Sally Aitken’s tribute to a pioneering marine conservationist has found a home. National Geographic Documentary Films snagged worldwide rights to “Playing with Sharks,” a portrait of Australian shark expert Valerie Taylor, following its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news.
A former spearfishing champion, Taylor credits a personal epiphany with her decision to dedicate her life to changing human’s misconceptions about sharks. Taylor, along with her husband, Ron, filmed the first images in the world of Great White sharks swimming underwater, and shot all of the underwater live shark footage for “Jaws.” “From turning herself into shark bait to prove sharks are not out to get us, to taking on the highest levels of government to fight for their protection, Valerie remains one of the world’s most outspoken and passionate advocates for sharks. Incredibly, she is still free swimming with bull sharks at the age of 85,” Aitken told us.
The director added, “Fundamentally, I hope audiences are moved and inspired by Valerie’s story. My work is often characterized as accessible and emotional, with storytelling that never feels earnest or overbearing. If the film resonates in an emotional way that would be excellent. I like to think of Valerie as an ‘accidental conservationist,'” she explained, “and this movie is very much not your typical conservation film. Hopefully, the force of Valerie’s unique story and our techniques of intercutting the present with the archive compels and empowers people to consider the fragility of our oceans and the need to protect them.”
“I can’t think of a more perfect film premiering at Sundance this year for our Nat Geo Docs Film banner than ‘Playing with Sharks.’ We see it as a coming home of sorts for Valerie, after she first appeared on the cover of National Geographic magazine in June 1973,” said Carolyn Bernstein of Nat Geo. “Valerie’s thirst for adventure and love for marine life jumps off the screen — hers is a truly unique and aspirational story and one we can’t wait to share with audiences worldwide.”
Aitken’s credits include doc feature “A Cinematic Life” and doc series “Streets of Your Town.”
