Aboard the Mendel marine research vessel, Luke was chatting with Dr. Carl, a seasoned marine biologist.
Given the unique nature of today's shoot, safety briefings and risk assessments weren't handled by Bob but by Dr. Carl himself.
"Doctor, you're saying great white sharks don't actually like attacking humans?" Luke asked.
"Exactly. Spielberg's Jaws gave people the wrong idea about these animals," Dr. Carl replied. "Sure, their scientific name translates to 'man-eater,' but they don't really go for humans. They prefer high-fat prey like seals or sea lions. Humans? Too little fat, too many bones—not exactly on their menu."
"But some of those super-sized folks from my country might catch their interest," he added with a slightly politically incorrect jab.
"Haha, Doc, you're savage!" Luke chuckled, getting a better sense of the sharp-tongued biologist.
"But if great whites don't attack humans unprovoked, how am I supposed to film this scene?" Luke pressed.
"I've got you a special bait ball," Dr. Carl said. "Hold it in your hand and vibrate it at a specific frequency—it'll draw them right to you."
"Will that actually work?" Luke asked, curious.
"Oh, yeah. Great whites have incredible vision, but their sense of smell is even better. They can detect a single drop of blood in a million parts of seawater. Combine that with the right vibration frequency to mimic a seal paddling, and you've got a good shot at getting their attention," Dr. Carl explained.
"Alright, that's reassuring!" Luke said, relieved.
Seeing his reaction, Dr. Carl couldn't help but add, "Luke, you sure you want to take this risk? Adult great whites are usually over 3.5 meters long and weigh more than 900 kilos. With those teeth, if one actually bites you, it's no small thing."
"I know. Best-case scenario, I'd need a couple hundred stitches," Luke replied.
"And if you run into a big one, it could easily rip off an arm. Bad news: female great whites are larger than males, and you seem to have a knack for attracting females," Dr. Carl quipped, poking fun at him.
"If it gets dangerous, I'm not just gonna sit there," Luke said, patting the spear beside him.
"Huh? That spearhead and shaft—are they custom-designed?" Dr. Carl noticed immediately.
"Yup, designed by the Fluid Dynamics Institute specifically for underwater use. With my skills, I can generate a supercavitation effect."
Luke had tested it multiple times. When he thrust the specially designed spear underwater, it could exceed 50 meters per second, creating a supercavitation effect. The spear would be enveloped in a layer of air bubbles, drastically reducing water resistance and allowing for devastating strikes.
"Good to know. One more thing," Dr. Carl said, ever the professional, making sure every risk was covered. "Great whites don't just charge in. They circle their prey first, then strike suddenly. For this scene, you won't have an oxygen tank or dive mask, so dodging an attack will be tough."
Luke nodded at the warning. Dr. Carl was right. As Turner, his character, he couldn't be decked out with scuba gear like tanks or fins—that'd look out of place. And without a dive mask, his underwater vision would be limited.
Great whites have dark backs and pale bellies, perfect camouflage. From above, their backs blend with the ocean's blue; from below, their bellies match the sky's white.
Without goggles, Luke might not spot a great white circling nearby until it was too late.
"Thanks for the heads-up, Doc, but don't worry. I'm not just a martial arts master—I'm a pro in the water too," Luke said confidently. With master-level spear skills, hand-to-hand combat, and aquatic prowess, plus his superhuman agility, he felt ready.
"Alright, one last thing," Dr. Carl said. "If you see a tiger shark, get out of the way immediately. If you can't, consider striking first."
Luke nodded, understanding.
Tiger sharks are far more dangerous to humans than great whites.
Though smaller, they're more aggressive and eat just about anything, earning the nickname "ocean garbage cans." While other sharks pass on turtles or dugongs, tiger sharks don't care—they'll even chomp on cans, water bottles, tires, or baseballs. A human? They'd probably take a bite just to see.
"The bait ball's been deployed. Luke, be ready to move," Director Verbinski's voice crackled through the earpiece.
The crew's divers, equipped with oxygen tanks, were already in the water inside protective cages. Once the bait drew a great white, Luke would need to jump in and start filming.
As the bait hit the water, the entire crew watched the surroundings closely.
Soon, a deep blue shadow swayed in from the distance. Its massive jaws and sharp, triangular dorsal fin screamed one thing: the great white shark Luke had been waiting for.
"Holy cow! Luke, your charm with the ladies is something else! It's a female great white!" Dr. Carl exclaimed. "I've studied sharks for years and rarely seen one this big!"
"Good news: it's huge, so the footage will be epic. Bad news: if it bites you, you're looking at losing an arm or leg at best."
"Length's at least 6.4 meters, weight's probably over 3 tons—close to the largest ever recorded," he added.
Luke grinned. "Don't worry, I'll be back in no time!"