JAWS: Principal photography schedule (2nd May-18th September 1974)

50 years ago today, on May 2nd, 1974, principal photography commenced for JAWS in Martha’s Vineyard. No other film has captured the public’s imagination before or since. The stories of JAWS’ ‘production hell’ are legendary and well documented. As with all movie productions, there was principal photography schedule planned in advance but, as with the tides of the Atlantic ocean, things changed - on an almost daily basis.

Much has been written about JAWS but the two sources we recommend are "The Jaws Log" (written by JAWS co-screenwriter Carl Gottlieb) and is regarded as one of the greatest behind-the-scenes books ever written and "Jaws: Memories from Martha’s Vineyard” often referred to as the JAWS bible. These books include schedules.

Below is the shooting schedule as we came to understand it based on resources available at time of publication. Principal filming took place on Martha’s Vineyard between 2nd May-18th September 1974.

5/2 Chrissie’s remains beach

5/3 Harbor Master chaos

5/6 Typing report with Polly

5/8 Unused day Ben gardeners boat

5/8-10 armada scenes

5/11 Billboard

5/13 “A Whaaaat?”

5/14 Mrs. Kintner Slaps Brody

5/15-18 Downtown, hardware store

5/21 Hospital (evening shoot)

5/18-22 Brody house

5/23-25 Dock attack

5/26-28 Interior Quint’s shack

5/29 Town hall

All June working on Shark’s warehouse

Barrel scenes done out to sea

Piano line in water

6/19 Alex Kitner’s death

6/21 4th of July

6/27 Cardboard fin kids

6/27 Opening bonfire

6/29 Chrissie’s death

7/2-3 Mike being pulled out

7/6 Shark in pond (sled shark fin)

7/15 Attack in pond ended filming

7/24 Sled shark

8/2 Fishing chair

8/3 Bigger Boat

8/8-9 Lowering cage

8/10 Lose fingers, boat pulled

8/12,13 &15 Raising the cage

8/15 Bracing for impact Brody/Quint

8/17-19 Shooting shark barrel 1

8/18 The shark starts working / chumming

8/20 “working his way to us”

8/21 Bruce’s the shark’s first successful day on set

9/1 move production to bay

9/2 Orca sinking

9/4-6 Quint’s death

9/6 Roy reaction from inside (orca2)

9/7 Shark jumping on orca

9/8 Shark breaking in side mock orca

9/9 Throwing tank into mouth

9/9 Shark footage 4th July Ted Grossman (shot from Orca pulpit)

9/12-13 Sled shark coming toward Roy (show me the tank)

9/14-15 Roy battle from crows nest

9/16 Shark guts blow up in Roy’s face

9/16 Swimming in on barrels

9/17 Explosion of shark

9/18 Alex Eaten shot

A special message from the Amity P.D.’s Deputy Hendricks

Words by Ross Williams

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