Director Steven Spielberg’s aquatic horror classic “Jaws” did more than scare audiences back in 1975. It also reshaped the box office forever, with the film itself offering a masterclass in manufacturing suspense and weaving layered themes into a summer crowd-pleaser. The road to making “Jaws” was also notoriously difficult for Spielberg and his production crew, who had to deal with malfunctioning props, endless re-shoots, and the daunting reality of filming at sea.
Given his newfound reverence for the ocean, it seems only natural that Spielberg would appreciate water-themed movies and TV shows after making “Jaws.” Nevertheless, you may be amused to learn what he named as his favorite TV series when he spoke to Boston University in 2009:
“[…] I love watching network series that are well written. I always watch ‘Mad Men.’ I watch the new show ‘Southland’ that John Wells does, which I think is genius. The other thing is I watch a lot of reality television. It’s a guilty pleasure. My favorite show on the air right now is ‘Deadliest Catch.'”
For those unaware, “Deadliest Catch” follows crab fishermen on their fishing vessels in the Bering Sea. Their objective is to catch various kinds of crabs (like the Alaskan king crab and snow crab) during fishing seasons. Far from a walk in the park, the fishermen and the show’s camera crew are forced to brave all sorts of dangers while handling heavy equipment and huge amounts of freshly-caught crabs. This inevitably includes having to deal with a storm that leaves the deckhands struggling to maneuver enormous crab-loaded steel cages.
And if that sounds like a decent but limited premise that could only sustain a few seasons of reality television, know that the show is still going after more than 21 (!) seasons at the time of writing.
Spielberg loves watching men going out to sea (and catching crabs) on Deadliest Catch
Reality TV shows are designed to appeal to our collective sense of voyeurism. Some, like “Survivor,” feature genuine displays of human perseverance, while others have a warped notion of what even constitutes entertainment. Indeed, in what world would a series like “Squid Game: The Challenge” be a good idea? Thankfully, “Deadliest Catch” doesn’t test the limits of one’s patience like that, even as it strives to maintain a palpable sense of tension.
But people catching crabs can’t be that interesting … right? In truth, “Deadliest Catch” makes the smart choice to hone in on the men who venture out to sea. What compels these people to throw themselves into harm’s way time and again? Some of them seem to be running away from their pasts, while others have nowhere else to go.
Steven Spielberg’s fascination with this series makes more sense when one considers the cinematic aspects of a reality show that banks upon high stakes and spectacle. David Reichert, the director of photography on “Deadliest Catch,” even discussed the ways the show has evolved visually over time with American Cinematographer in 2020:
“A big difference in the show now is that we are shooting more cinematic material, with different frame rates, different depths of field — and the editors and producers have figured out how to use it […] What helps is the frame rate — we have the ability to shoot up to 120 frames per second. Add slow motion to water, and the ocean becomes very ominous […] Use it for a crabber’s facial expression, and you really see what their mood is.”
So, should you find yourself wanting to witness the highs and lows of catching crabs at sea, give “Deadliest Catch” a shot.
