Swimming with sharks

"And I wanted to go skiing,” blubs Open Water’s distressed heroine, essayed with whining aplomb by newcomer Blanchard Ryan. Well, I can’t say I blame her.

Based on the true story of Tom and Eileen Lonegan, an American couple left behind by their dive boat in shark-infested waters off Queensland, Australia (and no, their bodies have never been recovered), this aquatic exploitation thriller was written, directed and edited by husband and wife team, Chris Kentis and Laura Lau.
“I know it says I’m the director, but we shared pretty much all duties equally,” Chris tells me. Yes, except the missus was the one bobbing about with the camera.
“I did have to take Dramamine for sea-sickness,” explains Laura, “I mean I’m used to the sea, but looking through a camera all the time while you’re constantly moving was a bit of a challenge in terms of keeping your lunch down.”
This tense, low-budget horror sees a banal, workaholic couple head for balmier climes only to find themselves stranded miles from the shore and swimming with sharks. Naturally, the diving industry has been a little distressed by the adverse publicity, with Tom Ingram (Executive Director of the Diving and Marketing Association apparently) issuing a statement to the effect that “The series of events taking place in Open Water, while not impossible, are highly unlikely. Bees, wasps and snakes are responsible for more fatalities than sharks.”
As keen scuba-divers themselves - their seven year old daughter is already an accomplished snorkler – Chris and Laura were never out to mess with the industry.
“We just read the story, and found it really, really affecting,” says Laura, “and we were just keen that the film capture that and be as authentic as possible.”
Open Water’s stars – Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis – who were previously only ‘known’ for their appearances on Sex In The City – are equally dismissive of the diving lobby’s paranoia.
“It’s weird,” laughs Daniel, “Look at all those Airport movies. People don’t start complaining that air crashes are rare.”
“Yeah,” continues Blanchard. “And it’s not like we made the whole thing up either. It’s based on true events.”
For the shoot, Daniel and Blanchard were drifting seventeen miles from shore, in deep ocean for weeks on end. Though keen swimmers – obviously a pre-requisite for casting – the actors did find the routine somewhat gruelling.
“It was the most strenuous workout you could imagine,” claims Daniel. “We were swimming all day, and there was a constant undercurrent, so you had to battle against that too.”
“But it was fantastic at night,” chimes in Blanchard, “we’d get out of the water, sit on the boat, all wrapped up in warm towels, and when you’d go to bed, you’d sleep like a baby as soon as your head touched the pillow.”
As bright, attractive young actors, there was a constant unsightly wrinkling effect to contend with.
“Even with wet-suits on, there was a pruning effect,” says Daniel.
“Yeah, but the worst thing was probably the sun damage,” claims Blanchard, “because we were floating all day with our heads just above water, we both had these lobster red faces and cold, white bodies. We couldn’t wear tank-tops, that was for sure. But I had conditioner in my hair, so that was in great shape, at least.”
Battling the elements, however, was ultimately a lot less intimidating than their ever circling co-stars, who had to be coaxed with bloodied hunks of tuna throughout filming, as the morbid anticipation builds.
“Well, we had the shark wranglers there,” explains Daniel, “so we were never in terrible danger, but Blanchard did get bitten by a barracuda on the first day, and was bleeding. But she just called out ‘Hey Chris, did you get the shot?’, so she wasn’t too badly hurt.”
“Yeah, it’s funny,” continues Blanchard, “because you had to go against your natural instincts. Like when the jellyfish all showed up, instead of shouting ‘Jellyfish! Everybody out!’, we were like “Yes, Jellyfish! Quick, quick, everybody in!”
And yet, despite braving the elements, assorted menacing fishies and digital cameras, there’s one scene that Blanchard finds scarier to watch than any other - “Oh my God, the nudity!”, she laughs, “I had no problem doing it, I was more worried about the sharks. I just thought, not many people are going to see this. And now the film has exceeded everyone’s expectations, and has done so well. And I look at how much of me is up there on the big screen and panic. Now that’s really horrifying.”

Open Water opens September 10.