FROM SCRIPT TO SCREAMS: AN EXCLUSIVE TALK WITH JAWS SCREENWRITER CARL GOTTLIEB
Jaws, as we all know is a cinematic classic, but before – and throughout filming – the film’s script was constantly being polished and improved by Carl Gottlieb.
Gottlieb, who as well as on script duties also played Harry Meadows, was tasked with reworking the drafts of Jaws author, Peter Benchley. The two would end up with a co-screenwriting credit.
Carl was kind enough to talk to The Daily Jaws about how he feels about Jaws the script being lauded by screenwriters to this day as a go to script, a masterclass in writing, foreshadowing, tension, character and humour.
Jaws screenwriter Carl Gottlieb (r) also played local newspaper man Harry Meadows in jaws
Of course, he is the first to admit that the events that conspired against the Steven Spielberg film, were also those that helped make it great, and that capturing that lightning in a bottle is never a sure thing.
Perhaps it is just as his 1970s screenwriting contemporary, William Goldman, is quoted as saying, “Nobody knows anything.”
But the script, and Carl’s work has left a lasting legacy for us all continue to enjoy, quote and be inspired by, whether you are a screenwriter or a screen watcher. And let us not forget that Gottlieb also gave us the classic film making of book, that all others are measured against, The Jaws Log.
Here’s what Carl had to say.
When I reflect on the iconic durability of The Fish Movie, I find it’s flattering and incomprehensible to me... At the time, it was a welcome opportunity to move from television into feature film, working with a friend, and combining my skill sets as an actor and writer. In short, a good job.
The chemistry of hits remains a mystery. The unique talents of Steven Spielberg were as yet unknown, although clearly present in his work, even then (1974). His subsequent galactic success as a filmmaker reinforces a line from JAWS: "This was no boating accident..."
The Daily Jaws creator Ross Williams with Jaws royalty: Screenwriter Carl Gottlieb and Production Designer Joe Alves
In the end, JAWS was the result of an odd brew of necessity, mechanical mishaps, extravagant budget overruns, ensemble acting of the highest order, and a unique pattern of distribution. Oh, yeah, and a screenplay that took advantage of all those elements.
In hindsight, I was blessed to be on the team, and proud of my ability to participate in a pop culture phenomenon. All writers should enjoy the collaborative process of filmmaking, and use any opportunity to ply their tradecraft. All directors should welcome the presence of a writer on the set, and all producers should encourage active cooperation of all the creative elements whenever possible.
It can't guarantee a timeless iconic hit, but it can help make the filmmaking process enjoyable, and improve the general health and welfare of all films, to the benefit of a global audience.
Our thanks once again to Carl Gottlieb for his time.
For more of Carl talking about Jaws, please take a look at our 2018 interview with him that clocks in at almost an hour of Jaws goodness: Interview: Carl Gottlieb (Jaws 43rd Anniversary) — THE DAILY JAWS
