Inside Jaws

A torturous first day of shooting Star Wars in the Tunisian desert. Including a one-time “carpenter to the stars,” an actor named Harrison Ford. Cut to: A young George Lucas captivated and thrilled by a new gadget called “television” and the thrilling, swashbuckling serials of Flash Gordon. Later, Lucas falls for fast cars. More speeding tickets than baseball cards. Fights at home with his father over work and school and career. “I’m gonna be a millionaire before I’m 30,” he shouts at his dad. But he’s failing classes and his best hopes are for a life as an auto mechanic. Then, one fateful day he’s in his tiny Fiat turning left across traffic. That’s when a car smashes into him - an accident that nearly kills him. And an experience that will change his life forever. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Wix - Go to Wix.com and use the coupon code YODA, you’ll get 10% off any premium plan! Quip - Go to GETQUIP.com/YODA to get your first refill pack for FREE!

Heroes, villains, action... all set in a galaxy far, far away. Join Inside Star Wars and go behind the camera and find out how one of the most iconic series in film history came to be. Listen now at: http://wondery.fm/ISWED

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Sports rivalries can fuel fans and athletes to fight and argue for years. But what’s the real story behind these epic rivalries? From Wondery, the company behind “Business Wars” and “American Scandal” comes Sports Wars, an electric new series that offers an immersive, courtside look at some of the greatest athletic rivalries of all time: starting with Aaron Rodgers vs. Brett Favre. Subscribe to Sports Wars at wondery.fm/sportswars

This is One Plus One, the show about the spark that drives two original thinkers to ultimate success. We’ll unearth the stories of Paul McCartney & John Lennon, Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera, Beyonce & Jay-Z, Shaq & Kobe, and many more, and learn what it is about their chemistry that led them to greatness. Subscribe to One Plus One today at wondery.fm/OnePlusOne

“Philadelphia” would attract top Hollywood talent like Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards -- and an actor named Ron Vawter. Vawter had AIDS, and he would live just long enough to see the film change minds and hearts everywhere. Here, art wasn’t imitating life, art was life. This is the second in a two-part series celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of “Philadelphia,” and the progress we’ve made in the fight against HIV/AIDS.    In the 25 years since Philadelphia was released, we've made great progress in the fight against AIDS, but there is still work to do. Join Coca-Cola and (RED) to help end AIDS once and for all. Visit wondery.fm/RED to learn more and donate today.

In the 1980s HIV/AIDS was a quiet killer and a stigmatized disease. As director Jonathan Demme and screenwriter Ron Nyswaner watched friends succumb to AIDS, they would embark on the first major studio film to tackle the subject head-on. They needed to convince studio heads, movie stars, and a community to come along on their journey. On this 25th anniversary of “Philadelphia,” Mark Ramsey takes you inside this seminal film in a special two-part podcast series on how the film was made, and how it made a difference.    In the 25 years since Philadelphia was released, we've made great progress in the fight against AIDS, but there is still work to do. Join Coca-Cola and (RED) to help end AIDS once and for all. Visit wondery.fm/RED to learn more and donate today.

In 1993, Tom Hanks won his first Oscar for his role as Andrew Beckett in the film Philadelphia. This award represented more than just a stellar acting performance. Tom Hanks and the creators, cast, and crew of Philadelphia succeeded in bringing AIDS awareness to the mainstream. They sparked conversation about the disease, and helped to shift the cultural perception of HIV/AIDS from fear to compassion. In two special episodes of People Like Us: Inside Philadelphia, we’ll get a special look inside the making of this groundbreaking film that starred Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks, and the impact it has had around the world. Stay tuned right here, on Inside Jaws, for the upcoming episodes. And to celebrate the progress we have made in the fight against AIDS since Philadelphia’s release, and to join us in continuing efforts to deliver an AIDS-free generation, head to wondery.fm/RED

What is it like to walk in the shoes of another person? Each episode of the latest podcast from Wondery, IMAGINED LIFE takes you on an immersive journey into the life of a world-famous person. It’ll be someone you may think you know, even admire -- or maybe the opposite. You’ll get clues to your identity along the way. But only in the final moments will you find out who “you” really are. So sit back, let go, and -- imagine your life. Subscribe today at www.wondery.fm/imaginedlife

An investigative reporter looks into a surgeon who hurt 33 of his patients and looks at the system that failed to protect those 33 patients at every possible turn. I hope you help us spread the word because it’s a story that everyone should listen to. Subscribe to Dr. Death on Apple Podcasts or visit www.wondery.fm/drdeath

Carl Gottlieb is the co-screenwriter of JAWS, a featured player in this podcast, and the author of The Jaws Log, about the making of the classic film. With Inside JAWS creator Mark Ramsey, Carl discusses his background in Improv, how he met Steven Spielberg, how JAWS came to be a classic, and what lessons the movie has for filmmakers and audiences alike. Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1916: The vicious “Man-eater of Matawan” meets his end. Cut to: The premiere and record-breaking success of JAWS. The awards Steven Spielberg expected – but never came. Even the world’s most commercial filmmaker wasn’t good enough to earn the respect of his peers. The death of Robert Shaw and the impact of his legacy on one-time rival Richard Dreyfus. Spielberg passes the torch to J.J. Abrams as the ORCA at Universal Studios crumbles to dust. Steven Spielberg experiences a remembrance of a heritage that once embarrassed him, but now makes him proud. A premiere for Ready Player One at SXSW, and the contents of a mysterious note revealed. Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1945: The saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis – no ships, no planes, no rescue. Just…sharks. Cut to: The emotional center of JAWS: Sometimes drunk, sometimes sober - Robert Shaw’s indelible tale of the Indianapolis receives an ovation from cast and crew. The ORCA starts to sink – with all hands still on deck. The journey of a rotting shark carcass from Florida to Martha’s Vineyard. The on-set rivalry between Richard Dreyfus and Robert Shaw. A post-production panic attack for Steven Spielberg. And an unsolved murder nearby the JAWS shoot – more than 40 years later, was the mystery solved by writer Joe Hill? Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1968: A retired Navy Captain commits suicide. Many years earlier, his vessel suffered the worst naval disaster at sea in U.S. History. It was the U.S.S. Indianapolis, and hundreds of its crew were eaten by sharks. Cut to: 1974. Spielberg enlists writer Carl Gottlieb to “eviscerate” the script for JAWS. Spielberg’s friend George Lucas visits the mechanical shark in a workroom and gets his head stuck in it. Second unit footage is shot using real sharks and real shark cages, but the stuntman barely survives and locks himself in the toilet. Every day, more stress, more delays, more production troubles, more nightmares and – perpetually – the shark is not working. Will this nightmare ever end? Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1916: A bounty is offered to whoever can kill the “Man-eater of Matawan.” Cut to: 1973. Peter Benchley sells the rights to JAWS to a pair of legendary Hollywood producers, Richard Zanuck and David Brown. Sensing a winner, Spielberg steals the galleys off Zanuck’s desk before insisting that this be his next project. Meanwhile, Zanuck and Brown toss away a would-be director who can’t distinguish between a whale and a shark, legendary director Henry Hathaway offers Spielberg some advice, and casting begins. Two very important executives want their wives to play the Chief’s wife. In Spielberg’s words, “Oy vey.” Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.