Jaws - Prewrite BreakdownBreakdown
54 scenes · 15 story beats · 10 plot threads · 14 characters
Jaws
Thriller, Monster in the House
Logline: A local sheriff, a marine biologist and an old seafarer team up to hunt down a great white shark wreaking havoc in a beach resort.
Theme: To make a difference in life, one has to show responsibility.
Others: Capitalism, Survival, Class.
Medium: Feature film
Credits: Peter Benchley
Carl Gottlieb
©1975, Universal Pictures
Act I
- 1.EXT. ocean floor - DAYStory Beat: Opening Image
- 2.EXT. beach - NIGHT
- 3.EXT. shoreline - CONTINUOUS
- 4.EXT. water - dawnStory Beat: Set-up
- 5.INT. brody house - MORNINGNotes: They mock the Long Island accent. Exploring the theme of class/what separates us.Theme: Explored
- 6.EXT. BRODY HOUSE - MORNINGStory Beat: Theme StatedTheme: Stated
- 7.EXT. amity shoreline - MORNING
- 8.EXT. SHORELINE - MORNING
- 9.INT. police station - MORNING
- 10.EXT. downtown amity - MORNING
- 11.INT. hardware store - CONTINUOUS
- 12.EXT. DOWNTOWN AMITY - CONTINUOUS
- 13.EXT. ferry - DAYStory Beat: CatalystTheme: Challenged
- 14.EXT. BEACH - DAYStory Beat: DebateTheme: Explored
- 15.EXT. WATER - CONTINUOUSNotes: Many people run into the water to save their kids but Brody only goes to the shoreline. He's afraid.
- 16.INT. city Council chambers - DAYNotes: Power struggle: Chief Brody vs. the Mayor and local economic needs.
- 17.INT. BRODY HOUSE - EVENINGTheme: Symbolized
- 18.EXT. BEACH - NIGHT
- 19.INT. BRODY HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
- 20.EXT. BEACH - LATERNotes: The beast is powerful.
Act II
- 21.EXT. harbor - MORNINGStory Beat: Break Into Two
- 22.EXT. WATER - DAY
- 23.INT. coroner's office - DAY
- 24.EXT. HARBOR - DAYTheme: Explored
- 25.INT. BRODY HOUSE - EVENINGStory Beat: B Story
- 26.INT. harbor storage - NIGHT
- 27.I/E. hooper's boat - NIGHTStory Beat: Promise of the PremiseNotes: Theme: Hooper is rich. Class structure.
- 28.EXT. AMITY SHORELINE - DAY
- 29.i/e. Amity - DAY
- 30.EXT. BEACH - DAY
Act III
- 50.INT. anti-shark cage - CONTINUOUSStory Beat: Break Into Three
- 51.EXT. QUINT'S BOAT - CONTINUOUS
- 52.Int. QUINT'S BOAT, CABIN - CONTINUOUSStory Beat: Finale
- 53.EXT. QUINT'S BOAT - CONTINUOUSNotes: "Smile you son of a bitch!"
- 54.EXT. QUINT'S BOAT - CONTINUOUSStory Beat: Final ImageNotes: "I use to hate the water." Brody's arc is complete.Theme: Symbolized
Plot threads
- Brody's Fear of the Water
- Brody doesn't go in the water.
- Brody's fear of water due to drowning.
- Amity's Image
- Amity welcome billboard.
- Amity needs tourists to survive.
- The Amity billboard is vandalized with a spray painted shark fin.
- Air Tanks
- Compressed air is dangerous.
- Air tanks almost fall down. They could blow.
- The air tank explodes and kills the shark.
- Upcoming Festival
- 4th of July celebration coming up.
- 4th of July tourists arrive.
- Kintner Boy
- Kintner mother let's Alex swim.
- Bounty for Kintner boy.
- Area fishermen after shark bounty.
- Mrs. Kintner slaps and shames Brody.
- Avenges Kintner boy's death.
- Sharks & Boats
- Sharks can take down a boat.
- Jaws compromises the boat's structure.
- Michael's Boat
- Michael has a boat.
- Michael and friends use boat.
- Shark Autopsy
- They want to cut open the shark.
- They cut open the shark.
- Quint
- Quint proposal.
- They hire Quint.
- Shark Tech
- Shark cage and hi-tech gear.
- They use the shark cage.
Characters
- Chief Martin Brody46 · Male · Hero
- Matt Hooper36 · Male · Sidekick(Ally)
- Quint60 · Male · Old Man
- Mayor Larry Vaughn50 · Villain
- JawsVillain
- Ellen Brody30 · Female · mother figure
- Deputy Hendricks34 · Male · Sidekick(Ally)
- Michael Brody13 · Male
- Meadows36 · Male · Sidekick(Ally)
- Kintner Mother60 · Female
- Alex Kintner12 · Male
- Tom Cassidy25 · Male
- Chrissie Watkins24 · Female
- Rogue Fisherman50 · Male
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