The Jaw Log by Carl Gottlieb can be compared to a movie director guide. The making of The Jaw Log has a unique perspective of one of the chief players in the alliance that resulted to the Classic movie by Spielberg. The work by Gottlieb seems like a chaotic production and a writing process that has resulted to great changes from Peter Benchley's book. The movie book was initially released in 1975 and coincided with the films release. The work was later expanded for its twenty-fifth anniversaries and later released in a hardcover for the first time in its thirtieth anniversary where some footnotes were included. The Jaw log provides a perfect behind the scenes account of a film production. As a writer and a screenwriter, Gottlieb finds himself in an unusual proximity to the entire production because of his presence in the initial stages of the screenwriting process where he played a newspaper editor. Gottlieb was constantly involved in constant re-writing and also featured in few scenes instead of being entirely involved like any other writer.
The detailed script notes of The Jaw Log and the fact that the entire book was writer in less than a year after the movie was released provided a room for perfection and accuracy which is usually unlikely in such scenario. On a normal basis, the material is generated later for an anniversary retrospective, where memories is mixed up with some hazy. An example is where Gottlieb accounts of the Indianapolis vocalizations.
Arguably, the work of Gottlieb has the advantage of his on-set notes, and the shooting notes and as far as Gottlieb is concerned, Robert Shaw is in essence the author. Notably, Gottlieb, John, Spielberg among other authors just took a crack at it, however, it was Shaw who essentially combined all of them and came up with a unique version that is essentially what the movie is all about. What is watched from the movie is a result of two takes, where Shaw is depicted to be too drunk to give it due justice. It resulted to Shaw's recognition as the films credited writer even as he discussed a scene that is not present in the novel and saw it was easy for him to take credit. In keeping with Gottlieb, Milius's only line that that was included in the finished film was "I'll find him for five and kill him for ten." It is also believed that the scar comparison scene originated from Milius, and it does not appear in the book.
In The Jaw Log, Gottlieb spends the most time on pre-production compared to the on-set filming. As such, some of the initial parts of the book are a bit over-detailed with a purpose of getting the shark not working. Arguably, unless one is interested with the novel rights it remains easy to skip the bulk of the beginning chapter of the book, since he jumbles about bidding for the book. The first chapter of The Jaw Log is relatively dry, though it turns to be comical and head-shaking when one compares it to the single paragraph explaining the guy who gave the film the imperative part of its life with an iconic score.
Essentially, the best bits are evident during the pre-production and the on-location process where Gottlieb explains life on Martha's Vineyard. Other great bit is where he explains how outsiders were treated, as well as, various issues that they had to trounce for them to pull off the requirements of the film while dealing with meddlesome townsfolk who cared less about the Hollywood jerks. Gottlieb gives an amazing anecdote that combines perfectly like where the local zoning guy told the production team that they lacked the right permit to build a specific set and how it would take six months to obtain the permit. Gottlieb gives casual observations of the crew and the wholesome actors hooked up with local damsels in tavern. It is apparent that the entire crew left a mark in the island in different ways. Gottlieb also gives an account of the famous stories such as, the sinking of the Orca, Spielberg arranging to be hurriedly whisked away while shooting to avoid being dunked in the waters.
The Jaw Log, book is aided by numerous pretty great behind the scene photos that include several first version of Broody and Hooper looking for Ben Gardner's boat that initially took place in the day-time and included the Gottlieb character. It is a scene that was never completed and was never actually seen. The book also includes 25 pages of notes where some minor corrections and detailed information are provided. Example is the contribution of the Howard Sackler, who was the first to re-write Benchley's drafts and remained anonymous. All such notes credit the guys who sacrifice a roast while trying to capture the shark and were not billed in the film.
In The Jaw Log, Gottlieb also defines the role of the future director he played in the filming – a fun anecdote that somehow escaped being a part of the usual knowledge regarding the movie. Evidently, the film's credit while the author bios round things out. Noteworthy, the making of jaws remains a chronicled as nauseam, whether on print, videotape, audiotape, laserdisc, DVD, and on film. Nonetheless, know one has come close to being as comprehensive as Carl Gottlieb in the book The Jaw Log
Work cited
Broderick, James F. Now a terrifying motion picture! twenty-five classic works of horror adapted from book to film. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co, 2012. Print.
Gottlieb, Carl, and Peter Benchley. The Jaws log. New York: Newmarket Press, 2005. Print.
