JAWS: Spielberg's PERFECT camera work

[@justincrandall3178]

This analysis is remarkable. What an incredible scene in one take. Spielberg truly is a genius.

[@thork6974]

Good eye for that Wellesian low-angle composition. Clever, too, how Spielberg uses a tilt-up to the billboard as an excuse to motivate his low angle.

[@cine-mechanic8589]

Yeap.

[@Plathismo]

Great breakdown. The schedule issues on 'Jaws' notwithstanding, I think Spielberg's ability to make one shot do the work of 20 shots is part of what enables him to shoot films so quickly.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

The first half of Jaws was filmed pretty much on schedule. It was only when they went out to sea for the Orca based scenes where the real problems began. Carl Gottlieb wrote in The Jaws Log they were only about a week behind schedule when they went out to sea.

[@morrisonreed1]

I was watching this scene just the other night noticing how much blocking the actors had to learn and integrate . great video ...ps the mayor leaves and Brody is left facing the negative space , the sea ,and hopper walks Into it laughing

[@SeSe-xr3go]

What does blocking mean? I'm from Germany

[@VgnRaj]

Again costuming is key i this visual storytelling. The mayor's blazer with Anchors represent his ethical motivation. Popularity and commerce. While Hooper dons a sport coat and a loose fitting tie representing a slipshod scholarly authority that is not being heard here. Brody is more laid back with his small town Police Chief uniform who is not being listened to but he is used to this and takes that more in stride. The audience takes this all in along with the analysis you have also brought out.

[@aliensoup2420]

I would imagine one of the best ways to learn this technique is live theater directing. The theater stage is one long camera take, which requires calculated and imaginative blocking to maintain and direct the audiences attention. The inclusion of a camera and lens adds one more dimension in focusing the audience's attention.

[@Chrisfeb68]

It would be nice if you would do more of these scenes from the movie. It’s interesting to have someone point out things that I never realized or considered.

[@ShotDrawnCut]

Great vid! I study this scene in my storyboarding class

[@cine-mechanic8589]

Thanks! Glad to hear it.

[@keithnelson9121]

As a student of films and filmmaker myself, and writer of 100 songs, in my experience art is created unconsciously and THEN understood afterwards. I think only about 50% of the "psychological meaning" of this blocking are conscious decisions. I heard Paul Thomas Anderson give an in-person discussion at a university, and a student stood up and related how he heard that PTA watched The Battle for Algiers just before he shot Magnolia. This student then went on to say that he'd spent 3 years writing his dissertation on the links between TBFA and Magnolia. To which PTA replied , "I watched the film and I liked it, there is no connection between these films".

[@xevious2501]

I cant agree more. Spielbergs brilliance with the came has etched itself into the very definition of great film making and story telling with the lens. we as the view are uniquely invited in the action not pushed out. and yet our invisible participation goes completely unnoticed aside from the fact of out enjoyment and entertainment being most forfilled

[@artrose66]

Great site for expert analysis of movies. Great movie making learning experience. “...now I see”

[@cine-mechanic8589]

Appreciate the comment.

[@brookeyounh1459]

I absolutely love your videos im hooked thank you so much for your analysis. Jaws is one of my favorite horror films of all time!

[@cine-mechanic8589]

Thanks. Glad to have you!

[@Jesterswords]

I've watched this film over 100 times, and this is the first time I've realized the girl on the billboard is on a yellow raft!

[@michellemckillop8935]

And that signifies what?

[@fizzao1342]

@@michellemckillop8935 Alex is killed whist using a yellow raft after Vaughan ignores Brody and Hooper - foreshadowing?

[@michellemckillop8935]

@@fizzao1342 but didn’t this shot take place after that boy’s death?

[@dustinhellstern7728]

YES! Amen to that. I’m serious, I didn’t know anyone else had actually watched this film 100+ times. 👍

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@michellemckillop8935 We first see the billboard in an earlier scene when Brody drives past it on the way to look for Chrissie.

[@stevefrayne]

Great analysis. Thank you. I really love these cut-free compositions and you e helped explain why. If you are looking for suggestions, I’d love to see a similar explanation of Ophuls shots.

[@hairypolack]

clever observations. that 7 minute take either took a lot of rehearsals or a lot of re takes

[@cine-mechanic8589]

Hey thanks sir!

[@pranavramraj5141]

Amazing scene analysis. Thoroughly enjoyed and learnt from this video.💯

[@thedudeabides3138]

This was a brilliantly observed essay, thank you. Immediate Sub and Like.

[@KorbenDallasMultiPass9]

Every frame a painting

[@jcon654]

Amazing

[@HansBezemer]

Even more amazing: he was only 26 when he did all this!

[@dmmchugh3714]

04:23: filmed at beautiful Aquinnah, on Martha's Vineyard.

[@vintagescifi6309]

Great video, nice insight in to all the tricks directors use and that most the time we just don't realize :)

[@cine-mechanic8589]

Thanks for that

[@sudhirbabu4200]

Please make one on character arc

[@28Pluto]

It was not a "very deliberate choice" to show very little of the shark. The shark mechanisms were constantly malfunctioning and breaking, so they had to save it for the third act when it needed to be in action (attacking the boat). Thankfully, it was a happy accident, because the tension and fear build perfectly and the audience "sees" much more than is shown on screen. But it was not planned that way. It was not a stroke of genius from Spielberg to hide the shark, it was a necessity due to malfunctioning equipment. This is pretty common knowledge about the movie.

[@cine-mechanic8589]

What I meant was that it was a "deliberate choice" after it became obvious the shark wasn't reliable enough.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Bruce wasn't scheduled to be used for the first half of the movie. The first half was filmed more or less on schedule. The shark was hidden on purpose for the first half. The beach attack scenes were all filmed late May to early July 1974. Bruce wasn't scheduled to appear in any scenes until second week in July. Far more of Bruce WAS intended to be seen during the sea hunt, but not for the beach scenes. Besides, Bruce couldn't be used in just 3 to 4 ft of water off State Beach etc. Its now become a myth that Bruce failed from the start of filming so couldn't be used. Not so. This is all in The Jaws Log and Memories From Martha's Vineyard books. 👍

[@roquefortfiles]

Not so. The fact the shark didn't work had nothing to do with it only showing up in the third act. That was in the script that the shark is only fully revealed in the third act. It had nothing to do with it malfunctioning

[@NostromoVA]

Brilliant breakdown! Thank you.

[@crazi2sweet]

That was an excellent example and explanation of camerawork and staging in JAWS. I need to write a paper on film techniques used in JAWS such as this. I intend on referencing this video as a source. Do you have any more content on Jaws?

[@cine-mechanic8589]

That is awesome. Thanks for stopping by. I have. 2nd Jaws video on my channel as well.

[@texasrockshillcountry6574]

It's the little things that make a big difference!

[@NeverbeGoodat]

Thanx for this Analyses.

[@cine-mechanic8589]

thanks for watching

[@LeroyKinkade]

In the book Mayor Vaughn has the Mafia on his back.

[@CrazyDoBlue_1]

I've never noticed the ovean in the background lol.

[@daxxkid101]

You mention Welles as an influence but even more so Ford and Kurosawa need to be mentioned as Spielberg influences. People mention Ford’s outdoor composition, which is breathtaking, but his camera placement and blocking indoors is what really facilitates me. With the size of cameras then Ford couldn’t rely on moving it as freely on indoor sets so tended to place the actors in frame and have them move around it and keep the audiences interest. There’s a frame in Stagecoach where we see all the riders staged within a room that expresses their characters, especially Peacock’s anxiety as he’s at the edge of frame staring out the window. Then we go to the Searchers where I expect Spielberg studied the most to study the oner, whereby Ford would have a fixed camera position and use actors movement in frame to keep our eye and also to tell story. My favourite instance being John Wayne meeting with his family and the Texas rangers, establishing meetings with all, as they gradually drop off frame, finally leaving Wayne, his brother’s with and the captain. Th captain stands closest to the camera, left frame, as Wayne kisses his brother’s wife’s head further behind in the frame, giving us insight to their relationship the script didn’t. Kurosawa was hugely influenced by Ford and along with him and Spielberg’s are the best at blocking I’ve seen, no surprise Kurosawa also influenced Spielberg.

[@lutzdiagram]

filmed in cold weather off season so all the people are dressed accordingly vs 90 degree 4th of july normal temps in the area.

[@chrisdixon5193]

As a fan of the long take, (Goodfellas restaurant scene is my favorite,) I'm amazed that I never even noticed this long take scene in Jaws. I guess it is true that great editing is something you don't notice.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

There is another similar scene earlier on the little car ferry. One long shot.

[@OldSilentHill8]

Brilliant video, thank you. You deserve more views.

[@rbnn]

Nice analysis. This scene leads into the great montage/fugue of people arriving at the beach. Another example of great camerawork is the ferry scene. Jaws is one of the most underappreciated movies around, only scholars get its brilliance.

[@khayrilumsden2365]

I’m doing my exam on jaws (I have to write a essay about it and analyse it) thank you these videos are so helpful

[@cine-mechanic8589]

No problem, thanks for stopping by. Good luck on the exam!

[@sjpulls7244]

I literally have to do this as well! could you send me yours so i can use it as a reference???

[@28Pluto]

@@sjpulls7244 Or you could just watch the movie, use your brain, and make your own opinion. Kids these days are hopeless.

[@georgeedward1226]

The choice not to show too much of the shark was more due to the fact the shark wasn't working properly much of the time.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Not for the first half of the film. Bruce wasn't scheduled to be used for the first half of the movie. The first half was filmed more or less on schedule. The shark was hidden on purpose for the first half.

[@roquefortfiles]

Steven does what more directors need to do. Get the hell out of the way and let your actors ACT

[@dustinhellstern7728]

💥

[@karlkarlos3545]

Lol! I'm pretty sure they rehearsed that scene intensely before filming it.

[@MookieNone]

DONT BLINK!!!!! LOOOL

[@lindseygreenberg]

THANK YOU. FOR THIS VIDEO COMMENTARY, Cine-mechanic..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...just tremendous!

[@cine-mechanic8589]

Thank you very much!

[@lindseygreenberg]

@@cine-mechanic8589 i look forward to all of your future work, with great interest!

[@andrewrivera190]

Not sure if your “very deliberate choice” about showing the shark was sarcasm or not. The shark didn’t work most of the time so they couldn’t show it. Lol. Apparently originally we were suppose to see it in the opening attack.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Myth Im afraid. Bruce wasn't scheduled to be used for the first half of the movie. The first half was filmed more or less on schedule. The shark was hidden on purpose for the first half.

[@j-ymoney5112]

The mayor is an idiot 💀 I like how most of the time, Hooper and Brody are on the same side of each-other. It just enforces that their goal is the same.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

I think too many people think its only the mayor because he's the front man. In reality the rest of the select men, the newspaper editor and the coroner were also complicit. It was more than just one man.

[@tommiegreen]

Wasn’t a deliberate choice to show as little of the shark as possible. They literally had to film without it because it wasn’t working. Which ended up working in his favor

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Bruce wasn't scheduled to be used for the first half of the movie. The first half was filmed more or less on schedule. The shark was hidden on purpose for the first half.

[@graphstyle]

What was Spielbergs influences one might wonder.

[@cine-mechanic8589]

David Lean, Hitchcock, Hawks....

[@nandoflorestan]

Watch The Fabelmans.

[@sjpulls7244]

Can you explain the theme man versus nature in this film?

[@28Pluto]

You're joking, right? It's literally 85% of the movie in every regard. (the other 15% being man vs man)

[@PaulNurse1]

Apologies to my mother and my grandmother but the sound of this Charger give me an erec-tion

[@lindseygreenberg]

Very, VERY much worth your 13 minutes of Attention. ... ... .... this Video_dude KNOWS what makes TRANSCENDENT FILMs Transcendent.... ...(....ESPECIALLY what he observes in the scene with Mayor Vaughn, in front of the Billboard. ....)... ....... a TREMENDOUS vid, right here. ___--Stephen A. •••

[@Selrisitai]

I'm not sure if you're trying to be artistic, relaxing, or if you're trying not to wake someone up who's asleep in the next room.

[@cine-mechanic8589]

Thanks for the compliment.

[@Weebusaurus]

I don't think there's anything objectively inferior about the modern filmmakers' tendency to rely more on cuts and editing rather than camera work and blocking for visual storytelling, but I think it's a damn shame this style is all but extinct in Hollywood.

[@SMSJSC]

Cine-machanic, all this is interesting micro-analysis - but, brilliant though Spielberg is, aren't you perhaps giving him too much credit here? These are all your own observations, and I'd find it surprising if Spielberg himself gave this level of thought to such a short clip.

[@gkroll8467]

Guy is full of shit

[@nandoflorestan]

Yet another person who is not aware of how conscious the pros are of what they are doing. But to confirm it, one only has to watch a Spielberg film, any one, and analyze it, and the same thought will be found. Further, it is not just Spielberg. He is just one of the directors who like this style. It's an entire cinema school.