JAWS
STEVEN SPIELBERG Is an American film director, screenwriter, film producer, video game designer and studio executive. In a career spanning five decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an archetype of modern Hollywood blockbuster filmmaking. In later years, his films began addressing such issues as the Holocaust, slavery, war and terrorism. He is considered one of the most popular and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema.
Jaws won 3 amazing Oscars and 12 nominations. The movie is well known for its great suspense filling feel. Steven Spielberg directed this horror/thriller film which is centred on an unsuspected shark attack on 4th of July; America’s Independence Day. The shark causes havoc as the tourists on the island struggle to deal with the presence of this vicious creature. As the film progresses, so do the shark’s attacks, which are suspense filled and very frightening.
The music of ‘Jaws’ is used rather cleverly to introduce the shark and scare the audience. Motif music is used and can also be compared to a heartbeat. In the opening scene we are introduced to the shark with sudden music; the tune, which starts of slowly and gradually gets faster. As the music progresses it tends to push the audience off their seats or just about gripping on to the edge of them. Once the shark has disappeared, there is an awkward silence to whether the shark will return. Sometimes the silence is a break for the audience, to allow them to believe everything is back to normal, before making them jump out of their seats yet another time.
The most obvious indicator of the shark being near is the music, but Spielberg also frightens the viewers by using certain camera techniques. The low angle shown in the opening sequence, showing the shark’s point of view, was used in a different way than usual. The shot is usually used to make someone look powerful and strong but the way in which Spielberg used the shot in this situation made the girl in the first attack look more vulnerable.
At the very start of the second attack we see a long shot and a focus on a boy as he walks up the beach. This indicates to the viewers that he is the main character within this scene. Between different actions the camera always focuses on Brody; the chief, who is watching the water anxiously. Watching him agitates the audience with his searchful eyes.
In the very last scene, during Quint’s death; the brave, rough fisherman, the camera started of with a close up and then gradually zoomed out into a long shot. It started with a close up as Quint fought for his life against the shark. This scene would have shocked the viewers and caused them to hold onto their seats tightly. The camera then slowly zooms out; allowing the audience to see what exactly was going on.
The plot is also another excellent device which Spielberg uses to scare and create tension. The first two attacks are only minutes apart, this keeps viewers alert and keeps the atmosphere running. By doing this the audience are engaged within the storyline straight away. The shots were usually followed with music; showing an organised plot. In the last scene there is a sequence of amazing shots taken of the shark showing the length as well as the weight of the creature.
Several devices, such as; music, camera techniques, the fear of the shark as well as the tension in the plot and the ending all integrate rather well to produce this masterpiece which built suspense and scared many audiences. I think Spielberg has done a great job by directing the movie ‘Jaws’. He used great devices, for example the music which is linked to the shark, and the camera techniques, which build your imagination. All the devices are important in their own way and are all linked, step by step. Also after each attack viewers are able to realise there is more blood each time but there is also more features of the shark revealed.
Black Swan
Directed by Darren Aronofsky Black swan is a psychological thriller about a ballet dancer who wins the lead in 'Swan Lake' and slowly loses her mind as she becomes more like the Black Swan, Odile.
Darren S. Aronofsky (born Feb 1969) is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer. He attended Harvard University and AFI to study both live action and animation film theory, where he met long-time collaborator Matthew Libatique. He won several film awards after completing his senior thesis film, "Supermarket Sweep", starring Sean Gullette, which went on to become a National Student Academy Award finalist.
'Requiem for a dream' was based on the novel 'of the same name' by Hubet Selby. The film received an Academy Award nomination. After turning down an opportunity to direct 'Batman Begins', Aronofsky began production on his third film, 'The Fountain', which received poor box office results. Black Swan was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, four Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture- Drama and Best Director, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a record 12 BFCA nominations, DGA nomination and won an Oscar.
In 2009, Aronofsky then began developing another low budget Fox Searchlight film, Black Swan, a psychological thriller about a New York City Ballet ballerina. The film starred actress Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. Aronofsky said Roman Polanski's Repulsion and The Tenant were 'big influences' on the style of the film. Black Swan had its world premiere as the opening film at the 67th Venice Film Festival on 2010/10/01. It received a standing ovation whose length Variety said made it "one of the strongest Venice openers in recent memory". Black Swan has received high praise from film critics, and received a record 12 Broadcast Film Critics Association nominations, four Independent Spirit Award nominations, four Golden Globe nominations, three SAG nominations, and many more.
Aronofsky himself received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director The film broke limited-release box-office records and grossed an unexpectedly high $271,528,217
How this research helped me:
This research helped my group realise how music, mise en scene, angles and shots can easily be used to our advantage to help us convey our genre. Also i found it very useful finding out what inspired Darren Aronofsky and which movies helped him form his concept around it. From this i will be doing further research into movies which i think i will be able to get inspiration and ideas from by simply watching the first 10 - 20 minutes of the movies.
