literature section of lifestyle magazine Cosmopolitan. Then edited by his wife, Helen Gurley Brown. A small card written by the magazine's book editor gave a detailed description of the plot, concluding with the comment "might make a good movie".The producers each read the book over the course of a single night and agreed the next morning that it was "the most exciting thing that they had ever read" and that they wanted to produce a film version, although they were unsure how it would be accomplished. They purchased the movie rights in 1973, before the book's publication, for approximately $175,000 (equivalent to $93 million in 2015). Brown claimed that had they read the book twice, they would never have made the film because they would have realized how difficult it would be to execute certain sequences. The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg.

Distributors
The distributor of Jaws was Universal Studios. The wide release of Jaws on June 20, 1975, the film's producers were busily readying the global rollout of what would be a defining summer blockbuster. Universal launched "the largest expenditure on advertising of a release in the history of the company," the studio's publicity director told The Hollywood Reporter for a June 26, 1975 feature. That article, originally headlined "Ripping Response to Jaws," is an in-depth look at the savvy media strategy that built excitement for the film.
There is very little doubt left in many people's minds that Universal's Jaws will be a major blockbuster. In only four days of general release, the Richard Zanuck-David Brown film has grossed $8,919,576 in 409 situations nationally. Yet, the apparent ease with which this $8 million-plus film has succeeded belies the massive pre-release advertising and promotional campaign staged primarily by the film's producers. 

Timeline of the film opening

0 - 1.10 - The opening scene opens with the universal studios logo, it then leads to the credits being displayed with the underwater camera, the text is on top of the underwater camera displaying the credits. The style of the text used is  horror like, it is hard and sharp. There is a use of cross/fade transition whiles the credits are being shown. There is then a use of a tracking shot of the ocean. The title 'JAWS' then appears in a bold, white font. A pan is then used showing the teenagers sat on the beach whiles the credits are still being displayed.

1.10 - 2.20 -  As it cuts to beach full of teenagers a tracking shot is used to introduce to the characters to the audience. As relationship grows between characters a close up reverse shot is used to symbolise the sexual tension building between characters. The high angle shot taken of the group shows the vulnerability of the group being on the beach.

2.20 - 2.45 -  A tracking shot is then used showing the two character running down the beach. Suspense and tension are built by long slow editing.

2.45 - 2.55 - the use of extreme long shot of the sea creates this suspense as you can see how eerie and lonely it is.

Analysis of the setting

At the beginning of this opening scene we are met with the location of a beach which is the establishing shot. We are able to see that this beach is abandoned due to the lack of care shown to it, there are grass plants coming through the top of the sand and these also look dead and not fresh. The setting is dark and mysterious, which links in with the upcoming events, hinting a sign of danger or mystery. The opening titles begin with an underwater camera lurking underneath the water, indeed trying to take on the persona of a shark itself.

Analysis of the costume and makeup

An important feature of the opening of this film is the costume, while all the characters are wearing normal everyday teenage clothes for that era, we see Chrissie stripping before she reaches the water. This means that Chrissie enters the water she is naked and therefore, sets up for the human vs. beast theme and she is left completely vulnerable.

Analysis of shots

The opening titles begin with an underwater camera lurking underneath the water, indeed trying to take on the persona of a shark itself.

At the beginning the camera pans along the characters. This creates a great establishing scene amongst the youngsters.

A close up shot is then shown of Chrissie which helps show the emotion on her face while she is about to be dragged down under water.

Analysis of the credits

The scene opens with the production company Universal's opening sequence. Then with the underwater camera, text is added on top, introducing the main actors/actresses in a very clear way. The style of the text used is  horror like, it is hard and sharp, this sets the thriller scene. Jaws opens with a black screen,There's a studio logo – which is a sense of institution. connotes danger and blood which foreshadows what is going to happen later on in the film.

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Analysis of the music and sound

In the opening of jaws, the music used is very significant as it creates a suspense atmosphere for the audience. The director chose to allow the audience to hear the non diegetic music before there was an image on the screen. This creates tension because it is a black screen with music playing in the background. The tempo of the music fits well with the camera movements. Diegetic sounds are used for when the people are communicating, laughing and making music like normal teenagers. As the scene continues we hear an actual conversation between two characters. Whiles they are talking we can hear diegetic sounds of the water splashing making the scene as natural and realistic as possible. The next sounds we hear is the girls panicking and screaming because of her fear and pain from the shark. We carry on hearing screaming till she is finally dragged underwater and ten silence is emphasized connoting her death.