The Shark Conservationist Who Helped Capture Jaws

After participating in the shoot that led to Hollywood's most famous shark scene, Valerie Taylor became a tireless defender of sharks and the marine environment. For ADEX Pixel Expo's "Generational Exchange", actress and ADEX Ambassador for Marine Conservation Hidy Yu talks to the Australian legend

It was the movie aggrieved crew members nicknamed “Flaws”, such were the difficulties with the shoot, from bad weather and seasickness to waterlogged cameras. Famously, its producers initially thought the film’s star – a great white shark – could be trained. When it became apparent that this was not the case, effects technicians constructed three pneumatically powered prop sharks, which would repeatedly malfunction. Its young director, Steven Spielberg, realised he needed some great footage of real sharks before he could begin shooting the main story. Without authentic shark sequences, his mechanical sharks wouldn’t carry the film.

On the other side of the world, in Australia, underwater filmmaking couple Valerie and Ron Taylor had already established an enthusiastic following in their home country. Valerie’s mother had encouraged her to do anything she wanted, and on her 15th birthday, she left school to get a job.

After trying her hand at different things – artist, actress, model, comic strip illustrator – she started diving. She met Ron at a dive club and they started working together.