Spielberg pays tribute to JAWS cinematographer Bill Butler
The death of JAWS cinematographer Bill Butler, just a few days shy of his 102nd birthday, brought with it an outpouring or respect and gratitude.
Working on everything from Deliverance, The Godfather, The Conversation, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Grease, Rocky II, Rocky III and Rocky IV, Butler's magic always made a film punch above its weight.
His closest and most oft quoted association has been with JAWS, and its director Steven Spielberg was one of those leading the loving tributes to the legend and film-changing Butler.
Speaking to Deadline, Spielberg, said: “Bill Butler was the bedrock on that rickety, rocking boat called the Orca."
And that steadiness he brought was also quite literal, as Butler handheld shots on board Quint's boat, letting his legs take the rocking motion of the Orca, meaning that much of the second part of JAWS was shot handheld. Even the film's director had often referred to it as “probably the most expensive handheld movie ever made.”
Spielberg continued: "He was the only calm in the middle of that storm, and as we went into a battle against nature and technology that wore both of us down, the audience eventually won the war.
"Bill’s outlook on life was pragmatic, philosophical and so very patient, and I owe him so much for his steadfast and creative contributions to the entire look of Jaws.”
And us, that audience, is still winning and reaping those rewards almost 50 years later.
Butler also contributed to the look and feel of the 1975 shark classic, when he further developed a special water box to protect the camera when it created those iconic just lapping beneath the water shots.
According to American Cinematographer magazine, Butler created a special raft that could be raised or lowered (on its pontoons) out of the water to different levels.
It also had a section cut out on one side that would fit the water box that was used to protect the camera during shots that were done right on or in the water.
All of which took us right into the action and onto the edge of our seats. And that ingenuity was right at the fore for anyone who saw the 3D release of JAWS, where you'd almost believe the film was pouring through your cinema screen.
Words by Dean Newman
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