Steven Soderbergh has revealed that his long-anticipated project, originally planned as a book, has evolved into an interactive app exploring the making of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. The announcement follows earlier hints this year on Soderbergh’s personal website about something titled Production 02074, which was initially believed to be a detailed book about the famous film’s production.
The Steven Soderbergh Jaws app aims to provide users with an immersive experience, offering a day-by-day breakdown of how the movie was shot, detailing what footage was captured each day and illustrating how the production overcame numerous difficulties to complete the legendary thriller.
App Features and Insights into the Filmmaking Process
Speaking with BK Mag, Soderbergh explained that the app will include extensive commentary, with
25,000 words of me talking about the film,
allowing users to dive deeply into the directing choices that shaped Jaws. This multimedia platform has been in development for some time and appears to be nearing completion, with a beta version soon to be reviewed by Soderbergh himself.
The project initially focused broadly on directing before narrowing to the specifics of the shooting of Jaws. Soderbergh noted,
It started out as a book about directing in general, and then became a book about the shooting of Jaws, which allows me to digress whenever I want to, to talk about directing in general. I’m waiting, literally as we speak, I’m supposed to get a beta version of the app that I can navigate and look through and give notes on.
The Personal Influence of Jaws on Soderbergh’s Career
Jaws holds great personal significance for Steven Soderbergh, as it was
the movie that made me want to make movies.
Watching the film as a young man in a Florida theater in 1975 profoundly affected him, sparking his passion for filmmaking.
Soderbergh described Jaws as a comprehensive guide to directing, saying,
I was convinced that it had in it, the double helix of how to direct a movie, because it has everything. It has shots that last 27 frames. It has shots that last three minutes. It has humor. It has pathos. It has tension. It just has everything, you know? Like, if you were literally going to give somebody a directing tool kit, it’s a pretty good movie to start with because it’s got every sort of directorial approach that you might need to make a movie, except for the fact that it’s linear.
Upcoming Details and Broader Implications
As the Steven Soderbergh Jaws app approaches release, more information about its launch date and supported platforms will become available. This innovative project is poised to offer users a unique window into the craft of filmmaking, using Spielberg’s iconic thriller as a teaching tool and source of inspiration for aspiring directors and movie enthusiasts alike. By blending an exhaustive breakdown with multimedia elements and in-depth narration, the app stands to deepen appreciation for the complexities involved in creating a classic film.
