JAWS

Learning Intentions
Show understanding of film techniques used to add tension and
excitement for the audience.
EXPLAIN HO these techniques are successful.
E!AL"A#E $ Show %ou can ex&lain %our &ersonal reaction to a text.
TASKS
Task 1 - Write about a film which successfully creates an atmosphere of
tension and/or fear and/or excitement for the audience !xplain what the
film is about and "o on to explain why it is successful# commentin" on key
se$uences# camera shots and sound
Task % - &n the film# 'Jaws' there are many se$uences where the director
successfully builds tension# fear and suspense for the audience Write
about a se$uence which you feel is most successful# explainin" how camera
shots and sound are used to ha(e a "reat impact on the audience
Para 1 - Introduction
1. Identify the name of the film and the director - Steven Spielberg (You could also
mention John Williams who wrote the soundtrac! score"
#. $escribe the se%uence and how it relates to the film.
&. 'riefly e(plain W)Y the se%uence ! whole film has an atmosphere of S*S+,-S,
! .,-SI/- ! $0121.
3. ,(plain you will loo at camera shots4 sound4 features of character5 to
show how the directors successfully create suspense.
Para 2 - Brief Summary
'riefly e(plain what the film is about. It should be %uite brief as the film has a simple plot.
,6+71I- 8
.he shar attacs and 'rody9s :ob in 1mity
What 'rody wants to do and what happens ne(t - attacs.
What ;uint4 )ooper and 'rody do
What happens at the end
I< you choose a se%uence ,6+71I- W)Y it is important to the movie as a
whole.
'ain (od% $ Anal%sis $ PEEL &aragra&hs
)e&ending on %our choice of tas* %ou now need to go into )E#AIL a+out
HO Ste,en S&iel+erg -. /ohn illiams0 create tension and excitement
in the film.
PEEL Paragra&hs $ 1 or 2
3ou '"S# focus on HO the directors create #ENSION 4 S"SPENSE.
POIN# 5 'a*e a clear statement related to #ENSION 4 S"SPENSE 5
h% are we anxious 4 ner,ous6
E!I)EN7E 5 Identif% what is ha&&ening 5 hich camera shots are used6
Sound 4 music6
EXPLAIN 5 How does the e,ent 4 camera shot 4 music add to our feelings
of worr% 4 fear6 h% does the director choose to use that &articular
technique at that time6
LIN8 5 9elate this to what might ha&&en next and how it im&acts on the
audience 5 :i,e %our &ersonal reaction to this &art of the sequence.
,(ample
POIN# $ At the +eginning of the sequence where 7hrissie is attac*ed S&iel+erg +uild
fear and sus&ense +% ma*ing it ,er% clear to the audience that she is alone in the water.
E!I)EN7E $ A ,er% calm; &eaceful scene is created with long shots of 7hrissie swimming
in the calm sea as the sun goes down. #his is cle,erl% com+ined with silence to ma*e us
feel as if nothing dangerous or ,iolent is a+out to ha&&en.
EXPLAIN $ #he use of extreme long shots of 7hrissie in the water shows us she is far
from the shore and isolated if she was to get into an% difficult%. #he silence &ro,ides a
cle,er contrast to the use of music later in the scene as at this &oint we don<t ex&ect
the attac* +ut later 7hrissie +egins to scream and the music +ecomes faster and louder
as she is dragged under water.
LIN8 $ In the earl% stages of this sequence we might +e fooled into thin*ing that
7hrissie will +e safe +ut as it &rogresses the use of camera shots and sound ma*e us
realise she is in mortal danger.
7onclusion
=.a. 7learl% refer +ac* to the tas* 5 Ex&lain wh% this scene Or the whole film
is exciting and full of sus&ense4tension.
=.+. #as* > $ Ex&lain H3 this scene is im&ortant to the whole film 5 7haracters
4 Plot 4 hat ha&&ens next6
>. #ell the reader which &art 4 technique 4 exam&le was 'OS# successful
E.g. #he &art of the sequence which was I felt was most full of sus&ense was
when (rod% had ?ust aimed and shot at the shar* and@ EXPLAIN wh% this &art
was so im&ortant.
A. :i,e %our &ersonal reaction to the #AS8 and lin* this to the HOLE BIL'
#he film was full of tension and this is wh% the film has +ecome a thrilling
classic...
Although the film is nearl% thirt% %ears old I still feel that it is ,er%
successful +ecause...
It is clear that Ste,en S&iel+erg is an extremel% talented director as...