Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story is a documentary film that chronicles the remarkable life of Valerie Taylor, one of Australia's most beloved and pioneering figures in the world of diving, marine conservation and shark research. Directed by Sally Aitken, the film combines archival footage and interviews to tell Taylor's story, from her upbringing in Australia to her career as a photographer, cinematographer, and conservationist.
The film starts with Taylor and her husband Ron's early shark hunting days, a popular pastime for thrill-seekers at the time. It then delves into her groundbreaking film work, including her underwater camerawork on the classic film Jaws, which changed the world's perception of sharks. Taylor famously protected herself with a chainmail suit while filming the sharks up close and personal, proving that the creatures are not the man-eating monsters that movies like Jaws had led the audience to believe.
The documentary also highlights how Taylor's work as a conservationist has helped protect and preserve the Great Barrier Reef, one of the natural wonders of the world. She was a pioneer in the fight against commercial fishing, whaling and the preservation and conservation of the underwater environment.
With stunning underwater footage and a narrative that mixes humor and gravitas, Playing with Sharks documents Taylor's incredible life and the pivotal role she's played in our understanding and appreciation of these incredible animals. As well as exploring her impact on the world of marine conservation, the film celebrates her adventurous spirit, which has led her to have incredible experiences in her life, including diving in the Bahamas with sharks, being rescued from a remote island and making a documentary about great white sharks.
Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story is an ode to a woman who has spent her lifetime loving and protecting the natural world, and whose pioneering work has changed the way we think about the oceans and the creatures that inhabit them.
