Filmmaker Q&A: Jeff Litton,"Save Sharks, Don't Serve Them"

“Save Sharks, Don’t Serve Them” comes at a timely moment with CA Assembly Bill 376 being hotly debated. Almost all species of sharks all over the world are threatened by humans, despite stereotypes saying the opposite. Shark finning is a cruel and inhumane practice, and is impact is not just moral it’s ecological. Jeff Litton’s film highlights the plight sharks are facing, as well as their powerful and graceful presence. We should not serve, or fear, sharks, we should all work to save them. Catch “Save Sharks, Don’t Serve Them” on Saturday March 12^th at 1:00pm. Click here to get your tickets now.

What is your overall summary for the film?

“Save Sharks, Don’t Serve Them” is a film that brings viewers face to face with beautiful sharks from around the world, and then exposes the crisis that all sharks are in today. San Francisco has the perfect ability to set the example for the world of shark conservation.

What was your inspiration for creating the film?

Looking a shark in the eye proves wrong every fear Spielberg ever gave you. Sharks are peaceful, and more afraid of us. In fact they have every right to be.

What was the most challenging part of creating the film?

The most challenging part of the film is searching for the bottom of a story as big as illegal shark fishing. The effects of shark fin soup don’t weigh only on the pockets of the buyer, nor even the life of the shark; the illegal industry fuels the operations of narcotics and slavery, not to mention a heavy hand in governments. It all ends when Shark Fin Soup ends.

What do you want to impart on your film’s viewers?

People leave the theatre with a better appreciation for sharks and the gravity of their peril. Hopefully enough people can join together in a coalition of citizens interested in saving sharks, and if our message coincides with those of our officials, then we can come a long way towards protection.

What was the most enjoyable part of creating the film?

Surely the best part of filming sharks is the connection you feel in the presence of a giant. If dogs and bees can sense fear, then imagine what could be sensed with the sophistication of a hammerhead shark.

Who (or what) is your inspiration?

A shark approaches from the distance, and it’s swimming straight for you. Camera’s rolling & you keep looking between the camera and the real thing. It approaches until 2 feet away, turns left, and you feel the gentle currents wash past. That’s not inspiration, it’s zen.

How or why did you begin creating ocean-focused films?

One day a friend and I were towing a trash net across San Francisco Bay, and we pulled out a piece of plastic as big as your palm. It was the corner of a bag of chips, and by the branding, the plastic was more than 40 years old. The problems of the ocean aren’t controversial, it’s as simple as a sustainable future. Ocean health has nothing to do with race, nor geography, it is a world endeavor. The answers are in every question like, ‘How do we stop killing all the sharks from the ocean?’

Why did you choose to submit your film to the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival?

The message from the Governor of Galapagos is addressed to government of San Francisco, and the people, a plea for shark conservation. San Francisco is part of a huge shark conservation movement taking place now and to continue in the future. The bay represents the mix of rich culture met with founding ideas and principles from the entire state of California.

Filmmaker Q&A: Jordan Plotsky,"Home for Hawksbill"

In his film "Home for Hawksbill" Jordan Plotsky uncovers the amazing story of three rival tribes cooperating to save the turtles they had hunted to near extinction. Sacrificing their own livelihoods the people of the Arnavon Islands are helping this ancient species make a come back and are creating a model of conservation for communities all over the world. Catch "Home for Hawksbill" Sunday March 13th at 10 am as part of Program 10. Click here for tickets.

Filmmaker Bio:

Jordan Plotsky has a passion for wildlife and wilderness. Since 1998, he has been producing films and television on subjects ranging from sea turtles to bison, and archaeology to culture change. He has bushwhacked through the jungles of Papua New Guinea and shuffled through the snows of Yellowstone to capture the world’s beauty and drama. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Teledramatic Arts and Technologies from California State University Monterey Bay, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Natural History Filmmaking and Communication from the University of Otago. He is married and lives in Santa Cruz, California.

What is your summary for the film?

The Hawksbill turtle has been swimming in the southern oceans since the time of the dinosaurs. But now over-fishing has brought the Hawksbill to the brink of extinction. One of the turtle’s last stands is the Arnavon Islands, three small islets nestled in a far corner of the Solomon Islands. Even here their survival is at risk, as three rival tribes hunt the hawksbill to the breaking point. “Home for Hawksbill” tells the remarkable story of how these rival tribes overcame cultural conflicts and disputes over land ownership to protect the islands and save the turtles. Success in the Arnavons has inspired other communities, and is now a model for conservation across the globe.

What inspired you to make this film?

In a world of environmental challenges and degradation, I think it's critically important to tell stories of hope. This is an inspiring story of peace through conservation and the survival of an ancient species.

What were the biggest challenges in making the film?

Short shooting schedule and language gap

What message do you want viewers to take away from your film?

People around the world are doing important work and there are lessons for all of us.

What was the most enjoyable part of making the film?

Being on location and meeting the locals.

What was the most memorable moment in the film?

Watching hatchlings race to the sea.

Filmmaker Q&A: Lucia Duncan,"Whales of Gold"

Grey whales: huge, fascinating, critically important to the economy of San Ignacio Lagoon. Lucia Duncan’s film “Whales of Gold” sees the migration of whale, and the researchers and tourists that follow them, through the eyes of the local residents of this small fishing village in Baja California Mexico. “Whales of Gold” is part of Program 7, Saturday March 12^th at 1:00 pm. Click here to get tickets now.

What is your overall summary for the film?

Every winter, following the migration of grey whales, tourists, scientists, and conservationists descend upon the San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California, Mexico. Their presence - and the establishment of Latin America's largest biosphere reserve - brings profound change to the lagoon’s small fishing community. Twelve-year-old Antonio negotiates between the different points of view of locals and outsiders about the changes and what the future will bring. “Whales of Gold” raises questions about how to conserve habitat and species in a way that also sustains the livelihoods of local people.

What was your inspiration for creating the film?

I am fascinated by the way in which ecotourism is marketed as a trip to paradise – a form of tourism that does no harm, a win-win situation for tourists, local people, and the environment. Ecotourism is the fastest growing sector of the global tourism industry and is especially important to the economies of developing countries. While tourists delight in their immersion in untouched nature - beautiful scenery and exotic animals - they often have no real contact with local people. I wanted to make a film that would explore the impact of ecotourism on one community from the perspective of local people.

What was the most challenging part of creating the film?

It was challenging to make a film at a distance and in such a remote location. It was also challenging to make a film about issues that are complex and changes that are gradual.

What do you want to impart on your film’s viewers?

My hope is that "Whales of Gold" will help viewers think more critically about the multiple impacts of ecotourism and conservation and who bene_ts from the changes they bring.

What was the most enjoyable part of creating the film?

I enjoyed learning about the fishing culture in Baja California Sur and filming in such a beautiful place.

Who (or what) is your inspiration?

I was inspired by the relationship that residents of the San Ignacio Lagoon have with the place that they live and with their desire for their kids to be able to continue to live there.

How or why did you begin creating ocean-focused films?

This is my first environmentally focused film.

Why did you choose to submit your film to the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival?

I hope your festival will draw viewers interested in ecotourism and conservation in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

What was the most memorable moment in creating the film?

The visit by El Hijo del Santo (Mexican wrestler) to the San Ignacio Lagoon was the most memorable moment. It was such a clear example of how U.S. environmental organizations use the community to create media campaigns.

Director’s Bio:

Lucia has directed films about labor, tourism, culture, and the environment. Her film Making History: SEIU and the Labor Movement won a CINE Golden Eagle Award. As a Fulbright Fellow in Brazil, she made Olinda: World Cultural Heritage Site and Lord of Olinda, and worked for Video in the Villages, teaching documentary production to indigenous youth. She has a BA in Development Studies and Portuguese/Brazilian Studies from Brown University and an MFA in Film/Video from the University of Texas.

Filmmaker Q&A: Nannette Van Antwerp,"Raja Ampat"

Nannette Van Antwerp, newcomer to the Ocean Film Festival, is an experienced and passionate diver whose love for the ocean its intriguing life shines through her film “Raja Ampat.” Filmed in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat the film highlights a wealth of exotic creatures sure to delight audiences and inspire viewers to consider how we can all preserve the oceans for future generations. Catch “Raja Ampat” on Sunday March 13^th as part of Program 10. Click here to buy tickets.

What is your overall summary for the film?

A sampling of some of the amazing marine life found in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago, from giant manta rays to seahorses smaller than your fingernail.

What was your inspiration for creating the film?

After seeing first-hand the beauty and diversity of Raja’s reefs and the life that lives there, I wanted to be able to share that in some way with other divers and non-divers alike.

What was the most challenging part of creating the film?

Shooting video underwater is always challenging, as you have to deal with currents, surge, variable light conditions and time limits imposed by the rules of diving, among other things. But the most challenging thing may have been choosing from the many hours of footage shot on the trip, which clips to include in the film.

What do you want to impart on your film’s viewers?

I hope that they can get some of the same sense of the wonder I feel when I see these amazing creatures and their behaviors and adaptations that allow them to each live in their own little niche on the reef.

What was the most enjoyable part of creating the film?

I love the ocean, and spending time on a boat in a remote Indonesian paradise while diving multiple times a day is my idea of heaven!

Who (or what) is your inspiration?

Mostly I’m inspired by all the amazingly alien life that lives in the ocean. The underwater world is a constant source of wonder for me. After more than 1000 dives all over the world, I still see something I’ve never seen before every time I get in the water. It makes me want to share these wonders with people who would otherwise never get the chance to see them, and hopefully inspire them to want to respect and protect the ocean as well.

How or why did you begin creating ocean-focused films?

I got certified to dive in 2000 and started shooting video underwater in 2002 as a way to share our adventures with friends and family. Over the years my editing style has evolved from making longer travelogue-style videos into creating more natural history-style short films. I’m still strictly an amateur with a lot to learn and I create the videos because I enjoy making them and sharing them with others.

Why did you choose to submit your film to the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival?

I’m always happy to support events that educate people and create awareness about issues related to the ocean, and I’m very excited to be part of this film festival.

Is this your first time participating in an ocean-focused film festival?

Yes, in fact it’s my first film festival of any kind.

What was the most memorable moment in creating the film?

After many dives all over the world, one of the creatures my husband and I most wanted to see that had so far eluded us was a blue-ringed octopus. At the end of one dive in the middle of our Raja Ampat trip, I looked over to see one of the dive guide frantically gesturing for me to come over. Sure enough, there was a beautiful little blue-ring out in the open crawling across the reef—a spectacular sight! Unfortunately, my husband wasn’t feeling well that day and had sat out the dive. I could hardly bring myself to tell him about it when we got back to the boat. At least he got to see it on video…

Filmmaker Q&A: Allan Smith,"Rescue Men: The Story of the Pea Island Surfmen"

“Rescue Men: The Story of the Pea Island Surfmen” documents the extraordinary story of an all African American rescue crew based in North Carolina in the 1890’s. The crewmembers posthumously received the Gold Lifesaving Medal but their story has never been told before. Learn the historic tale of these rescue men whose accomplishments contributed to the creation of the U.S. Coast Guard as part of Program 11, Sunday March 13^th at 1:00 pm. Click here to watch a clip of the film.

What is your overall summary for the film?

On the night of October 11, 1896 in hurricane force winds, one crew known as the “Pea Island Surf Men” accomplished the impossible. Led by Keeper Richard Etheridge, this historic all black rescue crew etched themselves into history rescuing stranded sailors whose ships had succumbed to the harsh Atlantic. “Rescue Men” is the story of the men that manned the Pea Island Lifesaving Station on the outer banks of North Carolina. Due to the heroics and accomplishments of these brave men, we now have what is called “The United States Coast Guard.”

What was your inspiration for creating the film?

My inspiration for creating this film was knowing that these men deserve to have the world know what they accomplished and that the story lay hidden for over 100 years.

These men 100 years later posthumously received the Gold Lifesaving Medal, and now they finally receive a film about their heroic actions and accomplishments.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in making “Rescue Men”?

The most challenging part of creating was garnering the trust from the African American community and locals in rural North Carolina.

What message do you want your audience to take away?

That regardless of our race or ethnicity, these men lent a hand when normally it never would have been taken. They swore to do a job and they did it to the best of their ability.

What was the most enjoyable part of creating the film?

The most enjoyable part of the creating Rescue Men was traveling to the White House to meet and film Admiral Steven Rochon. He is currently the Chief Usher at the White House for President Obama.

Who or what is your inspiration?

My inspiration is a gentleman I met some time ago in Alaska named Norman Vaughan who, at age 87, summited a mountain named after him in Antarctica by Admiral Richard Bird. Atop that mountain Norman stated “Dream Big & Dare to Fail”. That is my inspiration!

What was the most memorable moment in creating the film?

For us, the most memorable moment in creating Rescue Men was when Daniel Gardner, the great-grandson of Captain Gardner from the ES Newman rescue, looked at us and stated, “if it was not for these African American heroes, were it not for these men, then I would not be here today”.

Filmmaker Q&A: Ariela Stern,"Physics of Surfing"

Wildly popular in coastal cities and towns the world over, surfing is more than a sport, it is a culture. But how does surfing actually work? “Physics of Surfing” delves into the mechanics of surfboards, surfers, and waves. The film puts a new spin on surfing documentaries by exploring and explaining the forces, energy, and mechanics of this popular sport. You can see “Physics of Surfing” at the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival, Saturday March 12^th at 10:00 am.

What is your overall summary for the film?

Unlike other surfing documentaries, ‘Physics of Surfing’ is an educational film that uncovers the physical science of ocean waves and the art of surfing. Further, the film looks at how the modern technology of surfboard design affects a board's performance on the wave. Surfers play with nature's purest form of energy and power in this cinematic experience.

What was your inspiration for creating the film?

When creating the film, we didn’t want to produce just “another surf movie.” We really wanted to explore and explain the physical science of ocean waves in the context of modern surfing.

What was the most challenging part of creating the film?

Obviously one of the most difficult aspects of shooting a film that is so contingent on weather conditions is timing of the production. We were very lucky that on our second trip to the North Shore of Hawaii we caught a truly epic winter swell that made for some very amazing footage.

What do you want to impart on your film’s viewers?

We really wanted to present the magnificent and awe inspiring power of the natural energy of ocean waves and mankind’s ingenuity and skill.

What was the most enjoyable part of creating the film?

The film is a collaboration of a lot of talented and motivated people. The surfers are true artisans of their craft. For all members of the crew that had the opportunity to travel to beautiful exotic locations to create the film, it was an experience of a lifetime.

Who (or what) is your inspiration?

We were certainly inspired by the deep influence that surfing has had not only on American youth culture but on many cultures around the world.

Why did you choose to submit your film to the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival?

We chose to submit to the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival because we believe this venue is the perfect opportunity to showcase a film not just about surfing and waves, but the science behind the oceanic sport and the components which contribute to this beloved art-form. We hope that viewers will gain a better appreciation for our ocean while experiencing the thrill of surfing at the same time, and we feel the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival shares this same type of mission.

What was the most memorable moment in creating the film?

Probably the most memorable part of the project was the sheer camaraderie of the cast and crew. The whole project was a wonderful experience for everyone involved. I think everyone was disappointed when the production came to an end.

Filmmaker Q&A: Scott Drucker, "Between The Harvest"

Filmmaker Scott Drucker’s film “Between the Harvest” explores the complex story of legal, but controversial, harvesting of endangered sea turtle eggs in Ostional. The film does not pass judgment, but seeks to illustrate the need for balance between the needs of human populations and the effects that populations have on our shared environment. “Between the Harvest” is playing as part of Program 11, Sunday March 13^th at 1:00 pm. Click here to buy tickets and here to watch the trailer.

What is your overall summary for the film?

Between the Harvest is the story of Ostional, a small coastal community that relies on the legal harvest and sale of endangered olive ridley sea turtle eggs. Told through the eyes of these two fragile species, this short documentary delves into one of the biggest controversies in the marine world: is this harvest really an exemplary sustainable project?

What was your inspiration for creating the film?

Five years ago, for a study abroad project, I spent two months developing a library for the kids of Ostional. I taught some English, researched the olive ridley by night, and occasionally filmed samples of life. When I screened the footage for a final presentation, my good friend Jess said, “You have to do this. You have to come back one day and make this film.” When she died two years ago it all became clear to me. All the craziness of grad school at USC drifted away and I knew that I had to go back and make this film, despite the lack of support from the school.

What was the most challenging part of creating the film?

Ensuring the people that I was not there to harm them or to stop the project. It was not easy to gain their trust since so many people go to Ostional, film them taking the eggs without ever asking, and then disappear without anyone ever hearing from them again. I feel like Adam Beals (another student from my abroad program) said it well since it applies to these filmmakers and photographers as well. He said, "I realized then that tourists and turtles both have a virtually identical impact on the community of Ostional; they arrive out of the blue, bestow untold riches upon the town, and then return to their glorious lives in other parts of the world, thereby leaving the people of Ostional no choice but to wishfully burn the days until their beneficiaries return." A good documentary is connecting with the people that you are filming so that both elements, story and style, become one. When I went to research the project idea over the summer, people were very hesitant, but in the end we sat and listened to what they had to say and genuinely cared about their perspective and livelihood. For almost everyone in the town it was the first time anyone with a camera had ever asked them about the project and what it meant to them.

What do you want to impart on your film’s viewers?

That there are these whole communities and people behind everything the ocean experiences. Ostional is just a microcosm for this bigger picture. It illustrates how interconnected we all are.

How or why did you begin creating ocean-focused films?

Jacque Cousteau. That might be cliché, but I take one look at one of his spots and I can’t help to love what he did, just anything Cousteau. Life Aquatic is a brilliant parody that just inspires me that much more to create ocean-focused films, both fiction and non-fiction.

Why did you choose to submit your film to the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival?

I wanted to premiere or screen at a festival where people actually cared about the ocean and the communities that surround it, as opposed to a festival that was more concerned with juging the work, or with distribution and industry networking. I genuinely care about the work and the people and am excited to be in an environment where people share a common passion.

What was the most memorable moment in creating the film?

One of the very last days filming when we were in the fish market and it all just came together. After two months of intense conversations about the purpose of the film, what we were trying to say, etc. and then the intensity of filming the whole arribada, we finally had the chance to follow the eggs to their final destination. After interviewing a woman who owned a store in the market, we all just sat in this café and could not help but to smile at each other. We knew we had just finished this incredible journey.

Filmmaker Q&A: Teresa Demarest, "Keiko The Untold Story"

“Keiko the Untold Story” is filmmaker Theresa Demarest’s passionate telling of the life of Keiko, the orca who starred in the blockbuster “Free Willy”, after he was released into the wild. Watch the film Thursday March 10^th at 7pm. Click here to get tickets.

What is your overall summary for the film?

Nowhere in recent history has a captive mammal garnered so much attention as Keiko, the orca star of the 1993 hit film, “Free Willy.” The film’s success, partnered with growing public interest in animals held in captivity, launched a children’s crusade that called for Keiko’s release into the wild. The result: a multimillion dollar project that spanned four countries, weathered endless controversies and lasted nearly a decade. Yet, the question of whether or not the mission su

cceeded continues to frame the debate regarding the fate of the other 42 orcas still held in captivity around the world. Through first-hand accounts by the marine mammal experts charged with his care, “Keiko The Untold Story” follows Keiko and provides insight into the unique culture of orcas, and explores what the impact of being taken from his pod had on Keiko’s survival instincts.

Four years in the making, this compelling documentary by first-time filmmaker Theresa Demarest presents never before seen footage of Keiko in the wild, along with exclusive accounts of his day-to-day existence by Keiko’s last two caretakers, Colin Baird and Thorbjorg (Tobba) Valdis Kristjansdottir and explores unanswered questions about his life, his legacy, and the untold story of his extraordinary years in Iceland and Norway.

What was your inspiration for creating the film?

Keiko first swam into my life in 1996, while I was recovering from several major surgeries related to my second battle with breast cancer. The day Keiko arrived in Oregon, I barely had the strength to watch the move from Mexico to Oregon on TV. But soon I found myself mesmerized by his spirit after an eleven-year ordeal surviving in a tank that was never designed for anything larger than an eight-foot bottlenose dolphin. There was something about the story, something about the people involved in the story, something about him and his spirit that got me going.

Several months later, I drove to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. I just had to see him. I worked my way through the crowd, and finally got my chance at the viewing window. To my amazement, Keiko swam directly to me and banged the window with his head with a noise so loud as to be slightly frightening. The bang of his head against the glass echoed throughout viewing room and caused a stunned silence in the crowd. Then he just hung motionless in the water directly in front of me, just staring at me. You could hear a pin drop. My heart was pounding. I nodded my head up and down at him. He nodded back at me. Then he banged the window again… boom… It was kind of scary… the force of it was so powerful I thought the glass might break…. Then he took off real fast down to the opposite end of his tank out of view. I thought that was the end of it.

Then all of a sudden, he’s swimming sideways across the front of our window. Really fast, with his tongue hanging out, as though he were saying, ‘Look Look at what I can do… Look at me!!’” Then a small child squeezed through the crowd to stand in front of me and Keiko seemed mesmerized by the child and move down to pay attention to the child. I stepped away, and that was the moment this movie began for me.

What was the most challenging part of creating the film?

Everyone told me that this couldn’t be done and even if it someone did it … no one would care. I was primarily a musician, and had only minimal experience as a filmmaker. When I started this project, I didn’t even have the most basic tools necessary with which to put paint to canvas. Without going into the sad details of the humungous learning curve, suffice to say that it became immediately clear that I needed to become a good leader. I needed help and I needed skilled competent folks to follow my lead. My horse and a poem by Rudyard Kipling became my constant companions. I knew a part of the story that the majority of the public did not know. How to tell it, affording the right footage, securing interviews from places all over the world, writing the music, refining the narrative.

What was the most enjoyable part of creating the film?

Because I have spent most of my career as a musician, creating the music for the film was the most gratifying, and yet more difficult than I had imagined. The first rough cuts of the film contained way too much music and overpowered the voice-overs and I had to adjust to the facts of movie-making and music. Naomi Rose, a prominent marine mammal biologist with Humane Society International is a key cast member and science consultant on the film. She has seen the most rough cuts of any member of the team. In the beginning of the process, she would say quite politely: Theresa, this rough cut is pretty good, flows well, maintains the integrity of the story.. but….. “ …. The music is way too loud”.

Who (or what) is your inspiration?

Keiko, his apparent courage and willingness to just keep going in the face of the most extraordinary adversity. That adversary would be us unfortunately. The chief predator of orcas is man. He was an immense character that most people didn’t really know. Then comes all the cast members. Key characters in Keiko life… awesome individuals who I continue to admire daily.

Is this your first time participating in an ocean-focused film festival?

Yes and I am very excited to be there.

What was the most memorable moment in creating the film?

Interviewing Thorbjorg (Tobba) Valdis Kristjansdottir over Skype with a film crew from Iceland because we didn’t have the money to actually go there. Sigurdur Grimson and his crew at GrimsFilm in Iceland did an awesome job with our unusual requests.

Filmmaker Q&A: Rob Holmes, "Finding A Balance in Rough Waters"

“Finding a Balance in Rough Waters” follows the work, challenges, and successes of Equilibrio Azul, a marine conservation organization in Ecuador. Though small, the organization works wi

th locals, eco-tourists, and the Ecuadorian government to positively impact the marine ecology and wildlife of Ecuador. Equlibrio Azul’s many pro

jects include work with and for sea turtles, sharks, whales, and sea birds. Learn more about the organization, and how you can get involved, at Program 8 of SFOFF, Saturday March 12^th, 4:00 pm

What is your overall summary for the film?

The Galapagos Islands receive the bulk of global support and funding for marine conservation in Ecuador. Here is the story of a small feisty organization that’s pushing for a bigger piece of the funding pie. Through

extensive wildlife research, g

rassroots community education, and popular voluntourism opportunities, Equilibrio Azul is making ground in their important efforts to protecting key marine species (turtles, sharks, fish, birds) and their habitat, while trying to develop a more sustainability-focused local and commercial fishing industry that makes everyone happy.

What was your inspiration for creating the film?

We love to work with organizations that are truly making a difference and have a unique approach to environmental sustainability. We got the chance to partner with Equilibrio Azul and help tell their story to the rest of the world.

What was the most challenging p

art of creating the film?

There's never enough time to get all the information and footage that is necessary.

What do you want to impart on your film’s viewers?

Hopefully this film will make people examine their own footprint on the world. Even if you don't live next to an ocean, you have a large role to play in the environment's overall health.

What was the most enjoyable part of creating the film?

Getting to know Andres and his wonderful team was certainly the best part of the process. Everyone has a unique story to tell.

Who (or what) is your inspiration?

There are a large number of documentary filmmakers that inspire our work. One piece that never cea

ses to amaze me is the Planet Earth series from the BBC.

How or why did you begin creating ocean-focused films?

Most of our films are actually not ocean-focused, but we try to cover the gamut of sustainabil

ity and document enthralling projects across the globe.

What was the most memorable moment in creating the film?

Actually viewing the trash up close and personal that an animal consumes is quite a shocking experience.

Filmmaker Q&A: Maggie Franks, "The Board Meeting"

Adventurous, athletic, lighthearted. These are words that typically describe surfers. A much less common description is “retired businessman.” Maggie Franks’ movie “The Board Meeting” introduces the audience to Don and Ross, her surfing partners whose goal it is to surf into their 80’s. Catch “The Board Meeting” Saturday March 12^th at 7:00 pm as part of Program 9. Click here to get your tickets.

“The first time I went to San Francisco, I left my heart and my wallet at Fisherman’s Wharf. While I was posing for photos with pals at the wharf, I reached into my purse for lipstick but my wallet flung up and went into the bay, drifting down out of sight.

Several weeks later, I received a bulky package in the mail. When I opened it up, my wallet was in it; along with ID, important papers and precious photos. Everything was perfectly intact. The only thing missing was my last twenty dollars. But a handwritten note explained the mystery: two divers had discovered the wallet on a scavenger hunt in the bay. They took the liberty of using the twenty dollars for postage and beer money. It was the best twenty dollars I ever spent.

The ink on the note has long since faded but San Francisco was etched in my heart forever.”

What is your overall summary for the film?

The Board Meeting follows two 79 year old retired executives who surf three times a week with one goal on their agenda: keep surfing into their 80s.

What was your inspiration for creating the film?

My parents didn’t age well. So I didn’t know how to grow old, let alone, gracefully.

What was the most challenging part of creating the film?

I have surfed with my stars, Don and Ross for many years. They are two retired business men who have mastered the balancing act of surfing, working, family, and fun

What do you want to impart on your film’s viewers?

Life is a balancing act. That’s half the fun of it. We can’t be afraid to fall down or get back up; whether we’re 18 or 80.

What was the most enjoyable part of creating the film?

Trying to keep a straight face while directing Don and Ross. They are very comfortable on screen and their humor was alive and well.

Who (or what) is your inspiration?

My parents, my sons, the ocean, and those two old guys…

How or why did you begin creating ocean-focused films?

I literally grew up on the ocean, surfing since I was 12. I want our kids and grandkids to be able to enjoy our planet, long after we’re gone.

Why did you choose to submit your film to the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival?

It is an education and a wake-up call yet a celebration of the ocean and the passion to preserve it. And San Francisco is near and dear to my heart.

What was the most memorable moment in creating the film?

Watching two men reflect on a lifestyle and friendship that spans over half a century that is driven by the changing tides of life.

Filmmaker Q&A: Steve Goodall, "Someplace With a Mountain"

Climate change has been a huge topic of discussion for decades now, but little has changed in our day to day lives. Steve Goodall, sailor and creator of “Somplace With a Mountain” discovered first-hand the profound impact our past and current choices have had on the future of a small group of Pacific Islanders. Before Steve’s arrival the Lapita people had not heard of climate change but they were already grappling with the effects of sea level rise on their small, flat island. See “Somplace With a Mountain” March 12 at 4:00 pm. Click here to buy tickets.

What is your overall summary for the film?
It is a documentary about a special group of pacific islanders: the Lapita Navigators, the forefathers of many cultures in the tropical Pacific. They are losing their homes and crops because of sea level rise. Their livelihood and culture are dramatically threatened as the islands they live on are flooding day by day. A sailor, Steve Goodall, came across them on his travels and discovered they knew nothing about the current forecasts for sea level rise. Once informed they asked for his help. Steve took their statements, filmed their lifestyles and traveled to the Island of Yap to look for land.

What was the most challenging part of creating the film?

My inspiration was that these people don't use any fossil fuels and they are going to be wiped out because of our lifestyles.

What do you want to impart on your film’s viewers?
A sense of loss and responsibility if we lose this culture, and a willingness to help preserve it.

This is my first film. I didn't want to make a film I was just a sailor seeing the world. I didn't know what else I could do to help these people so I just tried to document their story. The San Francisco Ocean Film Fest seemed like a logical fit.

These people don't think like we do, there is no "I, ME, MINE" in these villages. They are all so happy. As you walk around the villages you hear only laughter coming from their huts, these simple people with nothing are so happy, and we with everything are not.

What was the most enjoyable part of making the film?
Receiving the thanks from the people for trying to help them.

Who or what is your inspiration?
The people’s lifestyle. They use no fossil fuels and live in a true village. I have never seen people so dedicated to their friends and families’ well-being. It does exist, but for how much longer?

What was the most memorable moment in creating the film?
When the Chief from Lamotrek said on camera "We are not the ones who polluted the whole world" and at that moment I realized the true extent of what we had done.

Marine Protected Areas Program and Filmmaker Q&A: Kip Evans, "A Wave of Change"

The San Francisco Ocean Film Festival has often provided a forum for off-the-screen conversations on leading topics facing the world's ocean and its resources.

On Friday, March 11, the 1pm film program features three films, including Kip Evans's A Wave of Change, on establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in California, along with one following the development of Mexico’s Loreto Bay National Park, and a film highlighting ways in which an unlikely alliance of surfers and fishermen successfully battled to save Baja’s most iconic spots.

"The ocean is in serious trouble right now. If you consider that 50% of the world's coral reefs are in trouble, the growing problem of ocean acidification, over fishing and many other issues, you will see that we need to act now — we are running out of time,” says Kip Evans, filmmaker for A Wave of Change. “As a filmmaker, I want to highlight the positive steps that are being taken, actions that precipitate significant change. Marine protected areas may be our last chance to protect the ocean before it's too late."

Fishermen, scientists and conservation leaders from California and Mexico will lead a panel discussion, following Friday's films, on the challenges associated with MPAs. This unique opportunity engages festival goers and educates them about the future of international ocean protection. Confirmed panelists for the discussion include:

• Everado Marino Melendez (Loreto Bay National Park Director)
• Noe Bustamante Flores (San Pedro Mártir Island Biosphere Reserve fisher and monitoring technician)
• Jorge Torre Cosio (Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C. Executive Dircetor)
• Mike Sutton ) Monterey Bay Aquarium, Vice President- Center for the Future of the Oceans)
• Samantha Murray – Ocean Conservancy, Manager, Pacific Ocean Ecosystems
• Melissa Miller Hensen – CA Department of Fish and Game MLPA, Program Manager
• Mike Ricketts – Commercial Fisherman, Monterey Bay

Click here to purchase your tickets for Friday's 1pm film program on Marine Protected Areas, or learn more about the films, here.

What is your overall summary for the film?

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are vital to safeguarding what’s left of the world’s ocean. A "Wave of Change" is a short film designed to ignite passion for the newly established marine protected areas along the central California coast. Marine scientist John Pearse and the Ocean Conservancy's Kaitliin Gaffney, help highlight the need for MPA's and why they are vital to Californian’s future.

What was your inspiration for creating the film?

I was inspired by the positive changes that have taken place along the California Coast and in other parts of the world. As a diver and filmmaker, I have spent a great deal of time both inside and outside of reserves, and I have seen first hand how protecting large areas of the ocean can make a huge impact. Marine reserves work and we need to get the word out to the general public in a way that is inspiring.

The most challenging part was dealing with the logistics of working along the coast Anyone who has ever worked along the coast, or in the ocean, knows that there are days when it’s too rough, or too dangerous to jump in and film. Days, or even weeks of rain can really restrict your ability to get anything accomplished.

What do you want to impart on your film’s viewers?

Marine protected areas work and we should push nations across the globe to designate at least 10-20% of their coastal waters into some level of protection.

What was the most enjoyable part of creating the film?

I love spending time in the field and watching the frustrations of bad weather and despair turn to gold when you finally get the break you have been looking for. I also enjoyed working with my production team – Dr. Tierney Thys, Phillip Powell, Blaise Douros, Robyn Ellisco, Dennis Long, Danielle Brown and the EcoViz team at Cal State University of Monterey Bay.

Who is your inspiration?
Dr. Sylvia Earle has inspired a great deal of what I have created in the past 10 years. She has the ability to energize and motivate people into action.

Why did you choose to submit your film to the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival?
The San Francisco Ocean Film festival is in my own backyard and the people here care a lot about ocean issues. I think it’s a great venue for making a difference.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?
I’m thrilled to be a part of this film festival and all the positive attention it brings to the environmental challenges we face today.