J AW S
S 1
M E D I A
U N I T
THE BIG PICTURE
By the end of this unit you will be able to write a critical essay on
the movie ‘Jaws’, directed by Stephen Spielberg.
Your critical essay will focus on the ways that the director builds
tension and scares his audience.
In this unit you will study several filmmaking techniques which
you will be able to discuss in your critical essay.
SKILLS
At the end of this unit I will have developed my skills in talking and listening, reading and writing.
I will be able to:
watch a text for enjoyment and interest, and express how well it met my needs and expectations and give reasons, with
evidence, for my personal response. (LIT 3-01a, 3-11a)
identify and comment on aspects of the director’s style and other features appropriate to the genre using relevant
evidence (ENG 3-19a)
show my understanding of what I watch by commenting, with evidence, on the content of the text (LIT 3-07a, ENG 3-17a)
make notes and organise them to develop my thinking, help retain and recall information, using my own words as
appropriate. (LIT 3-05a,3-15a )
identify and give an accurate account of the purpose and main concerns of the text (LIT 3-04a)
discuss and evaluate the characterisation using supporting evidence (ENG 3-19a)
review and edit my writing to ensure that it meets its purpose and communicates meaning at first reading (LIT 3-23a)
BACKGROUND
• Jaws was made in 1975
• Horror / Thriller genre
• Directed by Steven Spielberg
• Based on Peter Benchley‘s novel of the
same name.
• Jaws is widely regarded as one of the
greatest films of all times.
• Original title was ‘Still in the Water.’
W H AT ’ S I T A L L A B O U T ?
• The police chief of Amity Island, a fictional summer resort town, tries to
protect beachgoers from a giant great white shark by closing the beaches.
He is overruled by the town council and the Mayor, who wants the beach
to remain open to draw a profit from tourists during the summer season.
After several attacks, the police chief enlists the help of a marine biologist
and a professional shark hunter.
NAME THE CHARACTER
• He is the main character.
• The film centers on him.
• He is the chief of police.
• He has just moved to Amity from New York.
• He is scared of water.
WHO IS HE?
NAME THE CHARACTER
• He is a shark specialist from the Oceanography
Department.
• He comes to Amity to help catch the shark.
• He is the person that confirms that the first shark
caught is not the right shark.
• He insists on diving using a shark cage.
WHO IS HE?
NAME THE CHARACTER
• He is a professional shark hunter.
• He is hunting the shark for money.
• He was involved in a shark attack when he became shipwrecked during the war.
• He is an unstable character.
• He is eventually killed by the shark.
WHO IS HE?
NAME THE CHARACTER
• He hunts off the coast of Amity Island
• The audience often sees things from his point of view.
• He doesn’t behave normally for his species.
• He seems to be vengeful.
• He appears to like the taste of humans!
WHO IS HE?
HIGH KEY
AND LOW
KEY
LIGHTING
High Key Lighting –
Scenes which are
evenly lit with very few
dark spots or
shadows.
Low Key Lighting –
Scenes which are
darkly lit and show
dark spots and
shadows.
D I S C U S S W I T H A PA R T N E R
• Why do you think a director or cinematographer would use a combination of high
key and low key lighting?
• How do the low key scenes add to the tension to the film?
• How do the low key scenes make the viewer feel uneasy?
• How do the low key scenes help to create drama?
• Look at the scene where Brody is on the beach. How does the high key lighting
help you to understand Brody’s point of view?
Take notes as you discuss and be prepared to share your thoughts with the
class.
Now you are going to write a paragraph explaining how the use of lighting in Jaws helps
create tension and horror. You may use the following cloze passage if you like or you can
write your own explanation.
In the film __________ directed by _________ ____________ a combination of high _______
and _______ key lighting help to create tension and horror.
In the beach scene where the character of __________ nervously watches the water for signs of
the _________, the use of high key lighting helps the ___________ to understand how alert Brody
is. The high key lighting helps to create a ___________, carefree mood which is in contrast to the
_____________ of Brody.
The ____________ makes use of low key lighting in the scene where the shark is underneath the
swimmer. This helps the viewer understand the point of view of the shark in the __________
water. It also helps to create the feeling that something is about to happen. This adds to the
_________ of the movie by creating tension.
Brody. Horror. Director. Shark.
Steven Speilberg. Viewer. Jaws.
Happy. Murky. Nervousness. Key.
Low.
• The camera is distant, and the setting makes up most of the space in the frame. A standing
actor fits completely within the frame, neither his head nor his feet being cut off.
• This is the opening scene where you can see the relationship of the characters and their
connection to the sea.
CAMERA ANGLE – LONG SHOT
• Camera shows a person from the middle up and still exposes some of the setting.
• This scene is when Martin Brody discovers Chrissie’s body. This shot shows the body from the
waist up, a little background can be seen, and body language is show too. This shot not only
shows us what the character is doing but also how they are feeling.
CAMERA ANGLE – MID SHOT
CAMERA
ANGLE –
CLOSE UP
• The camera is zoomed in on something
– often a person’s head.
• This is a close up shot of the character
Quint. This shot allows the audience to
develop a relationship with the
character by seeing their expressions
and emotions.
• The camera is so close that only a part of something is seen, like a hand, eye or ear.
• This is an extreme close up of Martin Brody’s face, this picture shows his eyes. It reflects how
distressed he is with the town’s shark attacks.
CAMERA ANGLE – EXTREME CLOSE
UP
CAMERA
ANGLE –
POINT OF
VIEW
• The camera takes up the position of a character, so we feel as if we are looking at the
scene from the character’s point of view, or over their shoulder. This is done so the
audience can identify with that particular character.
• This is from the shark’s point of view; this shows what the shark is seeing/feeling. Also,
this the shot that made this movie a phenomenon.
CAMERA
ANGLE – HIGH
ANGLE
• The camera is high up,
looking down on
something, making the
character seem subject
small, weak and
vulnerable.
• The camera is
positioned above Martin
to show how vulnerable
he is, that he is truly
uncomfortable at sea.
• A low angle shot is one in which the camera is low and looks up at the character, making them seem
larger, more formidable and menacing, or perhaps, tall, regal and powerful.
• In this shot, Quint is happy with the way things are, he feels that he can catch the shark soon. It is a
Low Angle shot that represents his confidence with his skills.
CAMERA ANGLE – LOW ANGLE
CAMERA
A N G L E - PA N
• Short for panoramic. The camera moves in an arc from a fixed point.
• This is a panoramic shot, which shows us the whole background. This
is a serene picture, to show to eeriness of the beach, how empty it is,
and how quiet. The camera moves in an arc from a fixed point, that is
why the picture has a curved effect.
CAMERA ANGLE - ZOOM
• The camera moves in to a close up, often used to focus attention on a relevant
detail or emphasise a character’s reaction.
• The infamous ‘Dolly-Zoom’ it combines both, Track and Zoom. This was to show
that Martin Brody’s worst fear came true. The shot mirrors Brody’s feelings. It is
as if you can actually see his stomach drop in panic.
CAMERA ANGLE
- TRACK
• The camera moves as if on a track
following a person or subject.
• As Chrissie runs, you can see the
camera moving along with her, like it is
too on a track. This is to show the
audience that she is extremely excited.
• Using the knowledge you now have about camera
angles write down which angle best describes the
following shots.
GUESS THE CAMERA ANGLE
WHICH CAMERA ANGLE IS BEING
USED?
WHICH CAMERA
ANGLE IS
BEING USED?
WHICH CAMERA ANGLE IS BEING USED?
WAT C H T H I S FA M O U S S C E N E A G A I N
AND TRY TO RECOGNIZE THE
CAMERA ANGLES.
• https://youtu.be/rW23RsUTb2Y
How does the camera angles used in this clip help you
understand events in the scene?
• You might want to mention how the long shot establishes the setting.
• How does the tracking shot help you establish a relationship with the boy?
• What does the point of view shot tell you about how Brody is feeling?
• How does the famous dolly-zoom shot make Brody’s panic very clear?
SOUND
Diegetic – can see where the sound is coming from on screen (for
example: conversations, a radio playing)
Nondiegetic – there is no source for the sound on screen, the sound has
been added.
Parallel sound – the sound compliments what we see on screen (for
example: children on the beach laughing.)
Contrapuntal sound – When the sound goes against your expectations.
W H O L E C L A S S M AT C H U P
 Diegetic - can see where the sound is coming A woman screams as a burglar breaks into her
from on screen (for example: conversations, a house.
radio playing)
 Nondiegetic – there is no source for the sound A man laughs when he finds a dead body in an
alleyway.
on screen, the sound has been added.
 Parallel sound – the sound compliments what A narrator describes what the animals are doing
during a documentary.
we see on screen (for example: children on
the beach laughing.)
 Contrapuntal sound – when the sound goes
against your expectations.
A couple having a conversation in a restaurant.
WAT C H T H E
SHORT FILM
‘LIFTED’
https://youtu.be/LVLoc6FrLi0
Complete the following task with a partner.
Sound
Diegetic
Nondiegetic
Parallel Sound
Contrapuntal Sound
Example
D E S C R I P T I O N A N D A N A LY S I S
Link to CfE – I can identify and comment on aspects of a director’s style and other features
appropriate to the genre using relevant evidence. (ENG 3-19a)
Description is when you explain the action that is happening in the scene.
Analysis is when you think about the effect the action has on the audience
and why the director chooses to show the action in a certain way.
D E S C R I P T I O N O R A N A LY S I S ?
1. A young boy walks towards his mother and asks if he can go back into the
water for another ten minutes?
2. The lion roars and chases after the group of tourists.
3. The camera follows the young boy, suggesting that he is going to be important.
4. The camera focuses on the lion’s sharp teeth, showing that he is dangerous
and suggesting that something bad might happen to the tourists.
5. As the young girl turned on the light her friends leapt out to yell surprise.
A N A LY S I N G A N
IMAGE
• We will analyse the image as a class.
• We must decide what we can see (description) and what
effect the image has (analysis)
A N A LY S E T H I S I M A G E W I T H Y O U R
PA R T N E R
A N A LY S I N G
THE
PROMOTIONAL
POSTER.
Description
There are large red
letters that spell out the
name of the film.
Analysis
The colour red has
connotations of blood
which suggests that the
shark in dangerous.
Description
Analysis
Description
Analysis
Description
Analysis
A N A LY S I S O F T H E O P E N I N G
SCENE
Link to CfE – I can identify and comment on aspects of the director’s
style and other features appropriate to the genre using relevant
evidence (ENG 3-19a)
Task one – Music
You are going to listen to the opening scene with your
eyes closed.
You are going to listen to the music of the opening
sequence. You should then write down what you think is
happening in this scene.
You should think about why the music might seem scary
to an audience. https://youtu.be/b-3q0DOXb74
This time you are going to watch the opening sequence and complete the analysis grid. You will
see the sequence more than once but you need to concentrate.
https://youtu.be/b-3q0DOXb74
A N A LY S I N G T H E O P E N I N G S E Q U E N C E .
T. E . E .
• Technique - camera angle/shot or type
of sound
• Explain – what is happening on
screen
• Effect – how does the camera
angle/shot or sound make you feel
scared or tense?
T. E . E .
TA B L E S
Technique
What camera
shot/angle is
being used
and/or what
sound technique
is being used.
Explain
Describe
what is
happening
in the scene.
(denotation)
Effect
Analyse how the
camera and
sound help build
up tension and
suspense for the
audience.
(connotation)
1. Point of view.
This is the title
sequence,
which is filmed
showing what
the shark can
see. The
audience is
shown weeds
as the shark
swims through
them. The
music gets
louder and
faster as the
scene goes on.
By playing the scary
music at the same time
as showing the point
of view of the shark
the director makes the
audience identify the
music with the shark.
This creates tension
because the audience
knows there is
something dangerous
in the water.
1. Nondiegetic
sound.
THE SECOND
AT TA C K
• What signals are there to the audience about who is going to be
attacked?
• Why are the lilo, the dog owner’s shirt and the boy’s lilo all yellow?
• Why are the first two attacks close together at the start of the film?
• Why don’t we see the shark at this stage?