Three notes, one word, and a lesson from 1975 …

Despite being released almost 50 years ago, the original Jaws movies still have the power to send a shiver down the spine.

After all, who would decide to go for a spot of light surfing off Bondi Beach alone without saying a little prayer?

Everything in the film is designed to create terror and suspense.

Whether it’s the menacing three-note theme and a tension-building 1 hour and 21 minutes before Jaws even makes an appearance …

It’s all intended to turn viewers into quivering jellies before they’ve even started their popcorn.

Well, all except the film title – it was nearly released under the less than thrilling title of “Silence in the Water”.

Which would have made it sound like a scene from Spring Watch with Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan.

Luckily, the scriptwriters were sent off for a cold shower and told to come up with something A LOT better.

Other examples abound.

William Golding’s Lord of the Flies started out as Strangers from Within. And Charles Dickens’ early drafts of Nobody’s Fault had a lucky escape before being rechristened Little Dorrit.

And the worst of the lot?

The original title for Dickens’ Bleak House was the unbelievably cumbersome Tom-All-Alone’s-Factory That Got Into Chancery And Never Got Out!

Which just goes to show the importance of creating snappy, memorable titles right across both the print and digital space.

And also, sometimes it takes more than just a first draft to get things right – no matter how good the idea is.

So, if you’ve got any projects you’re thinking of pressing ahead with, I’m on hand for a chat about anything to do with Print or Web Design.

Stay safe.

Alec