Steven Spielberg recalls the 'bad dream' of filming 'Jaws'

Steven Spielberg has shared his memories of filming Jaws, the classic shark thriller that turned 50 this year. 

In a video message to an audience attending the National Geographic world premiere for the Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story making-of film, Spielberg recalled the challenges of shooting the film on location in Martha's Vineyard.

Spielberg, who was just 27 years old at the time, described the experience as a "bad dream" due to the film's troubled production. The mechanical shark was temperamental, and the shoot was plagued by delays and budget overruns. 

"It details how young and unprepared all of us were for the challenges of shooting in the Atlantic Ocean with a mechanical shark that was more temperamental than any movie star I have ever worked with since," Spielberg said.

Despite the challenges, the film went on to become a huge success, and Spielberg credits the global theatrical audience with throwing him a "life preserver" in 1975 to restore his Hollywood fortunes. The film's iconic soundtrack, composed by John Williams, also played a key role in its success.

Spielberg described making Jaws as a "seminal experience" that remains one of the most overwhelming, exciting, terrifying, and rewarding experiences of his career. 

The documentary Jaws @ 50, directed by Laurent Bouzereau, captures the tough environment surrounding the adaptation of Peter Benchley's novel.

Jaws @ 50 will premiere on National Geographic on July 10, before launching on Disney+ and Hulu a day later. 

The documentary is produced by Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Media