<P> For the seagull character of Steven Seagull, the usage of both CGI and a puppet was considered based on the belief that it would be inordinately hard to train such a bird to act . This "horrified" both producers, Matti Leshem and Lynn Harris, who wanted to work with an actual animal . While scouting for location in Australia, Lively was able to feed a group of seagulls, at which point it was realized that it would be possible to use them for production . The initial script featured Lively talking to the bird much more, and likewise, scenes featuring such an interaction were shot . However, in the end, Collet - Serra decided on a less - is - more approach, noting to Yahoo! that "...we didn't want her to be like Snow White talking to animals . When you see her predicament, you get it . You don't need her to explain everything to a seagull!" </P> <P> Principal photography on the film began on October 28, 2015 in New South Wales, Australia . Filming also took place at Lord Howe Island, Mount Tamborine, Queensland and Village Roadshow Studios . It originally was going to be filmed on the Gulf Coast of Texas near Galveston, but the filmmakers were denied a film permit for safety reasons . Filming wrapped on January 15, 2016 . </P> <P> Much of the film was shot in a tank using bluescreens for effects . Still, Collet - Serra wanted to avoid the "more stylized look" of similar films using the set up and estimated that 10% of the film was shot on location in order to "trick" the audience into believing the setting was real: he explains: "Every scene has one shot that is real, and the other 99% is not--but the one real shot tricks you". The shark was made entirely through computer generated imagery, which was only completed close to the start of the marketing campaign for the film . / Film noted that the use of CGI was unusual for Collet - Serra, as he typically used practical effects as opposed to the digital ones required by the shoot . Lively ended up performing several of her own stunts, including a scene where her character breaks her nose . In reality, Lively really did hurt herself in that scene and the blood on her nose is real . </P> <P> The Shallows was originally supposed to be released on June 29, 2016, but to avoid The Purge: Election Year and their second weekend being on the holiday of July 4, the film was instead released on Friday, June 24, 2016, by Columbia Pictures . </P>

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