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Jaws - 'How Does Spielberg Create Tension?' Essay Example

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Jaws - 'How Does Spielberg Create Tension?' Essay Example
How does the director Stephen Spielberg use filmic techniques to build suspense and build tension for the audience in the film Jaws?

Stephen Spielberg is a very famous director and well known for his high budget action films. The film that will scare anyone and live on for generations is the terrific Jaws, the first ever block bluster in 1975. His tagline was very catchy and ment something to people as in when people went to see Jaws, to then go on holiday they did exactly what it said “Don’t go into the water”. The view on Jaws was very different and certificates for example: U.K rated it a PG, France rated it 12, Germany rated it 16 and Argentina rated it an 18 but that might be because they do suffer from shark invested waters. At the very beginning of the film you only see a black screen but in the background you hear the sound of the sea, which immediately links to what the film could be about, but then as soon as you seethe actual sea, you go straight underwater with something swimming through seaweed which makes the audience curious and nervous to see what is lurking in the water and the penetrating music in the background. To then have a complete different scene with teenagers having a good time on the beach but the audience knows there us something out there and anyone who goes into the sea is a victim for the unknown beast. When the camera pulls back to show a wide shot of the sea it reminds you of what is out there and the danger but the teenagers don’t know or suspect anything. Also there is a titled frame with a high angled shot this shows the teenagers are weak and defenseless if they go into the water. The camera tracks a girl called Chrisy, so you connect to her and feel for her as soon as you see her running towards the water, with the boy following her the audience already suspect the danger, and to see which one it is. As she dives into the sea you hear a bell-tolling that symbolizes death and funerals, but the audience knows that

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