Sharks, Drugs and Dennis Quaid: Producer Rupert Hitzig Talks Jaws 3D

Joe Alves’ Jaws 3D is a unique entry in the Jaws franchise, taking the action away from Amity for the first time and putting the shark action in the third dimension.

With a high profile cast including Lou Gossett Jr. and Dennis Quaid, the film seemed destined to be a hit but after a critical mauling, it became the series’ black sheep (before Jaws: The Revenge). But what was it like to work on? We caught up with Producer Rupert Hitzig to talk all things Jaws 3D.

Tell us how you got involved in Jaws 3D.

Alan Landsburg (exec Producer) heard about me from the head of CBS casting, and then, I was presented to Universal and Syd Scheinberg, who hired me.

Was this the biggest production you had been involved in, to date?

Many big ones ... Woflen, Cattle Annie and Little Britches, Birds of Prey etc.

Was the film always going to be a 3D movie?

I resisted producing a sequel until Scheinberg drew a D after Jaws 3, and I felt it was a challenge.

Joe Alves was very familiar with the franchise having worked on the first 2 films, how did he fare as a director in your opinion?

Good guy, he tried, but the schedule and the technology could have beaten 90% of all directors ...and this was his first and last.

Being a 3D movie, I take it most things needed to be filmed twice to accommodate both a 2D and 3D experience?

Nope .. the frame is divided into two, but with one filming, and if it is not 3-D it was half the 70mm frame.

Tell us about the atmosphere on-set?

Fun ... and positive, but a few problems with drugs.

Dennis Quaid has stated in the years since he had a cocaine habit during the production of Jaws 3D, was this evident on-set and did it affect his performance?

Yes, I believe we are all guilty. It flowed, in Southern Florida, like snow, and the suppliers just wanted to be part of the fun, so they contributed to the drug use.

Were there any discussions about bringing back any of the original actors from the first 2 films?

Yes, bur Roy Scheider said no, and so did Syd's wife, who was in both.

“the technology could have beaten 90% of all directors ...”

How many sharks were built for production?

Big Jaws, shark mouth, shark on a pole, and a floatable fin, which was dragged behind speed boats and almost collided with one of the skiers.

What were the initial reactions from the studio exec once they saw a cut of the film?

I was a hero. Big opening on July 4th, and a phone call to me from Scheinberg telling me "you are the greatest". But the next week, we dropped 47% and I never heard from him again.

Were there any reshoots and if so what scenes?

Several nighttime scenes were reshot. We had problems with "convergence" ... which is where the focus should be, and if we left any verticals in the frame, the viewer's eyes crossed, it was painful. I put a sign up over the screen "Just when you thought it was safe to open your eyes, Jaws 3-D"!!!

Were there any issues using Seaworld for filming?

Yes ... at first I thought we could draw the water from the lagoon at Seaworld, but it was murky, and I had to make a deal with Wet and Wild for emergency use of their filtration. We made it.

When was the last time you saw the film and how do you think it has aged?

Not for a few years, and no, I think it is old fashioned and dated.

Jaws 3-D is available now on DVD, Blu Ray and Digital Download.