"JAWS", why I became a cinematographer is the first place!

Rating: Null/10 (26 August 2001)

The movie theater goes dark, the trailers end, then the images begin. We see a young coed strip down to skinnydip in familiar waters. Everything is fine and dandy - until the antagonist of the film comes swimming towards her. I can say that EVERY scene of Spielberg's "JAWS" has had an impact on my life. I can't think of another film that has evoked more primal feelings out of a young kid ( I was 7 when it came out) than this one. (I can add "COMA", "WATERSHIP DOWN", "STAR WARS" and "HALLOWEEN" to the top of my list as well). Spielberg has, as with almost every other of his films, created a an experience to behold with this one. I think one of the greatest elements of the film is Spielberg, and editor Fields, techique of NOT showing the shark until half-way through the film. This creates a "Hitchcockian" type of suspence that so extremely effective. It is hard to describe the impact and influence the plot, and characters had on me - I guess I was at the right age to absorb what was going on enough to formulate it in my mind and instill it in my brain. Chief Brody and his fear of water, Quint's hatred for the shark, Hooper's know-it-all expertise, the Mayor's denial of the situation, etc. And, of course, "Bruce", the hungry shark. Bill Butler's cinematography was very good, considering the budget and locations he had to work with (this also goes for Dean Cudney's '"Halloween"). Benchley and Gottlieb's treatment of the film, I think, works better that if they would have stayed true to Benchley's novel. Spielberg's approach and stylization really works. It could have been "shot through a cannon", but Steven likes to be creative, and Zanuck and Brown took the chance and allowed him to. Well, motion picture history was made that summer of 1975. And I owe all involved in making it a huge thanks. I would have not became a filmmaker if this was not made when it was.