1. Where did the idea for Jaws originate? How did it become a film? Who contributed to the screenplay?The idea for Jaws came from the novel Jaws by Peter Benchley. Steven Spielberg spoke of the relations Jaws had with Duel except, only under water. Also, the idea of came from a fisherman at sea and Speilberg figured the great suspense of a mysterious shark that ate humans.
2. Why were particular scenes removed from the film?The scene where the boy was being dragged along with his fathers body was deleted because Speilbered thought that it was too brutal.
3. During the pre-production stage what sort of footage did the producers commission in preparation for the film? How was the script changed as a result of this footage?In the pre-production process, Ron & Valerie Taylor were organising, at first a doll to be fitted into the cage under water off the coast of Australia. A shark got caught into the cage and panicked. The cage was made smaller to make the shark look bigger. The script was changed because the cage was initially supposed to have someone inside, and therefore the unintentional changed the script.
4. What was involved during the casting process?the screen actors guild contract was about to expire at the end of that year, it could have been 1973, perhaps, whatever the year was, and the studio decreed that no movie would be started that couldn't be finished by June 30th.
5. What is location scouting? Why did Steven Spielberg choose the locations for the film?Location scouting is the process of looking for locations in which to film your video production. It requires a lot of traveling, observing and talking to people. Location scouting in Jaws is the town which had 'very strict rules'. Steven Spielberg choose the shot because he didn't want to see land, he wanted them to feel 'cut off'. By pointing the camera to a particular direction the director could portray the ocean as a scary, big place. Another example is at the opening scene where the actor is filmed under the water, an angle to block the outside.
6. Describe how actors contributed to the production of Jaws.Carl Gottlieb was hired because he was going to be on the set and help with the imporvisions, and that's how he became an actor. All of the cast tried to make the characters more real and believeable to create more tension and freightning suspense.
7. What does a composer do? What considerations were taken into account when writing the music for Jaws?A composer is someone who writes music piece for theatre, tv, radio, film or computer. The composer makes sure that the music suits the project; as in the case of film scores where the music should help move the story without overpowering the scene. It became a classic piece of suspense music, synonymous with approaching danger. It is said that the producers wanted the soundtrack was intended to sound like the sharks heart beat increasing at it goes in for the hunt. Spielberg acknowledges that Williams sound is only half successful. This is because Steven wanted something less French appropriate and William wanted it more threatening.
8. What did Spielberg do as a result of test screenings?Test screaning was when Ben Gardner created the suspected tension between amongst the audience, so he paid $3,000 for a more frieghtening scene.
9. What is a director of photography? How was the director of photography involved in the production of Jaws?Wanted to use camera at water level, at a human point of view. What also was included was the camera hand held technique which was used for most of the film.
A D.O.P is director of photography, also known as Cinematographer, he/she is someone who supervises the recording of the movie. The cinematographer creates equipment just to make jaws
10. What does an editor do? Who was the editor on Jaws and what was her responsibility?
11. Based on the documentary, what are the responsibilities of a producer?
At first, Spielberg and the cast of jaws felt that the film was heading downhill for a short moment as most thought their careers would disintegrate.
An editor the process of selecting and preparing written, visual and audible media of a film to be used to convey information through the processes of correction, organisation, and other modifications in the film, performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete output. Verna Fields was the editor of Jaws. Known as 'Mother Cutter', cooked for the crew, told stories and more importantly cut the film. Never had enough film to cut, didn't do much until the final product where she worked hand in hand with Spielberg editing the film.
11. Based on the documentary, what are the responsibilities of a producer?
They were essentially overseeing the entire project and wanted to convey the interpretation of Jaws to the production, it was very tense as at times they thought their careers as producers would disintegrate if the film failed which seemed to be the likely outcome for a time.
12. What does the producer do once principal photography has finished?
The crew had to watch the final product and that is when editors step in to see what can be given or taken away from the film. During the post-production period they arrange for distribution.
13. What did the production designer do on the film?
The role of the production designer in Jaws, Joe Alves would collaborate with the director of the film and they were responsible of the overall look on the post-production
