HOW COVID CONTINUES TO IMPACT JAWS

With news of both Richard Dreyfuss and Susan Backlinie pushing their For The Love of Horror appearances back to next year, they are yet another example of Jaws being impacted by Covid.

The Matt Hooper and Chrissie Watkins actors were meant to be crossing the (“Michael's in the…”) pond to Manchester in the UK, this October. Jaws fan - and The Daily Jaws follower - Tony Todd - has also pushed back to 2022. Say his name five times in a mirror and this Candyman won't be making an appearance...this year.

The Daily Jaws creator Ross with Chrissie herself, actress and stunt performer Susan Backlinie.

It isn't the only Jaws-related event to have been pushed back or cancelled by Covid-19. One of those casualties was a Jaws exhibition at the Martha's Vineyard Museum, an event which we previewed here: Jaws Exhibition To Open In Martha's Vineyard

And more was to come, including the West End debut of The Shark Is Broken, about the behind the scenes making of Jaws co-written by and starring Ian Shaw, the son of Quint actor, Robert Shaw.

Even the unveiling of Bruce at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures was postponed several times. Although he is set to make his debut - along with the opening of the rest of the museum when it opens in LA at the end of this month: Academy Museum With Jaws Model Has Opening Pushed Back

And The Shark is Broken opens in London several days later, in early October, both of which give us plenty to look forward to and rejoice as Jaws fans: JAWS PLAY, THE SHARK IS BROKEN... IS BACK!

And one hopes that will see both Dreyfuss and Backlinie make that swim to UK shores in 2022.

Jaws became something of a focus during the pandemic, with many politic decisions compared to that made by Mayor Vaughn in the film: Jaws COVID-19

And sadly, like with many, Jaws alumni weren't able to avoid the spread of Covid, it taking the life of Mrs Kintner actress, Lee Fierro: Lee Fierro aka Mrs Kintner (1929 - 2020)

But, the subsequent lockdown did create one good thing to come out of Covid, the Jaws WeMake, which featured the work of over 100 people from around the world recreating Jaws with limited resources and a lot of imagination: JAWS WEMAKE

Jaws WeMake, the fan made tribute to Steven Spielberg’s classic shark thriller, has had over 40,000 views!

Such tom - or should that be Bruce - foolery, even led to The Daily Jaws being featured on Shark Week earlier this year: THE DAILY JAWS MAKES SHARK WEEK DEBUT

Now, like Brody on that sinking mast of the Orca, we hold our nerve and focus, hoping that forthcoming and future Jaws related events are able to take place safely. We just need to keep our heads above the water.

Words by Dean Newman

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