JAWS 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel
Review and Interview with author Michael A. Smith
By Anthony W. Northrup
Sequels in cinema have been around for decades. Sequels not only make money but also dominate the box office. In recent years, there have been a considerable number of them, coming out faster than some new film releases. Some are better than others, and some we would like to forget. Their titles tend to hint at what the film is about... beginning with catch phrases such as 'Return of...', 'Revenge of...', 'Final Chapter..', 'Curse of...' and so on. However, the very first horror sequel to have a number, not a Roman numeral, in film history is....JAWS2! How in the world could a sequel be made to the biggest and first summer blockbuster of all time....JAWS?
In 1978, the executives and producers at Universal Studios came up with the idea for a sequel for one reason: MONEY! Could they catch lightning twice? Could JAWS 2 be as successful, if not bigger than the original blockbuster that broke box office records and eventually changed the way we see movies for decades to come? There was only one way to find out...make the sequel.
JAWS 2 was released on June 16th, 1978, and was immediately a hit! Although it came in at #6 at the box office, not quite the success nor as memorable as the first JAWS, it was a hit, and that's what the studio wanted, and so did the fans. I clearly remember seeing the film in the theater on opening weekend. I was 7 years old and wanted everything JAWS-related, including the merchandise released that summer for this second movie.
JAWS 2 is an underrated sequel. It gets plenty of love from fans, but not enough critical acclaim. The film has all the ingredients of the first film, but not quite the historical significance. So, one must wonder: was it difficult making a sequel to JAWS? Was the pressure high? And, did the shark work this time? To answer these questions and more, someone had to write a book about it, and that person was Michael A. Smith, with his book JAWS 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel.
Author Michael A. Smith is no stranger to the franchise of JAWS. He wrote the bestselling book FINATICS, about the history of JAWS and the die-hard fans who love that film so very much. He has been part of conventions, appearances, and other JAWS events and is highly esteemed in the JAWS community. It was only fitting that he should write a book about JAWS 2.
In JAWS 2: The Making of the Hollywood Sequel, you'll find a 500-page book packed with interviews from the cast and crew, fascinating fun facts, how the film was made, a follow-up on what happened to the cast and crew years later, reunions, and a TON of great photos. This book really goes into detail. This book delves deeper than most making-of books. That's really what we die-hard fans are looking for, right? Not just how the shark worked (or didn't work), film sets floating or sinking out into the ocean, or personal feelings and thoughts from the cast and crew, but the drama...the day-to-day goings on... on set and off. Now this made an even more captivating and engaging read for me. I really like to know the reality of it all. What I also found interesting was how this second film came about.
JAWS 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel is a book we need, and author Michael A. Smith really delivers! If you want something fun, entertaining, and full of facts, this is the book you need. I highly recommend this book not only to fans of the franchise but also to anyone interested in how films are made. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, cover to cover. You might say...I couldn't wait to take that first bite...
I recently had the honor of interviewing author Michael A. Smith and discussing his book, JAWS 2: The Making of the Hollywood Sequel, and here is that exclusive interview.
Anthony Northrup - Greetings, Michael. It's a pleasure to interview you. Let's begin by telling us a little about yourself.
Michael A. Smith - Born in Cleveland, lived everywhere – my father worked for the newspapers. Been "hooked" on films ever since I saw JAWS in September 1975. I can't remember when I wasn't playing baseball, and I am happy to say that I played until I was 58 years old. Baseball, not softball! I'm married to the beautiful Juanita and have a son, Phillip, and three amazing grandchildren, Harper, Hudson, and Hayes.
AN - Before we get into your book, tell us what it was like for you when you saw JAWS for the first time, and JAWS 2? How was the experience similar or different for you?
MS - The first time I saw JAWS, I was mesmerized. I had seen films before, of course, but I left the theatre feeling like I had seen the greatest movie ever made! I still feel that way. JAWS 2 is a great memory because I went with a group of friends who are STILL friends. There had been some talk about seeing GREASE on opening day – it opened the same day as JAWS 2, June 16th – but I wouldn't budge, and we went to JAWS 2. We were determined to buy the first tickets at the Britton Cinema in Tampa and got to the theatre around 10:30 for the noon show. We discovered a lone fan standing in front of the box office. Set on being the first to buy tickets, we offered to buy his, and he agreed. It was a beautiful, huge auditorium (900+ seats), and we all sat together. I remember the audience breaking into applause when Roy Scheider's name came on screen, then erupting when JAWS 2 appeared. When the helicopter pilot climbed out onto the pontoon and told the kids to "throw me a line," my friend Scott called out, "Two guys are walking down the street!" Big laugh. We stayed and watched all five shows that day. Saturday, we went to GREASE and watched all five shows. Sunday, we saw JAWS 2 three more times!
AN - You have written two books about the biggest summer blockbuster of all time, JAWS. Please share with us how your book, JAWS 2: The Making of the Hollywood Sequel, came about.
MS - I was on Martha's Vineyard in July 2011 with other fans to celebrate the release of the book "JAWS: Memories from Martha's Vineyard." A few of us, including Lou Pisano and actor/author Tom Dunlop, were speaking to the creators and asked if they were going to do a similar book on JAWS 2. They said they weren't, as the new book took them four years to write. Knowing that both Lou and I wrote, they suggested we take on the project. We thought it was a fun idea, and we were off! Four years later, the book was out.
AN - How long was the process of this book from start to finish? It's 500 pages, longer than your other JAWS books. Any particular reason why?
The original edition came out in 2015. It had some success, and suddenly I was contacted by others associated with the film whom I couldn't initially reach. In early 2017, I reached out to my publisher and asked if he would allow me to do an "expanded" version, including nearly a dozen new interviews and over 200 new photos. He agreed, and the current edition was released for the film's 40th Anniversary on June 16, 2018, in Navarre, Florida, where the film was shot. To make the release even more special, 1,000 full-color copies were printed. Each one was signed, numbered, and came with an original 1978 TOPPS "Jaws 2" trading card.
AN - I always felt JAWS 2 was a very underrated sequel. What are your thoughts as a writer and fan of the original film about a sequel to the biggest summer blockbuster of all time?
MS - I've always thought that if the film didn't have the word JAWS in the title, it would have been met with more critical praise. I loved it and, as I was writing the book and learning about all the problems that set in during production, I grew to love it even more. In recent years, people have rewatched it and have come to appreciate it more. After all, it is the 2nd-highest-grossing sequel of the 20th Century!
AN - Do you feel JAWS 2 is a solid sequel? What did you enjoy most about it?
MS - Very much. I enjoyed the familiar characters and a cast of kids about my age. I saw myself as Andy, played by Gary Springer. He was everyone's friend, and I'm happy to say that I think I was that way as a teenager. I've known Gary for over a decade, and he has been a great friend to me. In September 1977, Roy Scheider permitted me to start his official fan club, and he would occasionally call me while filming JAWS 2. I remember it was nearly Christmas when he called me to say, "Well, we killed the shark today." Since it wasn't a phrase yet, I forgave him for not saying 'SPOILER ALERT!" It was exciting to see on screen what he had been telling me about over the phone.
AN - In the book, there are tons of interviews from cast, crew, and more! Who did you enjoy interviewing with the most? Who did you find the most intriguing? And, who did you wish you had interviewed from the film but couldn't?
MS - They were all great to interview. I had met Carl Gottlieb at the first JAWSFest in 2005, and in 2008, I had dinner with him at a special event in Omaha. Over dinner, I learned that Carl did not have a ride to the airport the next day and quickly volunteered. We became email friends, and when I started the book, he was one of the first people to agree to be interviewed. I mentioned Tom Dunlop earlier. He played Timmy in JAWS 2 and is now a successful author. When the idea for the JAWS 2 book was broached, he told me that if he knew we were serious, he would give us whatever help he could. He was instrumental in getting some of the more challenging interview subjects. Suddenly, when I had been told "no," I would receive an email saying "Tom Dunlop says you would like to talk to so-and-so." Two people I couldn't get an interview with were John Williams and Richard Dreyfuss. Neither of them ever said "no," but it just never worked into their schedules. The one person I would have loved to have spoken with was Roy. Sadly, he passed away in 2008. However, I did find an old cassette tape of an interview done during the fan club days, and was able to include part of it in the expanded version.
AN - I found the behind-the-scenes stories truly interesting and entertaining. I learned a lot, actually. Do you feel it was more or less challenging to make this sequel? What are your thoughts?
MS - It's difficult to make any film, but when you're making the sequel to the most popular movie of all time, that pressure only multiplies. Throw in the fact that the original director left the project and that Carl Gottlieb had to rework the script, and it's amazing how great the final product is.
AN - I loved the extensive photo collection in this book. Was it quite a challenge to gather so many, and did you pick and choose which photos went into the book?
MS - Not including the on-set photos taken by photographer Edith Blake, who very graciously allowed me to use them, the majority of the photos came from the cast and crew, which gave them an even more personal feel than if I had just used a bunch of studio stills. I still have about 100 that I didn't use, many of them similar to the ones used in the book.
AN - I have to ask you, Michael, what are your thoughts on JAWS 3 and JAWS: The Revenge? Will you write a book about those two forgettable sequels?
MS - As a film critic, I know how difficult it is to make a movie, so I don't tend to criticize. For what it was intended to be, JAWS 3D is a good film. I think Joe Alves did a fine job behind the camera, and the film has some great moments. It remains the highest-grossing 3D film of the 20th Century. JAWS: The Revenge has some good scenes – Sean's death and the "banana boat" scene. However, because it was rushed to production to meet a specific release date, it looks hurried. The novelization is actually a good start. I had toyed with the idea of doing a JAWS 3D book, but I also knew that Joe Alves was considering one, and there wasn't a story I could tell that Joe couldn't tell better. When I was with him on the Vineyard this past summer, he confirmed that he is still intent on doing one, which I can't wait to read. There is already a book on JAWS: The Revenge, and my website partner, Mike Gencarelli, is currently putting together a documentary on the film.
AN - Lastly, the first edition of this book was released ten years ago. What fond memories do you have looking back ten years later? And, what is next for Michael Smith?
MS - When it came out in 2015, I was amazed at the reaction. I did book signings in Florida, Chicago, and Los Angeles. For the first L.A. book signing, members of the cast and crew, including Joe Alves, Carl Gottlieb, Jeff Kramer, Billy Van Zandt, Donna Wilkes, Ann Dussenberry, Martha Swatek, and David Elliot, showed up to support me and sign books—a very unexpected treat. One of my proudest moments, which I mention in the expanded edition, was when I entered the hotel lobby where I was staying for the 2nd signing at the Hollywood Show. I noticed Carl Gottlieb chatting with some people and walked up to say "hello." As I approached, Carl turned to the group and said, "This is my friend, Michael Smith."
As for what's next, I'm working on a new project that is still in the planning stages. Once I tie down a few loose ends and everything is a "go", I'll feel more confident in announcing it."
Thank you!!
AN - I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to read this fantastic book and conduct this interview with author Michael A. Smith. At 54, I am still a fanatically huge JAWS fan; each movie offers something fun and exciting. For those of you who plan to find a copy of FINATICS and/or JAWS 2: The Marking Of The Hollywood Sequel, you can do so through the Bear Manor Media Publishing Website. You're definitely in for a treat!
Thank you, Michael. I'm looking forward to learning about your upcoming project as well.
Best Regards!