[Coral-List] Sexy scientists and Marine Sanctuaries
David McGuire
david at trilliumfilms.net
Mon Mar 27 14:52:31 EST 2006
Dear Listers,
It is with great interest I read the thread of selling science and
using sexy science or hero types. I too was inspired by J. Cousteau
and Wild Kingdom and went on to study marine biology and
environmental science. I have worked in the science education field
and am now completing a shark- coral reef conservation documentary.
We just interviewed Dr Enric Sala, Pew Fellow and a rising star in
ocean conservation who is working to make serious impacts on the
public perception of ocean conservation issues.
His sincerity, excellent analogies and panache all qualify him as an
intriguing ocean spokesman.
We hope that Enric's articulate nature and passion will convey itself
to the audience. He also looks great on camera.
Perhaps he can be one of our next ocean awareness pioneers.
By the way, Sylvia Earle has been and still is one of the greatest
ocean advocates as well as a highly respected scientist. Lets not
forget her indefatigable efforts. The beauty of her words, her
scientific deeds, and her person far exceed M. Cousteau in my mind.
Our film, focusing primarily on reef sharks but addressing l threats
to all sharks- including shark finning, is not reality TV and may
not wrest the gameboys out of kids hands, but we hope the vivid shark
images, the sailing and Polynesian cultural elements will draw some
attention towards the gravity of the issues to a general audience.
This film will not be your typical IMAX eye candy and brush over the
issues (no slur on the film makers who produce these enviable
products- more the producers looking for the big return), nor will it
be sharks leaping out of the air or tearing into seals, but instead
will highlight important conservation issues including coral reef
habitat destruction.
By nature this will reduce the audience who will be required to think
and face the issues. However, to maintain a general audience, we
have to reduce some of the science- it is the inevitable compromise.
We conclude with support of the proposed 14th National Marine
Sanctuary- another thread I would like to invite comment and
information about. I have just returned from hawaii and working with
some of the NOAA folks and have great content and material on the
Northwest Hawaiian Islands.
We hope to complete the film by August for 07 PBS and 06 film
festival screenings.
Regarding the marine sanctuary off the Florida keys: The NWHI do not
have the direct human impacts the reefs off Florida must endure and
are better situated geographically to withstand some of the sea water
increases, but as recent bleaching events reveal, they are not immune
to degradation.
Has their been success in fisheries management through no take
reserves in the Florida sanctuary, and are they designed with
connectedness in mind? Is anyone aware of areas where coral reefs in
the sanctuary has recovered relative to areas outside, or perhaps is
even less degraded?
Thank you for your thoughts.
David McGuire
Producer, Trillium Films
Sausalito CA
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