The Psychological Struggle Behind the Making of Jaws: A National Geographic Documentary
In the new National Geographic documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, Steven Spielberg reflects on the psychological torment he endured while leading the massive and costly production of the iconic shark-hunting adventure film. The director, who rose from "promising newcomer" to "visionary behind the biggest moneymaker of all time" with the film, is still clearly rattled by the experience at the age of 26.
The problems were many. The studio rushed the film into production, hoping to capitalize on the tremendous book sales. However, this may have been a boon in some respects as it made Spielberg realize that not seeing the threat until later in the movie could be scarier. The three enormous fiberglass sharks were technical marvels, but designed for freshwater, which led to an endless series of delays and caused tension between stars Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss. Shaw was also a heavy drinker, so there were times when he couldn't nail his dialogue.
The headaches of shooting on water in general were also a challenge. One time, the boat took on too much water and sank. As James Cameron, who knows a thing or two about making wet movies, said in the documentary about filming on water, "It doesn't get twice as hard — it instantly gets five times as hard."
Spielberg's advocate at Universal, Sid Sheinberg, even flew across the country to sit him down and say, "This can't continue." The frustrations of the actors, crew, and studio investors were on Spielberg's shoulders, but he stuck to his guns because he knew what the movie could be if he got the shots he needed. He regularly called his mother and freaked out, saying "Mommy, this is really impossible. Help!"
When the film wrapped Martha's Vineyard, Spielberg had a full-blown panic attack. "I couldn't breathe, I thought I was having a heart attack. I couldn't get a full breath of air. I kept going to the bathroom and splashing water on my face. I was shaking," he said. He felt responsible for keeping everyone on set for as long as they had to stay.
Even though Jaws was a box office hit and cultural phenomenon in excess of anyone's dream, it didn't stop the nightmares. Spielberg confessed that he had a real tough time when he finished the movie. He described waking up regularly in a cold sweat with "the sheets soaking wet." He had consistent nightmares about directing Jaws for years afterwards and still felt like he was on the movie and the film was never ending.
Spielberg later described how for years he would sneak onto the Jaws boat, Orca, after it was moved to the Universal backlot tour. There, as if returning to the scene of a crime, he would crouch down out of view and sob. "I had nothing to cry about," he said. "The film was a phenomenon, and I'm sitting here shedding tears because I'm not able to divest myself of the experience." The boat helped him to begin to forget and was his therapeutic companion for several years after Jaws came out.
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story is not just a look at the making of one of the most iconic films of all time; it is a deep dive into the psychological torment that comes with creating something so monumental. It is a reminder that even the greatest filmmakers have their moments of doubt and fear, and that it is through these experiences that they become truly great.
