Jaws: Steven Spielberg’s Use Of Certain Technical And Symbolic Codes To Set The Theme Of The Movie For His Audience

Steven Spielberg is a famous director who once said: “You shouldn’t dream your film, you should make it!”

Some of Spielberg’s notable movies are Jaws, Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial, and a more recent film was Ready Player One. Many different directors have a style of their own, and Spielberg’s style consists of him using modern technology, like CGI; and how he has to direct the actors to talk to the fictional characters created by CGI. Spielberg uses a certain facial expression in all of his movies called “The Spielberg Face” to show either shock or surprise. Steven has a repeated use for John Williams’ music and specific sound effects too. Spielberg also uses bright lights and the spielberg face in all of his films as well. This article will recognise the styles of Steven Spielberg and which styles of his were used in the recent film Ready Player One.

Technology has evolved over many years in many ways. In 1973, Edwin Catmull created Computer Generated Imagery (otherwise known as CGI) to create animated characters for movies and films. Catmull started with 2D CGI and in 1976, he created 3D CGI, which is in most movies today. (Wikibooks, 29 August 2019) Steven Spielberg used CGI for most of his movies to create fictional characters.

In the trailer, 57 seconds in, it shows an animated character, Art3mis, who is touching Wade Watts and asking “can you feel this?” and Spielberg used a basic puppet and CGI to create her character and make it virtual. (Wikibooks, 04 September ) Spielberg had used this method in the past to create other characters like E.T. from E.T. The Extra Terrestrial and Jaws from the movie Jaws.

At 1:53 minutes, there is a moving image of King Kong jumping from one building to another. This would’ve been CGI to create him since King Kong is a fictional character.

Spielberg and other staff on set are having to teach their actors how to talk to nothing to make it believable before the editing of the character.

If the actor is talking to a puppet, then the director has to direct them on how to talk and move to a puppet to make it believable. When the actor is talking to another actor in a bodysuit, it is easier to direct and act. However, Spielberg, or any other director, still has the job of directing the actor to create the scene. (Gordon, 05 September 2019)

Steven Spielberg uses “The Spielberg Face” in every movie of his. It is a face where the characters are either shocked or surprised. This is usually when Steven zooms on their faces to catch their expressions.

At 1:17 and 1:53 of the Ready Player One trailer, Wade Watts uses “The Spielberg Face”.

When Wade uses “The Spielberg Face” in the trailer, he is shocked. At 1:17 he looks a bit confused about where he is; and at 1:53, Wade looks surprised, like he has just heard big news. However, in the trailer, they do say “welcome to the rebellion.”

One of the most famous musician composers is John Williams. John has worked with Spielberg in every film of his excluding The Colour Purple Which was by Quincy Jones,

(Time, 29 August 2015) and because we are familiar with his music, we recognise songs and discover which directors John Williams has worked with.

Williams has also had his music used by directors George Lucas, Chris Columbus and many others. (Wikipedia, 2019, 29 August 2019) Spielberg used John Williams’ music in 1974 for his movie The Sugarland Express. The following year, Spielberg teamed up with Williams again to create the movie Jaws. Then on, Steven always used John Williams’ music. (excluding The Colour Purple) (Judex, August 29 2019)

In multiple movies, starting with Back To The Future to now, Spielberg uses the magical wind chimes sound effect to create a magical vibe and to create a bit of tension too. This sound effect was demonstrated at 2:22, which is at the very end of the trailer.

Spielberg uses many bright colours and lights in his films. An example of Spielberg using bright lights from this trailer is at the 30 second mark, where Wade puts the Virtual Reality mask on and Spielberg uses a Point Of View shot to make the audience feel that they are going into the Oasis. (VR world) with Wade.

Another example is at 2:03 when Wade and Art3mis are dancing at a disco and like a normal disco, there are bright lights in the room, representing a party.

In multiple movies of Steven Spielberg, he has used a bright backlight to create a silhouette of the character to be mysterious.

An example from another movie to represent his style, is in E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, the flying saucer has bright lights to create the si-fi look.

In conclusion, Steven Spielberg will often use certain technical and symbolic codes to set the theme of his movie for his audience, and bring them into the story, as the narrative unfolds. This is reflected in the trailer for Read Player One.

Classic examples of Spielberg’s work include the use of CGI, puppets for CGI, Bright lights and the use of John Williams music. Through these techniques, Spielberg draws the audience in, to help create a sense of being able to identify with the protagonist, Wade Watts, and even make the audience feel as if they are IN the movie themselves with the use of a Point Of View shot. Spielberg is a master of creating suspense and intrigue, and through his trailers, (YouTube, 2019, access August 30) he will give the audience enough of a taste to want to come and experience the whole story.