The Jaws Log

The Jaws Log chronicles the making of the 1975 film Jaws from pre-production through its theatrical release. Author Carl Gottlieb, who worked as both screenwriter and actor on the film, provides an insider's perspective on the troubled production. Technical challenges, budget issues, and problems with the mechanical shark forced the crew to adapt and innovate throughout the shoot on Martha's Vineyard. The book documents the daily realities of filmmaking, from casting decisions to weather delays to the complex logistics of shooting on water. Director Steven Spielberg, the cast, and key crew members emerge as distinct personalities navigating an increasingly difficult production environment. Gottlieb captures the mounting pressure as delays and setbacks threatened to derail what would become a landmark film. The book stands as both a vital piece of film history and an exploration of how limitations and obstacles can lead to creative breakthroughs in filmmaking. The behind-the-scenes perspective reveals the collaborative nature of movie production and the role of problem-solving in the artistic process.

Readers describe The Jaws Log as a detailed, behind-the-scenes account of the troubled production of Jaws. Many consider it the most honest and comprehensive book about filmmaking challenges. Readers appreciated: - Day-by-day documentation of production problems - Technical details about the mechanical shark issues - Insider perspective on Spielberg's directing process - Unvarnished look at studio politics and budget concerns - Humor in describing the crew's misfortunes Common criticisms: - Too much focus on logistics/scheduling details - Limited coverage of the actors' perspectives - Some readers found the writing dry Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (450+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "Unlike most making-of books that sugar-coat everything, this one shows you exactly how movies can go wrong and how problem-solving on set actually works." - Goodreads reviewer

Making Movies by Sidney Lumet This firsthand account chronicles the step-by-step process of film production from a director's perspective across multiple classics including "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Network."

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind The book details the behind-the-scenes events and production stories of 1970s New Hollywood through interviews with directors, actors, and studio executives.

The Devil's Candy by Julie Salamon A reporter documents the production troubles and studio politics during the making of "The Bonfire of the Vanities" from start to finish.

Picture by Lillian Ross The creation of John Huston's "The Red Badge of Courage" unfolds through a fly-on-the-wall account of the film's production and studio interference.

Rebel Without a Crew by Robert Rodriguez The diary-style narrative follows the production of "El Mariachi" and demonstrates the practical realities of low-budget filmmaking.

🦈 The majority of the book was written during actual filming of JAWS, with author Carl Gottlieb serving double duty as both screenwriter and actor (playing newspaper editor Ben Meadows) in the film. 📝 Despite being hired as the film's screenwriter, Gottlieb had to completely rewrite the script while shooting was already underway, often delivering new pages to actors just hours before filming their scenes. 🎬 The book reveals that the mechanical shark, nicknamed "Bruce," only appears in the film for about four minutes total - a limitation that ended up creating more suspense and became one of the movie's greatest strengths. 🌊 The infamous USS Indianapolis speech, delivered by Robert Shaw's character Quint, went through several rewrites with contributions from multiple writers, including Shaw himself, who had battled alcoholism during filming. 📚 Originally published in 1975, The Jaws Log has become required reading in many film schools and is considered one of the best books ever written about the making of a movie.