Jeff Kurr: Legendary Shark Week Filmmaker

For more than 30 years, Emmy-nominated wildlife filmmaker Jeff Kurr has played a pivotal role in the evolution and success of Shark Week. In this conversation, he offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his extraordinary career, what it takes to capture some of the franchise's most unforgettable moments, and a few surprising personal insights that reveal a different side of one of Shark Week's most influential storytellers.

Jeff also shares the story behind a close encounter with a great white shark that was caught on camera, featured in "Great White Open Ocean," available to stream on Discovery+. And if you're watching Shark Week this year, don't miss his latest installment, "Air Jaws: Red, White & Breach," premiering on Discovery.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the conversation, I hope you'll consider leaving a review to help others discover the podcast. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes. For upcoming guests, new episodes, and more, visit MichelleDawnMooney.com. Thanks for your support!

Transcript

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Jeff Kurr: You hear about these encounters, but you never have the actual footage but we happen to be filming it and I just remember when the shark made contact with him my heart literally stopped.

I went completely white. I thought he got eaten I really did but somehow the shark bounced off and Jimmi swam back to the boat It was it was probably five seconds, but it seemed like five years ...

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Hey it's Michelle, welcome to Conversations. I'm excited to introduce you to some new guests in the coming months, but in the meantime this conversation is from the vault. This week it's a salute to summer as we celebrate Independence Day and the launch of Shark Week. This episode's Make a Difference segment highlights a veteran owned hot sauce company bringing the heat while giving back to military and first responder causes, but first we'll hear from legendary Shark Week producer and filmmaker Jeff Kurr,

whose videos have been watched by millions. During Shark Week's 2024 run from July 7th through the 13th, you can watch the premiere of Jeff's newest film, Great [00:01:00] White Serial Killer, Sea of Blood, which documents a gripping tale of a tiny Mexican fishing village under siege from the sudden appearance of massive great white sharks that claimed the lives of three villagers over a 22 month period.

The story follows a shark attack survivor who teams up with a shark investigator to work with locals and help prevent future attacks. In my interview with Jeff from 2022, he shares the incredible story of his film Great White Open Ocean, where his friend and colleague miraculously survives a shark incident caught on camera.

During filming. It's an unbelievable story that I highly encourage you to check out for yourself. I have to admit, though, my favorite part of this interview comes at the end, where I was treated to a surprise story of Jeff's meet cute with his wife and the comical response he sometimes gets from family members regarding his job.

Hope you enjoy my conversation with Jeff Kurr. 

Jeff Kurr: Thanks for having me. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Thank you for being here because you are the man on the move. [00:02:00] You're all over the place. 

Jeff Kurr: Well, Thanks, Michelle. I always like to talk about Shark Week, especially with the great slate of programs we have coming up this year. The ones that I produced, I'm really excited.

Some of the best work I think I've ever done in 32 years of shark filmmaking. So I'm very happy with these shows. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: I feel like the popularity of Shark Week just continues to grow. So let's go back if we can. Where did it start? How did it originate? And how did you start with Shark Week? 

Jeff Kurr: Well, I know it started back in 1988, and I think it was just kind of a gimmick that Discovery came up with to attract viewers.

And, uh, at the time, I'm sure They had no idea it would still be going. It's become more than a television event. It's almost like a rite of summer I mean it brings people together to party and watch the shows and go to the beach and it just keeps mushrooming It's it's gigantic. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Yeah, you know, it's funny that you say that that it becomes a summer ritual in a way for some people It is a huge to do.

So [00:03:00] tell me about Your involvement, how did you come to be a part of it? And what has your role been? 

Jeff Kurr: Yeah, you know, I used to be a news guy back in the day. That's where I sort of learned my TV chops. And one day I answered an ad in the paper for an editor. For a show called shark week. This is back in 1991 and I wasn't even sure what shark week was back then But I went to this production company and I edited together a shark week show.

I really got interested in sharks Uh, just seeing all this footage and hearing the stories and at that point I decided i'm gonna I have to be a diver now. And then I started wearing a lot of hats. I started as an editor, as I said, and then I was filming the sharks, producing the show, started my own company to produce the shows and it's always fun.

It's surprising. Sometimes it's a little bit, um, hair raising, you know, the encounters that we have. You could say it's even dangerous sometimes, but that's, that's part of the fun that we have in learning about these animals and filming these animals and portraying them in different ways. And telling the [00:04:00] stories that we tell, not just about the sharks, but about the people

who work with sharks and are involved with sharks. It's been a great 32 years and I'm still not tired of it yet. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: I love how you say it could be considered dangerous. It could be. I've seen films that you've done in the past of some close encounters. It is amazing to me because first of all, I don't even go in the ocean, Jeff.

I don't like to go into a place where I can't see what I'm walking into or what I'm walking on. So right there, you've got me, but it is amazing to see where you're putting yourself. When you talk about a few hats. Executive producer, director, underwater cinematographer, editor, writer, on camera expert. You have become such an integral part of Shark Week, and your videos are the top rated, the most popular of Shark Week, so is it so much more than you ever even imagined?

Jeff Kurr: Well, people always say how lucky I am. Because, uh, I don't know. It's just a weird thing about luck being the process of being, [00:05:00] you know, prepared and being in the right place at the right time, a lot of people say, how did you get those shots and how do you get those interactions and that footage? And. You must be really lucky, but it's, it's more about understanding these animals and when to be in a certain place.

So you have to travel light. That's the first thing I learned in shark filmmaking. Keep the crew minimal. Make sure you give yourself time on the water to capture these things. You can't just go out and jump in the water and expect to get a good sequence and a good interaction with the shark. It just doesn't work that way.

A lot of it just means being in the field for day upon day and going at the right time of the year. Uh, when you know the sharks are going to be there, and you want to be in the right place at the right time. It's funny because I was just, uh, in Africa filming in South Africa, and we were filming great whites breaching out of the water at this place called Mossel Bay.

And the day that we finished, some orcas, some killer whales came in. And they killed one of the great whites and the great whites just disappeared. They were completely gone. So imagine if that happened before we [00:06:00] got there. That was kind of a luck thing, I have to admit. But you know, it's all timing with these animals.

So you always have to keep that in mind and plan ahead as much as you can with wild animals. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: You've got four films and you have one in particular that's really going to be a big part of the kickoff of Shark Week. And it's not something that people have seen before, nor would they expect.

Talk to me about that. 

Jeff Kurr: Well, we've been busy this year, that's for sure. Very blessed and fortunate to have four films in Shark Week. And, you know, Shark Week has a wide variety of programming. My shows have, sometimes they have a slightly more serious tone, depending on the subject matter. Boy, there's no better example of that than a show called Great White Open Ocean.

That is an absolute must see. And I have a feeling once people do see it, The whole world's going to be talking about it. It's the story of a friend of mine named Jimmi Partington, who was a shark diver, ran trips to Guadalupe Island [00:07:00] in Mexico, tourist trips to cage dive with great whites. He's been on Shark Week a bunch of times with me before.

I actually discovered him back in 2014. We went out in the Middle Pacific with Jimmi and he had an incident with a great white that there's no word to really describe it. Spectacular. Scary, incredible. I can't even think of a word to describe it. You just have to see it. But basically, he was launched into the air by a 16 foot great white whale in the water with one.

And somehow, miraculously, didn't get a scratch. He survived this incident. I'm not going to call it an attack because it really wasn't an attack. The shark was investigating him. As an object in the water. You hear about these encounters, but you never have the actual footage But we happen to be filming it and I just remember when the shark made contact with him My heart literally stopped.

I went completely white. I thought he got eaten I really did but somehow the [00:08:00] shark bounced off and Jimmi swam back to the boat It was it was probably five seconds, but it seemed like Five years by the time he got from where he was in the water to the back of the boat, he survived and he was fine because, you know, he knows a lot about great whites.

He's really good in the water. It's the wildest thing I've ever shot in shark week in 32 years. The story just begins with that encounter because Jimmi had to overcome a little PTSD after an encounter like that. You would understand. But unfortunately COVID hit and he was stuck at home for a year in England.

He's from the UK and he couldn't go back out diving. He wanted to get back in the saddle, not let the fear of sharks come creeping in because sharks are his whole life. You know, he's a good friend of mine. Uh, obviously I'm very close to the story, but it's, it's an unbelievable story of his recovery, his desire to get back with sharks and get back in the water.

is what has kept him going, so it's just a great compelling story. And I almost, I get choked up [00:09:00] when I start talking about it because this is real, this is a real story of, of triumph, and tragedy, and, and kind of like our classic Greek story centered around Great White Sharks. So I hope everybody loves it.

I hope it does well. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Yeah, I'm sure it will. And that's just one. that you've got. You've got three others. So give us a little synopsis. What can people expect from this year's Shark Week? 

Jeff Kurr: Yeah, well, on a lighter note, I mean, there's a lot of variety of programming. I can speak specifically to my shows about one of my Air Jaws episodes, and that's sort of my bread and butter.

I've been doing Air Jaws since 2001. We've done 15 episodes. And without giving the whole show away, let's just say, They got some amazing breaches on camera. But at the very end, they had to do a little Steven Spielberg type trick to get an unbelievable breach. It one of the most amazing ones you'll ever see.

It's it's own fun. And I think people will really love that show Air Jaws Top Guns. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: [00:10:00] What do you personally hope Shark Week does every year? What would you like to have really carry through to people that watch Shark Week? 

Jeff Kurr: Well, you know, When Shark Week started back in 1988, I think people's only frame of reference when it came to sharks was the movie Jaws.

And most people were scared to death. A lot of people wouldn't go in the water, Michelle. Uh, and still don't because of that movie. But what I hope is that people take away a great admiration, respect, and love for these animals. Uh, I think it was Cousteau who said something to the effect of, You know, you're not going to protect something that you don't love.

And I want people to love sharks. And I think shark week has been very successful in doing that and making sharks, the most popular wild animals in the world. And that's what saves these animals is the fact that they're popular. My approach is to showcase these animals as beautiful creatures. And I find that that inspires people to want to save them.

So it's, [00:11:00] I think that's more effective than hitting people over the head with a message. You know, save the sharks, save the sharks. Why should I save a shark? A lot of people probably think I'm showing people why they should save them because man, they're awesome. In a lot of ways. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Answering that ad led to this full turn that you never imagined, but I think a lot of people couldn't imagine.

Shark Week without Jeff Kurr because it wouldn't be the shark week that it is. So you are such a big part of that. So I have to ask you from a personal standpoint. Yeah. Does your family freak out when you said like, Hey, I'm going to be a shark person and dive into the ocean? What was response from family members?

Jeff Kurr: Um, everybody thought it was great. Cause I mean, people that know me, they know that's what I've always wanted to do from, from day one. You know, it's like Jimmi's story. They all knew he was going to be a shark guy. There's pictures of him playing with little baby sharks. I mean, when he was a baby, I mean, he was, he's in his blood and he's all about sharks.

And I, you know, I think the same for me. So it's cool now because my wife goes with me on these trips [00:12:00] and she's our still photographer. So all those amazing shots you see of great whites, just, ah, she takes all those photos. So, um, he keeps it in the family. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: So wait, so your wife is a still photographer. 

Jeff Kurr: Yes, in fact, she took that photo.

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Oh my goodness! 

Jeff Kurr: Yeah. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Now, can I ask you, is this too personal, and we don't have to use this in the interview if you don't want to, but can I ask you how you met? 

Jeff Kurr: Uh, we met, you know, it's funny. That was a funny story. So it was a Sunday night. Shark Week had just finished airing. I went to Albertson, which is a supermarket here just to grab some stuff, wearing my sweats, ratty t shirt.

Didn't expect to see anybody. And I'm standing in line and I hear this Kurr behind me. And I was like, Oh, what's that? And I look back and it's this really pretty girl. And she's pointing at me and, uh, she's going Kurr, Shark Week, Kurr. She was a big Shark Week fan. [00:13:00] This is my future wife that had recognized me, because I used to be on some of the shows.

Sometimes I still am, but she had recognized me. She's a Shark Week fanatic, and um, she said, I'm not stalking you or anything, but I just wanted to talk to you a little bit about sharks, because I, you know, I can't believe we're in this small town. And here's the guy from Shark Week, and I'm a huge Shark Week fan, and I remember we walked out to the parking lot and she showed me her car license plate and said, Love Sharks.

So I knew she was, you know, legitimately a Sharks fanatic. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: She's the one for me. 

Jeff Kurr: It's just so weird. I mean, randomly coming together. We had lived in the same town for years and years and never met. And um, and so I guess that, talk about meant to be, um, definitely meant to be. And, um, We've had quite a few shark adventures since, so I think we're a perfect match because we both love sharks so much.

And she's fanatical about sharks. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: When you have a license plate that says love sharks, I mean, I think that's like ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. There's, there's my future wife. I knew she was [00:14:00] legit at that point. Such a wonderful story. I love that. Now, do you have any kids? 

Jeff Kurr: Uh, I do from a previous marriage, actually, yeah.

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Okay, 

yeah. 

Jeff Kurr: Yeah. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: They must think it's the coolest thing, what dad does.

Jeff Kurr: No, they don't. Really? They're teenagers. They're 17. They're twins. And they're, they're teenagers. So that should say all it needs to be said. All their friends think it's cool. Yeah. Their friends are like, Oh, the shark week guy. They're like, yeah, yeah.

It's embarrassing. Can't you just have a regular job? Can't you be an accountant? 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: I know Shark Week fans are very happy that Jeff did not become an accountant. Once again, Shark Week runs July 7th through the 13th. You can check Discovery. com for more details on shows and airtimes. Turning now to our Make a Difference segment, which in recognition of Independence Day week is highlighting contributions of our American heroes in a way that you may not expect . Air Force veteran Sean Maloney shares the [00:15:00] surprising start to a company that has customers feeling the heat for a good cause. 

Sean Maloney: During my deployment I was reading a lot of entrepreneurial books I was kind of thinking about life kind of thinking about, Hey, what do I want to do when I get back?

Once I got back, my business partner and good friend, Eli, his dad actually grows peppers ranging from jalapenos all the way up to ghost peppers. And we were just baking some sauces and concoctions. We had some friends and family over. They were like, Oh, this is really good. I could see this in the boutique store.

I could see you selling this. So we go on Amazon, buy some bottles, bring it to the Patriots game and. We have some people might kind of just say, Hey, where can I get more of this? This is fantastic. Fast forward to December 2019. We have officially launched for 13 Stars Hot Sauce. At the end of the day to the mission for 13 Stars Hot Sauce is to get back to US veteran first responder causes.

So you're burning your butt off for a good reason. And we have the saying of, uh, take the next step. So how many hot sauces are we talking about here? So we have four currently in our lineup right now. Mean Green, Mild Medium, Big Red One, our Medium. Tango Mango is our hot, and we have Nuclear Option, which is our seasonal Carolina Reaper and Ghost Pepper [00:16:00] sauce.

That is our Nuclear Option. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Thank you so much for what you're doing, and congratulations on becoming a Lieutenant, and thank you for not only making a great product that we can all enjoy this summer, but giving back to veterans and first responders alike. More information, 13starshotsauce. com. Thank you once again for what you do, and have a great summer.

Sean Maloney: Likewise. Thank you. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: This Make a Difference Minute was brought to you by Tackle Direct, the world's premier fishing outfitter. Visit TackleDirect. com to plan your next big adventure. Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoyed my conversations with Jeff Kurr and Sean Maloney. If you liked this episode, I would love for you to subscribe to the podcast and feel free to leave a review to help more people find the show.

Thanks again and remember one person can make a difference and that difference maker could be you. We'll see you soon.