Monday, January 18th, 2010
Where’s the End of Act One in ‘JAWS’ anyway?
It’s probably before the scene picture above, isn’t it. I ended up with the arduous homework for my Computer Games Writing course of having to watch good old horror films such as Alien, The Thing, The Exorcist and Jaws over the last few weeks. Nightmare 
The point of the exercise was to identify and compare the major structural beats and turning points of these films held up as good examples of the genre. And yet sitting there watching it with the clock on and looking for the nice ‘hello, I’m off into the magical new world of act two now‘ clarity of modern film-making seemed strangely absent.
I had always assumed that the death of the little boy on the raft (and the best contra-zoom shot ever!) was the end of Act One as everyone realises there is definitely a shark knocking around. But this only happens at about 11 minutes in whereas we are told that Act One ‘must’ end 25-30 minutes in.
I put that the end of the town meeting (after Quint scrapes his nails down the board) was the end of Act One as he essentially challenges Brody with the facts - take the battle to the shark or we all hide on land and our township goes bankrupt. But is that right either?
While we all came back with different answers, we all agreed that, if Jaws were re-made now, Act Two would begin with Chief Brody heading out to sea with Quint and Hooper, going to battle the shark in the watery world Chief Brody has always been afraid of. As you probably know, this doesn’t happen until over an hour in to the film.
So does Jaws have an hour long first act? Does Jaws show that the ‘rules’ of screenplay structure are malleable enough when your story is that strong? Or does this show Jaws‘ flaws? It’s also an hour before John Hurt’s chest bursts in Alien or before anyone even mentions the word ‘exorcism’ in The Exorcist. Do contemporary audiences not enjoy (or are presumed not to enjoy) the ratcheting build up of films like in the 70s?
And just where is the end of act one in Jaws?
January 18th, 2010 at 11:34 am
catley said:
depends on how many acts you think there are in the first place! i work on a 5 act structure in which the Inciting Incident (shark attack) must occur within the first 10 minutes. Therefore your instinct is correct and end of Act One is (arguably) the little boy on the raft and confirmation that it is a shark (to Brodie as he is our protagonist). The end of Act 2 is sailing out into the ocean (after getting the gang together - 1st objectives achieved) and the mid point is the moment Brodie sees the shark when shovelling chum. I eat structure!
January 18th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
john said:
Interesting. But does that still mean that that your act two is forty-five minutes long while the others are 10-20? Is that a problem?
Out of interest, do you find films that seem to be clearly written into three acts fit into five as well?
Cheers.
January 18th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Richard Cookson said:
Act analysis is useful, but it’s not a rigid, numerated science. There are a whole bunch of elements that have to come into play in Jaws before the hunt can kick off, but they don’t have to be timed in at exact intervals. The film builds up organically, with Brody’s actions an inevitable consequence of the exploration and closing off of his available options. Despite all retrospective hyperbole to the contrary, I’d argue Jaws is actually more like an anti-Hollywood film in that it’s as much character led as plot led: Hooper, Quint, the Mayor and Ellen are all essentially character-challenges Brody has to face before he can hang on to a sinking ship and shoot that damn shark in the face.
January 18th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Alan Cerny said:
I say the end of Act 1 is right after Kintner’s mother slaps Brody and Brody goes home. Our main characters have been introduced, the stakes are set, and we know everyone’s motivation, pretty much.
January 18th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Tom Urro said:
Mmmm… chewy, tasty topic bar. Now I really, really need to watch Jaws (again). Bring back the ratcheting build up I say. If High Noon were made today it would start with the showdown. Harumph.
Can anyone think of any other movies with looong first acts? Just curious.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:39 am
john said:
Thank you all for the responses - some really good suggestions. On facebook, our friend Paul suggests the end of the dining room scene which reads:
Brody: Then why don’t we have one more drink and go down and cut that shark open.
Ellen: Martin? Can you do that?
Brody: I can do anything. I’m the chief of police.
(But even that’s about 35 minutes in.)
As Mr Cookson says, I don’t think Act Analysis is as rigid as we’re led to believe - it’s not as if Jaws is EVER boring is it. But I just find it interesting how those preaching the ‘correct’ structure for movies often hold up films that then contradict them.
Like Tom, I loves me some ratcheting tension - but then it’s not like Jaws doesn’t have two shark attacks in the first ten minutes then follow up with the fishermen on the wharf then Ben Gardner’s boat before we see the shark’s noggin an hour in. And that’s just the sharky drama!
February 6th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Roberto said:
Hmm… How about Jaws as a falling action structure over the course of four films?
February 7th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
john said:
I dunno, Roberto. Seems like there’d be too many low points for that to really work
April 8th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Sally A said:
Personally I think five act structure is the best way to break a film/TV show/play/ whatever down. So yes… it absolutely works.
August 28th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Mike Salvia said:
I agree with Alan Cerny. It’s at the point when Brody is slapped by Kintner’s mother. That event really pushes the protagonist into a mission.