It’s been 45 years since Steven Spielberg’s Jaws first swam to the silver screen, and the appetite for this most beloved of movies is still just as fervent as it’s ever been – which is why it’s hugely interesting to hear about a new project called Return of the Orca.
Where Jaws is concerned, the Orca is Quint’s fishing vessel seen throughout Spielberg’s 1975 movie. As in, the one and the same vessel that Quint, Brody, and Hooper use to embark on their movie-ending mission to take down the Great White that’s been terrifying the waters of Amity Island.
Now, an Indiegogo campaign labelled Return of the Orca is being launched to not only recreate the Orca, but to then use this ship to research marine life in and around the Martha’s Vineyard locale where Jaws was shot.
Jaws author Peter Benchley was a major supporter of conservation, and it’s the Beneath the Waves non-profit organisation – for whom Benchley’s widow Wendy is on the board of directors – who will utilise this new Orca for research and expedition purposes.
Not only are Wendy Benchley and Beneath the Waves involved in this project, but so too are Jaws production designer Joe Alves and Martha’s Vineyard local Chris Crawford. Not only is Crawford a resident of the area, but he also helped to create the original Orca back in 1974 ahead of Jaws beginning shooting. This new Orca will be crafted from a Nova Scotia lobster vessel called Lydia, which was found on the north shore of Massachusetts.
Alves, Crawford, and their respective design and production teams are coming together once more to create what’s dubbed Orca III. Why Orca III, you ask? Well, that’s because there were actually two Orca ships used on Jaws – one a fibre glass copy, and the other the original vessel that saw out its days at Universal Studios.
Bringing added support to Return of the Orca are two heavy representatives of the Jaws community, Making the Monster and The Daily Jaws.
Combining the passion of the fans with the passion of some of those involved in bringing the original Orca to life, Return of the Orca is an absolutely fascinating project being undertaken for a truly worthy cause.
To support the Return of the Orca campaign, head on over to the project’s Indiegogo page or returnoftheorca.com.
