Sound Analysis of the 14-Minute Fragment of "Jaws"

Winifred 2022-03-20 09:01:02

This movie clip tells that in the summer seaside city, many people are playing very happily and happily, but the sheriff is worried, and the great white shark who is afraid of eating people will appear again. As expected, the great white shark eats a young guy again. : Showed the horror of the great white shark and satirized the mayor's decision.

This movie clip uses a conventional linear narrative method, and commercializes the lively scene of the coastal city and the panic of the great white shark in a very realistic way. Combined with the screen, the sound of this clip is very clever. Dialogue with the sheriff’s wife and The dialogue between friends and the sheriff is mainly, accompanied by the noise of people talking on the beach, the sound of news broadcasts on the beach, the clamor of people in the sea, etc., the dialogue uses the method of sound and picture synchronization, voice It is completely consistent with the content of the picture, and the mood is completely consistent, achieving rhythmic unity, forming a unified audio-visual language system, creating an atmosphere of lively and fun on the beach by the sea, and shaping the image of the sheriff who is serious and responsible for his work. , The dynamic effect is mainly based on the contact sound of people beating the water surface in the water, accompanied by the sound of people walking on the beach, the barking of pet dogs, etc. The environmental sound is mainly based on the hot and noisy environmental sounds of the seaside beach System. For example, the sound of waves hitting the beach, the gentle blowing sound of the summer sea breeze, etc., the dynamic effects and the ambient sound mainly use the method of sound synchronization, which is conducive to the realism of the film. The active music in the music is based on the beach. The radio broadcast of Mozart’s String Serenade is mainly accompanied by other popular music. The use of active music balances the four-part sound level relationship of dialogue, dynamic effects, ambient sound, and music. The passive music in the film is based on The low-frequency plucking sound of the cello is mainly used here. Stylized sound and music acoustics are used. By exaggerating the low-frequency plucking sound of the cello, the footsteps of sharks are simulated in a more freehand way, combined with the use of fragment montage , To capture several key shots in the whole process of shark cannibalism, such as blood splashing on the sea and the subjective perspective of sharks approaching people, through the combination of these shots to show the whole picture of shark cannibalism, speeding up the narrative rhythm of the film. A tense atmosphere is created, the music continues, the camera is aimed at the sheriff, and the progressive montage is used. The sheriff’s visual perception in the picture is constantly strengthened, focusing on the audience’s attention, combining music, and promoting the development of the storyline. It portrays the sheriff's very nervous and surprised psychology, forming the peak of the plot.

In the film, the picture leaves ample space for sound creation. Through the use of four sound elements: dialogue, motion, environmental sound, and music, the narrative rhythm of the film is accelerated, and the film time and space are greatly expanded and enriched. The amount of information in the film has narrowed the distance between the audience and the screen, and more realistically created the tense atmosphere of the great white shark cannibalism, showing the horror of the great white shark, and at the same time shaped the image of the police chief who is responsible and serious, which is ironic. The mayor only makes a decision for profit regardless of safety.

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Extended Reading

Jaws quotes

  • Brody: "Slow ahead." I can go slow ahead. Come on down here and chum some of this shit.

  • Brody: Smile, you son of a BITCH!

    [shoots at the air tank; the shark explodes]