Steven Spielberg reveals ‘one of the bad things' that came from ‘Jaws' success: ‘Horrified'
In the new National Geographic documentary 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story,' Steven Spielberg spoke about how the success of his 1975 shark movie was harmful to marine life.
'One of the bad things that came out of the film was shark hunting spiked,' the 78-year-old director shared.
Executive producer and ocean conservationist advocate Wendy Benchley added: 'When Jaws came out, we were truly horrified to see that some people took it as license to go kill sharks.'
'The negative reaction hurt us and horrified us and we became passionate defenders with sharks,' said Wendy, the widow of 'Jaws' author Peter Benchley. 'We went with the National Geographic on expeditions and we were so fortunate to learn from these scientists and other experts.'
Cynthia Wigren, CEO and co-founder of Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, explained that trophy hunting became 'very popular' after 'Jaws' debuted, leading to the white shark population decreasing by as much as 80 percent.
'People wanted to be like Quint,' Dr. Austin Gallagher, shark expert and chief scientist of Beneath The Waves, said about the shark-hunting captain played by Robert Shaw in the film.
'People wanted to have that trophy that they could show off,' Dr. Gallagher added.
Shark conservation biologist Candace Fields agreed there was 'a negative connotation that came from 'Jaws' about sharks.'
'Which is very unfortunate,' Fields noted, 'because I think there's other takeaways as well.'
In an exclusive interview with The Post, Wendy noted that the terror on shark life has significantly subsided in the 50 years since 'Jaws' premiered.
'Shark hunting barely exists anymore,' she stated. 'It's mainly catching sharks for shark fin soup and that's been happening for honestly hundreds of years, but really expanded in the last 40 years when there was a huge population increase in China and other Asian countries.'
'So I've been working, and Peter worked, with many groups, and especially with WildAid, who has done an excellent job in China educating the Chinese who want to be good citizens,' Wendy continued. 'And when they realized that shark fin soup was actually killing the sharks, and a hundred million sharks were killed every year for shark fin soup, they listened. And the demand for shark fin soup has gone down 80 percent in China. So that's a wonderful thing.'
Wendy also gave a shoutout to Jackie Chan, Yao Ming and Maggie Q for their involvement with WildAid 'to really help with that particular issue.'
'Peter died in '06 and I wish he were here now to be able to see all of these changes and to see 'Jaws' is still relevant after 50 years,' Wendy said in the documentary. 'I think he'd be very pleased.'
'Jaws @ 50' premieres Thursday on National Geographic and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Digital Trends
16 hours ago
- Digital Trends
Sony makes one of the best OLED TVs, this deal makes it $900 more affordable
Every day we find incredible TV deals, so there's never really a point in buying a TV at the regular price. That is, unless you want one of the best TVs all around, which have more of a reason to not go on sale frequently. They already get lots of attention and have the chops to justify high prices. However, from time to time we do find a great deal on one of our favored TVs. This time around we're see a $900 discount on the 65-inch Sony Bravia 8 OLED, one of our picks for the best OLED TVs. Getting the TV now, which you can do simply by tapping the button below, will only cost you $1,900 instead of the usual $2,800. Read on to learn why the TV is so great, as well as to see the special reason why it's included in our list of OLED TVs. Why you should buy the Sony Bravia 8 OLED The Sony Bravia 8 OLED is a brilliant TV for your living room or gathering area. It's a weird thing to say, but a lot of TVs have a sort of 'hermit' personality and are really best enjoyed with a small group in a dark room. Not the Sony Bravia 8 OLED, with its wide viewing angle and ability to stand up to ambient lighting. This is a TV to grab the crew around and watch some ball or have in your living room to give you some company while you watch the kids. It's a TV to enhance your life with, but it doesn't have to So, why did this TV make it on our OLED shortlist? It happens to be the best Sony OLED for the price. And, of course, by this we mean its standard price. The quality is simply there; it has rich colors and black levels that make things pop, whether you're in the living room or not. So, why not grab it while it is $900 cheaper and you can get it for $1,900 instead of the usual $2,800.
Gizmodo
16 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Nebula's Netflix Licensed Outdoor Projector Hits Lowest Price, Flying Off the Shelves
If you're in the North East, that month-long wave of humidity seems to have finally broken. It's comfortably to be outside again. So why not get back the lost weeks of summer outdoors by hosting movie night in your backyard? Get yourself set up with an outdoor projector. Amazon has the Nebula Capsule 3, an outdoor projector officially licensed by Netflix, on sale for a solid 26% off. The projector is normally priced at $530, but after the reduction, you only have to pay $390. That works out to a savings of $140. That's not all though. Click the 'Redeem' button on the product page to receive an additional 15% off. This projector is designed for portability and outdoor use. It runs off a battery that will last you for two and a half hours of watch time. That should be enough to cover the length of most movies. Though if you're watching some long epic like Lawrence of Arabia, you can always plug it into a portable power bank to score some extra hours of use. A power bank is not included, you'll have to find one separately. See at Amazon You can also use the projector as a Bluetooth speaker. When doing so, you can enjoy 8W Dolby Audio and get a whole 8 to 10 hours of listening time on a single charge. Back to movie watching, you can stretch the projection to a massive image of 120 inches across. You'll capture the feeling of the cinema right in your own backyard with a screen that big. It projects with 200 lumens of brightness in gorgeous 1080p. Set up could not be simpler. The Nebula Capsule 3 projector uses a intelligent environment adaptive technology that can automatically adjust screen fit, keystone correction, autofocus, and obstacle avoidance in just a matter of a few seconds. Out of the box, the Nebula Capsule 3 outdoor projector supports a ton of your favorite apps. Netflix comes pre-installed and you can also watch content through Google TV, YouTube, and more. The stand is adjustable up to 180 degrees so you can position the projector at the best angle that fits your particular viewing area. The projector is nearly pocket-sized, making it easy to take with you to a friend's house or a weekend getaway and make your favorite movie or show part of the trip. For a limited time, you can pick up the Nebula Capsule 3 outdoor projector for a reduced price of just $390. Normally, you' find this projector selling for $530, so you'll save a whole $140. But again, that's not all. Click the 'Redeem' button on the product page to receive an additional 15% off. See at Amazon
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-test-track-disneyworld-TESTTRACKDIS0725-b0103aa524cd4e1d9192c549fb1a3afb.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
16 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
This Iconic Disney World Attraction Just Reopened With New Tech, Scenes, and Thrills—What to Know
Following an extensive refurbishment, Walt Disney World's Test Track has reopened with all new show scenes, on-board narration, vehicles, and queue. The high-speed thrill attraction has been an Epcot staple since 1999, and one of the Orlando destination's most popular rides. And now park goers can race to what Disney has called an all-new 'reimagined experience' that celebrates 'today's innovation while highlighting the past, present, and future.' The new Test Track is a collaboration between General Motors and Walt Disney Imagineering. Riders will first walk through a queue featuring six distinct exhibits that 'celebrate the vehicles—and people behind the vehicles—that push the envelope and help get people to our next chapter in our motion journey.' On display are futuristic, concept cars. Once on board, riders will journey through various show scenes that depict 'technological advances and how our lifestyles and relationships to mobility connect everyone.' The attraction taps into the spirit of the open road while showcasing the unique vantage point of how vehicles 'see' the world around us. To create this effect, Walt Disney Imagineering utilized over 29,000 points of light. And fans need not worry: The popular scenic outdoors portion where riders are thrust to an exhilarating 65 miles per hour remains. Guests will then exit into a sprawling Vehicle Showcase displaying the latest innovations from General Motors. The newly-refreshed ride also pays tribute to the early days of Epcot and its legacy. Longtime visitors will notice an all-new musical score featuring the 'It's Fun To Be Free,' theme song for World of Motion, the attraction that once occupied the space where Test Track sits today. And its exterior has also been given a refresh, inspired by the original pavilion's design. Test Track will operate with a standard queue and a single rider line. The attraction is also available to book through Disney World's paid expedited line system, Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Walt Disney World is currently celebrating 'Cool Kid Summer' with new experiences that include two all-new stage shows at Disney's Hollywood Studios, 'The Little Mermaid—A Musical Adventure' and 'Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,' and a brand-new evening parade at Magic Kingdom Park, 'Disney Starlight: Dream The Night Away.' And later this year, guests can look forward to a brand-new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern, The Beak and Barrel, at the Magic Kingdom Park.
