JAWS and the 'day for night' cinematic technique explained
The opening of JAWS is legendary. A young girl goes swimming…. fishing boat comes along…. and end credits. Just kidding. The skinny dipping Chrissie Watkins (Susan Backlinie) meets her end in a violent and fatal shark encounter at dusk. Her screams not heard by her passed out companion on the shoreline nor her partying friends further up the beach. The only evidence of the nature of her death are the remains discovered on the beach the following morning. She was the first.
This is a very powerful scene for many reasons - we don’t see the shark, we can’t see the destruction beneath the waves and the lack of light doesn’t allow us to account for blood. So much of this scene is in the mind. The ultimate imagination trigger. One thing you have expected was the scene was shot at dusk…. but it wasn’t. It was shot in broad day light. The filmmakers tricked us into believing it was night time using the ‘day for night’ technique. They also used it during the terrifying pier scene.
The ‘Day for Night’ Technique emerged as a pivotal innovation in Motion Picture Film during the 1930s-1970s. Born out of necessity, American film studios sought to capture night scenes despite technological limitations. Film stocks of the era, with their slow speed (100 ISO or less), couldn't effectively record in darkness. Compounded by the standard frame rate of 24 frames per second, akin to shutter speed in still photography, shooting in low light was impractical. Adjusting the frame rate to accommodate darkness resulted in jerky playback. Hence, the Day for Night Technique was devised, enabling filmmakers to simulate nighttime while shooting in daylight, ensuring seamless cinematic motion.
Although advancements in film stocks and cameras have reduced the need for day for night techniques, they are still used. Historically, the bluish hue of moonlight influenced photographic and theatrical practices, a tradition carried over into silent films. Today, adjustments in color temperature and post-production techniques effectively recreate moonlit atmospheres. Underexposure, typically by two f-stops, enhances the illusion of darkness or moonlight, sometimes with the help of neutral-density filters. Additionally, daytime skies can be modified to appear as night using filters or digital manipulation.
Digital post-production further enhances the illusion with effects like glare and light scattering from artificial light sources. Entire skies can be digitally replaced to include stars and the moon, as seen in productions like "Cast Away." Unconventional approaches, such as deliberately overexposing scenes before darkening them in post-production, have been used to maintain detail in shadows, as demonstrated in films like "Mad Max: Fury Road."
Another technique, known as "dusk for night," involves filming at dawn or dusk when artificial lights mimic nighttime conditions. However, this method presents challenges due to the brief duration of the lighting conditions, requiring quick and precise execution.
“Steven told me, ‘After your scene I want everybody in the theater under their seats with the popcorn and the bubblegum.’ I think we accomplished that. ”
Use of the "day for night" technique in "JAWS" showcases the ingenuity of Steven Spielberg and his team in crafting a visually captivating and suspenseful cinematic experience. Through the artful manipulation of lighting, color, and visual effects, they brought the eerie atmosphere of nighttime to life while filming in daylight. As we unravel the secrets behind this technique, we gain a deeper appreciation for the creative processes that contributed to the film's enduring legacy. "JAWS" remains a testament to the power of storytelling and the innovative techniques that continue to captivate audiences decades after its release.
Words by Ross Williams
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