The documentary follows the making of Jaws and the people who created its lasting impact. New interviews with director Stephen Spielberg and original cast members connect the film’s legacy to character-driven storytelling and the relationships built during filming with locals. The film revisits how Jaws influenced public attitudes toward sharks, initially fueling fear but later contributing to a shift toward fascination. Wendy Benchley, widow of Peter Benchley and an ocean conservation voice, reflects on changing views of sharks from monsters to important creatures. The documentary also presents the project as personally meaningful for Laurent Bouzereau, shaped by his long collaboration with Spielberg.
"“It's also archetypal characters, those three guys on the boat. We know them. And each of them represents a different aspect of mankind, if you will," he said. "And we don't know which one is going to survive.”"
"“They were thinking sharks were monsters and they should be destroyed," Bouzereau said. "The work that they did, and that Wendy still does, with a lot of other scientists is nothing short of inspirational and important." Wendy Benchley also serves as an executive producer on the documentary."
"At the heart of the film is an exploration of how audiences connected deeply with the characters, and how the crew built meaningful relationships with locals during filming, both of which director Laurent Bouzereau sees as key to the film's legacy."
"The documentary also revisits how "Jaws" helped shape public perception of sharks. While Benchley's original novel and the 1975 film may have initially sparked fear, the years that followed saw a shift in attitude from fear to fascination. This shift was thanks, in part, to the work of the Benchleys themselves."
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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