For countless individuals worldwide, Jaws serves as a wellspring of delight, amusement, and artistic motivation. Conversely, for its director, Steven Spielberg, the movie—still resonant after five decades (the 50th Anniversary edition has recently been released!)—continues to be a mix of sweetness and bitterness, symbolizing an immensely taxing period in his life; a phase when he worried that his cinematic journey might abruptly halt before it truly took off.
In my gaming world, I’d say something like: “Creating that iconic movie was a roller coaster ride, filled with obstacles mainly due to our animatronic shark malfunctioning at the worst possible moments. I mean, it was designed for freshwater, not the salty seas of Martha’s Vineyard where we shot. The production delays and budget overruns had me worrying that I might get kicked off the Universal project. But I stood firm, refusing to back down. I was determined to see this project through, come what may.
Due to the critical state of affairs, Sid Sheinberg, head of Universal Pictures, traveled to Martha’s Vineyard to evaluate the situation personally. He expressed his doubts about completing the film as planned, saying, “I’m not sure this can be done.” Spielberg remembers in the upcoming documentary Jaws @ 50 by Laurent Bouzereau, “All I said was, ‘No, I want to proceed! I want to complete it! I can finish this movie!’
For More on Jaws
Exploring Aquatic Giants: Insights on Sharks, Half a Century after ‘Jaws’
The Evolution of ‘Jaws’: From News Article to Novel to Box Office Hit
Where Was Jaws Filmed? Uncovering the Real-Life Locations Featured in the Iconic Movie
How did Steven Spielberg deal with the stress of making Jaws?
As a devoted fan, I can share that Emily Blunt, starring in ‘Jaws @ 50’ and Spielberg’s upcoming UFO film (releasing next summer via Universal), once asked the director about his stress-relieving methods during tough shoots. To this, he humorously responded, “I would often visit the arcade.
Spielberg frequently reached out to the constant source of comfort for many people globally – his mother. As he explains in the documentary, “I spoke to my mom a lot.” Essentially, it was like calling out, “Mommy, this is too difficult! I need your help!
Despite the movie’s triumphant success and its transformation into a cultural sensation, Spielberg persistently grappled with distressing nightmares about the production of Jaws. He recalls, “We didn’t have terms like PTSD back then, but I suffered from recurring nightmares about directing Jaws for years afterwards. It felt as if I was still working on the movie and it would never end.
One of his strategies involved secretly visiting the Orca, the shark-hunting ship used by Quint in the movie, which had been transported to the Universal Studios backlot in Los Angeles for their famous studio tour. He would then relax in the booth where characters played by Robert Shaw (Quint), Roy Scheider (Brody), and Richard Dreyfuss (Hooper) were depicted as getting drunk.
I’d often find myself seated, with occasional bouts of tears flowing. Strangely enough, there wasn’t any particular reason for me to weep. The movie was so captivating that it left an indelible impression on me, and I found myself overwhelmed by the experience. Time spent near the Orca seemed to help me gradually let go of the impact. For quite a few years following the release of ‘Jaws’, that Orca served as my therapeutic confidant.
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2025-06-11 20:31