JAWS

1. JAWS BY ELLIS

2. What is Conventional? • One reason why this opening sequence is conventional is because there is a MacGuffin. The antagonist (the shark) has shown what it wants (to terrorize the town and eat people). • The opening sequence contains moments of suspense. (when the shark gets closer and closer to Chrissie). • The shark cannot be reasoned with because it holds power over everything as it’s at the top of the food chain so nothing can stand up against it. • There is a clear threat of escalating danger when the shark gets closer to Chrissie and starts viciously throwing her around

3. What is Unconventional? • The only reason why this opening sequence is unconventional is that the killer is not a human, it is a shark. In most thrillers, people are usually the killer/antagonist.

4. Is the narrative of the film hinted? It is clear what the narrative is for the rest of the film from the opening sequence because the opening sequence involves a killer (the shark) and a victim (Chrissie). During the scene showing the shark attack, Chrissie is constantly screaming in fear and begging for her life. Also, no one witnessed the attack because the only other person on the beach was a boy, who was out for the count. This tells the audience that the shark is still out there implying that the rest of the film will be about the shark attacking/killing more people and hopefully in the end, someone will kill it.

5. Camera Shots

6. Point Of View Shot Definition: • A point of view shot is a short film scene that shows what a character is looking at. It is usually established by being positioned between a shot of a character looking at something, and a shot showing the character's reaction. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • It is used when showing the opening credits and the shark swimming underwater in the background. • The shark swimming below, looking up at Chrissie, who is completelyunaware of danger • When the shark is getting closer and closer to Chrissie

7. Tracking Shot Definition: A tracking shot is any shot where the camera follows backward, forward or moves alongside the subject being recorded. In cinematography, the term refers to a shot in which the camera is mounted on a camera dolly that is then placed on rails – like a railroad track. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When the group of teenagers are sitting around a fire, chilling, chatting and smoking • When Chrissie and the boy are running across the beach • When the boy falls down the hill

8. Examples of Tracking Shots used in the opening sequence:

9. Mid Shot Definition: In a movie a medium shot, mid shot, or waist shot is a camera angle shot from a medium distance. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When the camera reveals a young, male adult

10. Long Shot Definition: In photography, filmmaking and video production, a wide shot is a shot that typically shows the entire object or human figure and is usually intended to place it in some relation to its surroundings. These are typically shot now using wide-angle lenses. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When the boy walks over to Chrissie • When the boy is running after Chrissie along the beach • When the boy is half undressed on the beach • When chrissie is swimming in the sea • When Chrissie is being dragged across the sea by the shark • The view of the ocean

11. Examples of Long Shots used in the opening sequence:

12. Shallow Focus Shot Definition: Shallow focus is a photographic and cinematographic technique incorporating a small depth of field. In shallow focus, one plane of the scene is in focus while the rest is out of focus. Shallow focus is typically used to emphasize one part of the image over another. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When the camera shows the group of teens around the fire • When the camera first shows the young, male adult

13. Close Up Definition: A type of shot that tightly frames a person or object. Close-ups are one of the standard shots used regularly with medium and long shots. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • At the start when a couple is kissing on the beach • When Chrissie has been attacked by the shark

14. High Angle Shot Definition: A shot where the camera looks down on the subject from a high angle and the point of focus often gets "swallowed up". High-angle shots can make the subject seem vulnerable or powerless when applied with the correct mood, setting, and effects. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When Chrissie is swimming in the water - this shows that she is vulnerable and weak

15. Low Angle Shot Definition: A shot from a camera angle positioned low on the vertical axis, anywhere below the eye line, looking up. Sometimes, it is even directly below the subject's feet. Psychologically, the effect of the low-angle shot is that it makes the subject look strong and powerful. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When Chrissie is swimming in the sea

16. Zoom In shot Definition: Zooming in filmmaking and television production is the technique of changing the focal length of a zoom lens (and hence the angle of view) during a shot – this technique is also called a zoom. The speed of the zoom allows for a further degree of cinematographic freedom. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When the shark is getting closer and closer to Chrissie

17. Editing Techniques

18. Shot Reverse Shot Definition: Shot/reverse shot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character, and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When the young, male adult and Chrissie are looking at each other.

19. Short Take Definition: A short take, for instance, might be one or two seconds long, although contemporary films continue to use shorter and shorter takes of less than a single second (making two or three seconds, which sounds like a short amount of time, not very short at all). Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When Chrissie and the boy are talking before she runs off • When Chrissie is being attacked by the shark

20. Fade In Definition: a gradual increase in a motion-picture or television image's visibility at the beginning of a sequence. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • To reveal the start of the opening credits • Fades out from the start of the opening credits to reveal the shark swimming in the sea

21. Fade Out Definition: An optical effect in which a shot slowly disappears into darkness. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • Between each credit in the opening credits

22. Long Take Definition: A shot with a duration much longer than the conventional editing pace either of the film itself or of films in general. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When the teens are hanging out on the beach around the fire

23. Cuts Definition: A simple change from one shot to another Where is it used in the opening sequence: • When the camera cuts from the young, male adult to the young, female adult • When the camera cuts from the two having a conversation to them running along the beach • The camera cuts from the boy falling down the hill to Chrissie running into the sea • Cuts from Chrissie swimming in the sea to the boy who is still on the beach • Cuts back to Chrissie swimming in the sea, getting further and further away • Cuts from point of view shot of the shark to Chrissie’s face above the surface • Cuts from the beach to Chrissie being dragged towards a buoy • Cuts from Chrissie being dragged under the water to the boy who is still on the beach

24. Examples of Cuts in the opening sequence:

25. Sound

26. Sound Effects Definition: Sounds that often don’t get picked up by cameras, but are added in anyway by a foley artist eg footsteps, squeaking doors, kettle boiling etc. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • Harmonica • Fire crackling • The waves • The buoy • People chatting • Chrissie screaming

27. Sound Motif Definition: A sound effect or combination of sound effects that are associated with a particular character, setting, situation or idea through the film. The sound motifs condition the audience emotionally for the intervention, arrival, or actions of a particular character. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • It is used when the shark approaches Chrissie and at the start over the top of the opening credits. This suspenseful music symbolises that something bad is going to happen and that the shark is nearby or on the move.

28. Mise-en-Scene

29. Facial Expressions Definition: A facial expression is an aspect of an actor's craft. It's something you can do to create a performance. You need to look at every aspect that contributes to the overall performance whether you're evaluating your performance work or someone else's. What facial expressions are used in the opening sequence: Scared - when Chrissie is being attacked by the shark Happy - when Chrissie and Tom are looking at each other round the fire Confused - when chrissie is being attacked by the shark and she has no idea what is happening

30. Location/Setting Definition:Any place where a film crew will be filming actors and recording their dialog. What location is used in the opening sequence: • They are by the sea, on a beach

31. Low Key Lighting Definition: Low-key lighting is a style of lighting for photography, film or television. It is a necessary element in creating a chiaroscuro effect. Traditional photographic lighting uses a key light, a fill light and a back light for illumination. Where is it used in the opening sequence: • It is used throughout the entire opening sequence because it is filmed at night time, so the lighting is a bit dark. • The only light in the clip is the light of the sunrise/sunset and the fire.

32. Characters

33. Chrissie Watkins Full name: Christine Watkins Gender: Female Status: Deceased Cause of death: Devoured by Shark(Off-screen) Occupation: Unknown Relationships: Tom Cassidy (boyfriend) Allies: Tom Cassidy Appearances: Jaws Portrayed by: SusanBacklinie The attack on Chrissie Watkins, who was visiting the island of Amity for summer break, occurred off the islands' south beach during the summer of 1974. It occurred whilst she was skinny dipping. The shark (Bruce) grabbed her legs, and proceeded to drag her around. Chrissie tried desperately to save herself by grabbing onto a buoy, but she was swiftly dragged under the water and eaten. Chrissie's remains later washed ashore and were discovered by Deputy Leonard Hendriks of the APD.

34. Tom Cassidy Tom Cassidy was Chrissie Watkins' boyfriend. He almost goes swimming with her, but passes out beforehand due to drinking too much alcohol. After Chrissie goes missing (due to a shark attack), he reports the incident to Martin Brody

35. The Shark Bruce is the name of the Great White Shark who appears as the main antagonist of the first Jaws film, and was the collective name for a reoccurring group of overgrown Great White Sharks thought to be closely related genetically, however neither the film nor the novel ever refers to any of the sharks by a particular name. The name Bruce originating from the name given to the original animatronics by Steven Spielberg. But we don’t see the shark in the opening sequence, we just see Chrissie being dragged underwater by the shark.

36. Why would audiences enjoy watching the opening sequences? There are five main reasons why audiences would enjoy watching the opening sequence of Jaws: • It Establishes The Shark Without Showing It - The threat of the shark is established without actually showing it. Chrissie’s desperate cries for help establish its ruthlessness and the fact that she’s dragged all over the place shows how big and powerful this particular shark really is. • John Williams’ Iconic Theme Sets The Stage For On-Screen Terror - The simplicity of the tune is what made it so effective. Those two tones getting faster and faster have become synonymous with the feeling of being relentlessly pursued. • It Introduces A Character, Then Kills Her Off Instantly - In the opening of Jaws, a bunch of youths are sitting around a fire on the beach, passing around joints and knocking back booze. Chrissie invites one of the guys to go skinny-dipping and runs into the ocean. As the guy drunkenly scrambles to undress, Chrissie is eaten alive by a creature lurking beneath the surface of the water. Since the opening scene doesn’t introduce Chief Brody, the audience is led to believe that Chrissie is the movie’s main character — and then she’s killed off within minutes. • It Kicks Off The Movie With A Big Scare - By opening Jaws with a shark attack, Spielberg kicks off the movie with a big scare that introduces the threat of the monster. This opening scene gets the audience on the edge of their seats right away • The Silence Following Chrissie’s Death Is Eerie - There’s a lot of noise during the shark attack in Jaws’ opening sequence, as Chrissie screams for dear life and thrashes around in the water. But as soon as the shark has killed her and she goes under, the scene falls completely silent. The water is calm and the shark is nowhere to be seen. The juxtaposition of panicked commotion and dead silence is truly unnerving.