If you’ve seen the 1975 blockbuster Jaws, you’ll likely remember the scene when a great white shark attacks the cage holding Richard Dreyfuss’ character – a real-life moment captured not by Steven Spielberg, but by marine filmmaker Valerie Taylor.
Valerie Taylor made a name for herself as a spearfishing champion in her native Australia before she traded in her spear gun for a camera, and introduced millions of viewers to the mysteries and beauties of the ocean. With a particular love for sharks, Valerie and her husband Ron made films, shot photographs, wrote books – anything they could to educate the public about life below the water's surface. Filmmaker Sally Aitken’s documentary Playing with Sharks shows the lasting impact of the couple’s passion and dedication for the ocean. We’ll talk with Aitken about the life and work of Valerie Taylor this Friday at noon.
Playing with Shakes screens online at the Sundance Film Festival Friday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. MST and Sunday, Jan. 31 at 8 a.m. MST. For more information on how to watch Playing with Sharks or any of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival selections, go to Festival.Sundance.org.
