Interview: Aaron Jakubenko on ‘Great White’
Set in the fictional Hell’s Reef, Great White, the latest film from Australian director Martin Wilson, follows retired marine biologist Charlie, his girlfriend Kaz and their friend Benny as they struggle to keep their small seaplane business afloat. Their luck begins to turn when they are commissioned by high-flying holidaymakers, Joji and Michelle, who want to spend the day on a remote sandy beach. What they thought would be a smooth and steady day trip soon turns into a nightmare when disaster strikes and the team find themselves trapped in a flimsy inflatable lifeboat with limited supplies. To make matters worse, as they drift aimlessly throughout the deep, dark channels of the vast ocean, they soon come to realize that they are not alone: a massive great white shark is hot on their trail and it will stop at nothing until it devours them one by one. We recently had the chance to speak to actor Aaron Jakubenko, who plays marine biologist Charlie, about the research he did to prepare for the role, the process of filming in the water, working with an animatronic shark and much, much more. Check out the interview below:
Film Updates: What is your favorite shark movie of all time?
Aaron Jakubenko: Jaws, hands down. It’s probably a little cliche to say, but I’d be lying if I didn’t put it up there. I was just just really always drawn to the performances [in the film]. It also sort of was the beginning of this genre, the shark movie, and it did an amazing job starting it all.
Film Updates: A bulk of this movie is filmed in the water. What was that process like for you? Did you face any specific challenges working in that environment?
Aaron Jakubenko: Filming on the beach in the middle of the Australian summer was just absolutely stunning. It made going to work a dream every day. But on that note, we did have a few things that were difficult. One problem we faced, that almost slowed down production, was when we had to film the plane n the ocean. It was sitting there and it just started to sink when it wasn’t supposed to. All the cast were inside the plane and we were all jumping out. Luckily, the safety crew was right there, so we felt really safe, but it was just hilarious, and it sort of slowed production for probably a day. I think. So that was a funny experience we had on set.
Film Updates: This movie has such a wonderful cast. Katrina Bowden, there’s Tim Kano, there’s Kimi Tsukakoshu. What was it like working with all of these amazing and wonderful actors?
Aaron Jakubenko: They were all really committed. Sometimes, you work on projects and some people are not quite as dedicated as other people but that wasn’t the case here. We were all just really, really dedicated, we really just went for it. We didn’t have a lot of budget. We had such a short time to shoot it. We had to only do one or two takes of every scene. There was no time. So it’s really amazing that the entire cast was just so dedicated. They were also all really lovely people. Every one of us got on so well, and that’s just a real gift when you’re working in such close quarters because it could be disastrous otherwise.
Film Updates: You were on [Australian soap opera] Neighbors for a while and so was your co-star Tim Kano, although in different time periods. Did you get to discuss the experience of working on that show with him?
Aaron Jakubenko: I don’t recall us talking about it too much but Tim is just one of the loveliest people. He was so kind. Everyone got on so well with him, which was definitely a stark contrast to his character in the film. It actually helped provide this complete level of trust [between us] so that we could accurately portray the fictional sort of rage between [our characters] and still know that we had each other’s backs. I loved working with him.
Film Updates: Some of the VFX was done practically and some of it was done in CGI but it still ended up feeling so seamless. What was it like working with an animatronic? And then also having to work as if you’re acting opposite a CGI shark? What was that experience like for you?
Aaron Jakubenko: We were very fortunate on this job that most of what we were responding to were actual animatronics, or were things in the water in the distance, that a cast or crew member sort of pushes along the water, so it really came naturally to us. We had this incredible shark that was sort of moved forward on a dolly underwater and it could actually attack; its jaw would lunge out and it was really very realistic. And for me to act alongside that was a lot of fun.
Film Updates: The film also addresses climate change in a way and what we’re doing to the planet as human beings which I thought was so interesting and so refreshing because it’s not something that we usually see in many shark movies. Was that at all part of the script’s appeal to you?
Aaron Jakubenko: That’s really to Martin’s credit. He was pretty passionate about that as well. This movie is an incredibly entertaining shark movie, and I love sharks. I think they are beautiful, intelligent and really important creatures. They sort of really hold that balance of the ocean quite well. But there’s also a lot of climate change issues [within the film] sort of going on behind that. It is a real, truthful thing and definitely is something that I’m passionate about. So I was glad even ever so slightly that we could sort of touch on that in the film. Hopefully draw that sort of curiosity or intrigue [from audiences] into how our behaviors are not only affecting us on Earth but also marine life as well.
Film Updates: Prior to filming, did you do any sort of research about sharks specifically or watch any documentaries to kind of get into into that mindset?
Aaron Jakubenko: Before I signed on to this film, I knew very little about sharks. I knew what I was taught in fifth grade in school but I grew up in a sort of coastal area where there were a lot of sharks. So I definitely had a fascination and a curiosity about sharks. My character Charlie was a marine biologist so I did do some research because I really wanted that to be authentic. I watched documentaries about sharks. I read a lot about them, and I fell more and more in love with them. And to be honest, that’s one of the most beautiful gifts that acting gives you; when you take on these new characters, you’re learning a whole new world of stuff that you never would have gotten to know before [you were cast in the role].
Film Updates: The seaplane that you film in looked very tiny. What was the process of filming in that like for you?
Aaron Jakubenko: We filmed those plane scenes in a studio. It was a really tight space. It made moving around a lot trickier. When the plane was sinking, it very hard to sort of maneuver around, and get around the seat belt. We had our difficulties [working in that environment] but I think it looks gorgeous on screen. I think that red really just pops in the Australian Coastal sort of colors.
Film Updates: The Shannara Chronicles is such a great show and it has had such a lasting legacy, and a dedicated fan base that is still so passionate about it. What was it like working on that show and what are your thoughts on its impact and legacy?
Aaron Jakubenko: Terry Brooks [the author of the books the show is based on] created a really wonderful world and I was just honored to be a part of putting that on the screen. It was a really wonderful character who had this sort of internal conflict. That’s one of the funnest things to play because you’re not only dealing with everything that’s going on on the outside but also this internal battle that so many of us have on a daily basis. Putting that on screen, and being a part of it as a whole, was just a lot of fun, and I was so grateful for the fans that even to this day, I’ll get a couple of messages a day about how much the show means to them. It really just wonderful to see that. We only got two seasons of the show so I’m very grateful for that fanbase.
Great White is now in theaters and is also available on VOD.