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Joe Alves: Designing Jaws
Joe Designing JAWS provides the production designer's view into the development of this world-renowned film. Included are Joe's stunning pre-production illustrations; handwritten location and production notes; on-set photographs; blueprints of the shark's design; and first-time publication of his complete catalog of storyboards. Joe Designing JAWS is a must-have addition to every film reference library.
Universal Studios' JAWS is one of the most compelling and enduring movies ever made. Thrilling generations of audiences worldwide with its tight plot, memorable characters, and ground-breaking special effects - those that brought the great white shark to terrifying life even after many said it couldn't be done.
Buoyed by an energetic young director, Steven Spielberg, and through collaboration with trusted and equally determined production designer Joe Alves, the two proved integral to the making of this classic motion picture.
Painstakingly compiled and written by Joe Alves' biographer and JAWS expert, Dennis Prince, Joe Designing JAWS is a must-have addition to every film reference library.
Universal Studios' JAWS is one of the most compelling and enduring movies ever made. Thrilling generations of audiences worldwide with its tight plot, memorable characters, and ground-breaking special effects - those that brought the great white shark to terrifying life even after many said it couldn't be done.
Buoyed by an energetic young director, Steven Spielberg, and through collaboration with trusted and equally determined production designer Joe Alves, the two proved integral to the making of this classic motion picture.
Painstakingly compiled and written by Joe Alves' biographer and JAWS expert, Dennis Prince, Joe Designing JAWS is a must-have addition to every film reference library.
- GenresNonfiction
192 pages, Hardcover
Published December 3, 2019
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61 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Prince
20 books3 followersDennis Prince, after working as a lecturer in Civil Engineering, attended Bible College and in 1976 was co-planter of the thriving Kingston City Church in Melbourne, Australia. He and his wife Nolene also published a widely used praise and worship resource in Australia - Resource Christian Music. Today he concentrates on Bible teaching and writing.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 12, 2020
Originally published at BORG.com.
Designing Jaws–Production designer Joe Alves reveals concept art and more in new look at the 1970s blockbuster
Review by C.J. Bunce
As movies go, few successes were as unlikely as Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. It was a film that from its inception never seemed like anyone knew how to get their arms around the project. Spielberg’s driving force was refusing to film in a tank as seen in the Spencer Tracy clunky version of The Old Man and the Sea. It was to be the real ocean or nothing. And there never was any alternative to building a full-sized shark. Art director-turned production designer Joe Alves partnered with Spielberg, and it was his first instinct to render his charcoal concept drawings explicitly to show the violent shark attack scenes, all for a set of pitch materials to help sell the idea of the film to the studios. These drawings by Alves, his storyboards, his location scouting notes, and his pages of production outlines are now reproduced for the first time in Joe Alves: Designing Jaws, a new look at cinema’s original blockbuster.
Review continued here.
Designing Jaws–Production designer Joe Alves reveals concept art and more in new look at the 1970s blockbuster
Review by C.J. Bunce
As movies go, few successes were as unlikely as Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. It was a film that from its inception never seemed like anyone knew how to get their arms around the project. Spielberg’s driving force was refusing to film in a tank as seen in the Spencer Tracy clunky version of The Old Man and the Sea. It was to be the real ocean or nothing. And there never was any alternative to building a full-sized shark. Art director-turned production designer Joe Alves partnered with Spielberg, and it was his first instinct to render his charcoal concept drawings explicitly to show the violent shark attack scenes, all for a set of pitch materials to help sell the idea of the film to the studios. These drawings by Alves, his storyboards, his location scouting notes, and his pages of production outlines are now reproduced for the first time in Joe Alves: Designing Jaws, a new look at cinema’s original blockbuster.
Review continued here.
August 2, 2023
“JAWS just won’t go away, and I’m thankful to everyone out there who keeps it alive”— Production Designer Joe Alves.
If you’re a Jaws fan, or even just a fan of movie magic and production design, I highly recommend this one. Physically it’s a little difficult to read as it’s a coffee-table style book, but it is not only visually appealing but incredibly interesting.
There are plenty of photos, diagrams, and authentic notes detailing the artistic history of this iconic movie. Sometimes nonfiction can get a bit dry but that is definitely not the case here. Prince manages to capture the history in a fun, down-to-earth tone.
This book also contains general facts about the movie. It really shows just how much detail has to go into a film like this and I doubt I’ll ever view this movie (and probably other movies) the same way. I particularly enjoyed seeing Joe Alves’ concept drawings that were originally presented to Universal.
If you’re a Jaws fan, or even just a fan of movie magic and production design, I highly recommend this one. Physically it’s a little difficult to read as it’s a coffee-table style book, but it is not only visually appealing but incredibly interesting.
There are plenty of photos, diagrams, and authentic notes detailing the artistic history of this iconic movie. Sometimes nonfiction can get a bit dry but that is definitely not the case here. Prince manages to capture the history in a fun, down-to-earth tone.
This book also contains general facts about the movie. It really shows just how much detail has to go into a film like this and I doubt I’ll ever view this movie (and probably other movies) the same way. I particularly enjoyed seeing Joe Alves’ concept drawings that were originally presented to Universal.
December 18, 2023
Designing Jaws - Joe Alves
Great read, interesting facts about the Jaws book by Peter Benchley and the Jaws film by Stephen Spielberg.
Jaws is my partners all time favourite film and I’ve seen it countless times, however sometimes the book IS better than a film and this is one of them. It goes into great detail with everything about why the film came about, how crap they thought it was and how big it still is even today! With great graphic designs of the shark and so much more.
Movie fact: The shark was originally called "Bruce" by film crew members in reference to Steven Spielberg's lawyer, Bruce Ramer, and Jaws fans prefer to use this as the official name for the shark.
Interestingly, it has never been agreed upon as to the official name the shark should be called.
Personally I think the follow ups were very poor but the first movie with very low budget was an excellent creation. 🦈
I have plans to also read Peter Benchley’s books Jaws (1974) and The Deep (1976)
Great read, interesting facts about the Jaws book by Peter Benchley and the Jaws film by Stephen Spielberg.
Jaws is my partners all time favourite film and I’ve seen it countless times, however sometimes the book IS better than a film and this is one of them. It goes into great detail with everything about why the film came about, how crap they thought it was and how big it still is even today! With great graphic designs of the shark and so much more.
Movie fact: The shark was originally called "Bruce" by film crew members in reference to Steven Spielberg's lawyer, Bruce Ramer, and Jaws fans prefer to use this as the official name for the shark.
Interestingly, it has never been agreed upon as to the official name the shark should be called.
Personally I think the follow ups were very poor but the first movie with very low budget was an excellent creation. 🦈
I have plans to also read Peter Benchley’s books Jaws (1974) and The Deep (1976)
February 20, 2021
Just an absolute mandatory piece of memorabilia for Jaws fans. Get lost in the backstory of the movie. Sure, a lot of the material you probably have already heard in interviews on Youtube or in DVD extras, but it's worth the time to go through this compendium page by page. You won't be sorry. The storyboarding of early scenes that were eventually changed for the movie feels like you're holding a historic document in your hands
July 25, 2024
This book was such a fascinating read. I loved looking at the all the storyboard drawings and reading g about behind the scenes stories of my favorite movie of all time. This is a must read for any Jaws fan.
January 6, 2022
GREAT COFFEE TABLE BOOK! Absolutely loved it!
July 23, 2020
Has less to say than MEMORIES FROM MARTHA’S VINEYARD, but fantastic in its own way. From scouting to cleverly getting the studio to agree to making the shark 25’ long, there’s too much info in here for just one read. A monumental book that’s worth your time.
November 25, 2022
For a full review see https://hoodcp.wordpress.com/2022/11/...
December 30, 2024
'Designing Jaws' is yet another nail in the platinum sign that reads "JAWS is the way to study movies".
Dennis Prince, under the guidance of the legendary Production Designer (and briefly director) Joe Alves, tells the story from this singular point of view. And it is brilliant.
'Memories', 'Log' and 'On Location...' shed some light onto the design process, but were very much more interested in either getting to the process of filming, or personal stories of those who were writing. This is a unique, first-hand account of how it was - to design the greatest American film ever made.
The high resolution scans of concept art, notes, on-set photos and storyboards are just breathtaking. Many of them are exclusive to this book, which certainly adds a reason to put this behemoth onto your precious shelf.
The quality of the print and design is also top-notch, with glossy high-quality paper definitely standing the test of time in the future.
Designing Jaws is love letter.
Love letter to Joe Alves, Jaws and Film as a medium.
A must-have.
Dennis Prince, under the guidance of the legendary Production Designer (and briefly director) Joe Alves, tells the story from this singular point of view. And it is brilliant.
'Memories', 'Log' and 'On Location...' shed some light onto the design process, but were very much more interested in either getting to the process of filming, or personal stories of those who were writing. This is a unique, first-hand account of how it was - to design the greatest American film ever made.
The high resolution scans of concept art, notes, on-set photos and storyboards are just breathtaking. Many of them are exclusive to this book, which certainly adds a reason to put this behemoth onto your precious shelf.
The quality of the print and design is also top-notch, with glossy high-quality paper definitely standing the test of time in the future.
Designing Jaws is love letter.
Love letter to Joe Alves, Jaws and Film as a medium.
A must-have.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews