The Filmumentaries Podcast
·S1 E143
143 - The Farmer and the Shark - with John Campopiano and Jim Beller
Episode Description
In this episode of The Filmumentaries Podcast, I’m joined by filmmaker John Campopiano and producer Jim Beller to talk about their new documentary, The Farmer and the Shark. The film centres on Craig Kingsbury, a farmer from Martha’s Vineyard who appeared in Jaws (1975), playing Ben Gardner, the local fisherman whose abandoned boat is discovered by Chief Brody early in the film.
From that small but unforgettable role, the documentary explores Craig’s life, his connection to the island, and how his story intersects with the legacy of Jaws.
John Campopiano is the director of the film and is known for documentaries including Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary and Pennywise: The Story of IT. Jim Beller is one of the producers of The Farmer and the Shark - former producer of my Inside Jaws - A Filmumentary and all round Jaws expert.
I should note that I haven’t seen the finished film yet, so this conversation focuses on the making of the documentary, how the project came together, why Craig Kingsbury’s story stood out, earning trust, and shaping a film around a real person whose life briefly intersected with a cinematic landmark. If you’re looking for a calm, thoughtful conversation about film history, storytelling, and the people behind the scenes, I hope this episode provides a welcome distraction. Guests
This podcast is completely independent and made possible by listener support. If you’d like to help me keep making these episodes, you can join my Patreon community here: https://patreon.com/jamiebenning
Watch more on YouTube:
Check out the Filmumentaries YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes clips and extra content: https://youtube.com/filmumentaries
All my links
From that small but unforgettable role, the documentary explores Craig’s life, his connection to the island, and how his story intersects with the legacy of Jaws.
John Campopiano is the director of the film and is known for documentaries including Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary and Pennywise: The Story of IT. Jim Beller is one of the producers of The Farmer and the Shark - former producer of my Inside Jaws - A Filmumentary and all round Jaws expert.
I should note that I haven’t seen the finished film yet, so this conversation focuses on the making of the documentary, how the project came together, why Craig Kingsbury’s story stood out, earning trust, and shaping a film around a real person whose life briefly intersected with a cinematic landmark. If you’re looking for a calm, thoughtful conversation about film history, storytelling, and the people behind the scenes, I hope this episode provides a welcome distraction. Guests
- John Campopiano — Director
- Jim Beller — Producer
- The Farmer and the Shark
- Jaws (1975)
This podcast is completely independent and made possible by listener support. If you’d like to help me keep making these episodes, you can join my Patreon community here: https://patreon.com/jamiebenning
Watch more on YouTube:
Check out the Filmumentaries YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes clips and extra content: https://youtube.com/filmumentaries
All my links