Multimedia Resources:
Featured Ocean-related Films
Strange Days on Planet Earth - Season II (2008) PBS Television - Sea Studios Foundation and Academy award nominee Edward Norton, join forces for another fast-paced season of National Geographic's Strange Days on Planet Earth. Airing April 23rd, 2008 this new season exposes the profound global consequences of our simple everyday actions with a focus on our changing world ocean and increasingly threatened water supplies. In two sensational hours, entitled Dirty Secrets and Dangerous Catch, the series hurtles the viewer into a new set of compelling mysteries and inspiring solutions - revealing the strange and often unpredictable consequences of the pollutants we pour into our waters and the myriad life we pull out.
Sharkwater (2007). Sharkwater Productions Inc.: Toronto, ON, Canada. 89 minutes. (http://www.sharkwater.com/)
This stunning documentary exposes the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world's shark populations in the marine reserves of Cocos Island, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Director Rob Stewart shows an adventure that includes pirate boat rammings, gunboat chases, mafia espionage, corrupt court systems and attempted murder charges while showing that sharks have gone from predator to prey, despite surviving the earth's history of mass extinctions.
Other Ocean-related Films
Wonder Water Web (2006).
Wisdom Tree Media. 6 minutes.
(http://www.wonderwaterweb.com/)
Sharks: Stewards of the Reef (2007). Trillium Films: Sausalito, CA. 30 minutes. (http://www.sharkstewards.com)
This educational documentary describes the relationship between sharks as the top predators, to the oceans and coral reef ecosystems.The film examines escalating threats to shark population including habitat destruction of reef ecosystems and over fishing that are causing Pacific reef shark populations to plummet and includes interviews with leading marine biologists and conservationists.
Habitat Media (2002). Empty
Oceans, Empty Nets. Habitat Media: San Rafael, CA. 57 minutes.
(http://www.habitatmedia.org/index.html)
This compelling documentary explores the current state of the world's
fisheries at a time when fishing practices are more intense than
any other time in history, catches appear to have reached their
limits, and demand for seafood continues to increase.
Ocean Oasis. Summerhays Films (2000).
To view a schedule of current showings or find out about leasing
the film, go to http://www.oceanoasis.org/itinerary/index.html
This IMAX film is a journey into the bountiful seas and pristine
deserts of two remarkably different, but inextricably linked worlds
- Mexico's Sea of Cortes and the Baja California desert. The site
includes a Teacher's Guide with activities.
World of Water Films (New England Aquarium)
Keepers of the Reef. New England Aquarium and Bermuda Underwater
Exploration Institute (1999). 30 minutes. To order e-mail
the New England Aquarium or call (617) 973-5288.
Dive into Bermuda's alluring but sometimes deadly underwater world.
Explore the mystery of coral reefs and the legacy left behind by
shipwrecks. Discover the lost treasures and beauty concealed in
the reef for centuries. Join host Peter Benchley and undersea explorer
Teddy Tucker for a riveting adventre that uses Bermuda shipwrecks
as markers in time to understand the colorful history, uncertain
future and conservation of coral reefs worldwide.
Magnificent Fish: The Forgotten Giants. New England Aquarium and The
Pew Charitable Trusts (1997). To order e-mail
the New England Aquarium or call (617) 973-5288.
The first of the World of Water Films made, this is a series of
short-format conservation-oriented productions. This is an up-close
examination of three of the most minunderstood giants of the ocean
: sharks, tuna and billfish.
Night Life : Creatures of the Deep. New England Aquarium and Bermuda
Underwater Exploration Institute. To order e-mail
the New England Aquarium or call (617) 973-5288.
It is a difficult task to protect the threatened marine species
we are familiar with, but it is an additional challenge to convince
people of the need to protect strange and unknown creatures of the
deep deep sea. Hosts Peter Benchley and Teddy Tucker take you into
the dark waters fo Bermuda to meet some of these bizarre creatures
and explain just why even these animals need some protection.
Oceans for the Future : The Making of Marine Protected Areas. New
England Aquarium The Pew Charitable Trusts (2001). 18 minutes. To
order e-mail the New England
Aquarium or call (617) 973-5288.
We attack them daily with pollution, overfishing and coastal development.
Colorful coral reef and kelp communities have now been replaced
by barren sea floors, devoid of life. But there is hope. Like parks
and wildlife refuges on land, marine protected ares can help ensure
the future of oceans. Thorugh stunning underwater footage, we investigate
marine protected areas : how they work, what they can do, where
they are and where they ought to be.
Surviving Sharks. New England Aquarium and The Pew Charitable Trusts
(2000). 18 minutes. To order e-mail
the New England Aquarium or call (617) 973-5288.
Unravel the mysteries of some of the most amazing and misunderstood
animals of the sea - SHARKS. Experience the beauty, diversity and
sometimes curious nature of these so called 'monsters of the deep.'
Join host Peter Benchley, author of JAWS, as he explores the truth
about sharks and examines the growing threats to their survival
and the deteriorating health of the marine environment.
Unwanted
Catch. New England Aquarium and The Pew Charitable Trusts
(1998). 17 minutes. To order e-mail
the New England Aquarium or call (617) 973-5288.
'Unwanted Catch' looks into the issue of bycatch in fisheries all
over the globe and its implications on a variety of marine animals,
such as turtle, dolphins, and seabirds
THE
BLUE PLANET (BBC)
The Blue Planet Part I : Ocean World/Frozen Seas. BBC Video
(2001). 98 minutes. Order on-line at BBC
America.
Ocean World: Experience the power of the Blue Whale - the largest
mammal to ever grace our planet. Learn how the sun and moon help
control and tame the ocean. Travel far and wide - from the Eastern
Pacific to Alaska, from the Bering Sea to the shores of Southern
California - and begin to understand the complexity and power of
our oceans.
Frozen Seas: An environment where only the toughest survive, the Arctic
and Antarctic are unrelenting habitats. Only in the spring does
life begin again. Plankton blooms and feeds vast hordes of migrating
fish, walruses rake the seabed for clams, and minke and humpback
whales gorge themselves on gigantic swarms of krill. But it is a
brief spring feast - the ice soon returns and pushes life back into
the ocean.
The
Blue Planet Part II :Open Ocean/The Deep. BBC Video (2001).
98 minutes. Order on-line at BBC
America.
Open
Ocean: In the immense space of the open ocean the seabed is
a staggering five miles below the surface and the nearest island
is over 300 miles away. Yet here live many of the most spectacular
predators in the ocean. Marvel as you experience ruthless and beautiful
battles between hunter and prey.
The
Deep: A place of mountain ranges, perpetual night, pressure
extremes and cold… and the weirdest life forms on our planet.
Dive to the depths of the ocean, an eerie world where predators
with teeth so large they can't even close their mouths, chase bioluminescent
creatures of the deep. Discover the spectacular smoking chimneys
of the hydrothermal vents. Go deeper down than you have ever been…
The
Blue Planet Part III :Seasonal Seas/Coral Seas. BBC Video
(2001). 98 minutes. Order on-line at BBC
America.
Seasonal
Seas: As the days grow longer, billions of microscopic plankton
bloom under the blazing sun. Here in the temperate seas, three-ton
basking sharks graze among forests of giant kelp--the fastest growing
plant in the world. The forests harbor thousands of other animals,
including sea otters, brilliantly colored anemones, squid, and exquisite
leafy dragons. But as the year wears on, storms rage in the icy
sea...a desperate challenge for the animals that remain.
Coral
Seas: Bathed in bright sunlight and warm, clear water, the coral
reef is a rich oasis of life-the rainforest of the sea. Bizarrely
adorned harlequin shrimps carry off a starfish several times their
size, while haunting songs reverberate around the reef, heralding
the arrival of humpback whales. Shimmering schools of brightly colored
fish battle for territory in this competitive world where you have
to stand out to survive.
The
Blue Planet Part IV :Tidal Seas/Coasts. BBC Video (2001).
98 minutes. Order on-line at BBC
America.
Tidal
Seas: The sun and moon pull billions of tons of water around
the world with every turn of the tide. The strongest tides empty
entire bays, smash riverbanks, and strand sea creatures on suddenly
dry land. Weaker tides coax schools of giant stingrays through astounding
underwater arches. And as the water recedes, a hurricane tide creates
a sparkling world of salt crystals inhabited only by tiny shrimp
and bright pink flamingos.
Coasts:
From rocky cliffs to gentle dunes, the coasts are always changing.
Day in and day out, they are battered by crashing waves. Seabirds
come here by the thousands to nest, while baby turtles hatch and
race to the sea, pursued by hungry predators. Young sea lion pups
are born and play on the sand-until a killer whale attacks, crashing
in on the surf. But when breeding season is over, life returns to
the sea and the shores are empty once again.
The
Discovery Channel
The Discovery Channel has produced and sells numerous marine-oriented
videos. There are too many to list here, so check out their site
and enjoy!
Miranda
Productions
This environmental filmmaker uses film and television to generate
public awareness for social change. Films include Canary of the
Ocean, The Shaman's Apprentice, and Wilderness: The Last Stand.
National
Geographic
National Geographic's website sells a plethora of their famous films.
Check out their listings for videos on oceans and other natural
environments.
Sea
Studios Foundation
Offers films, exhibits and education materials highlighting sea
life, including Shape of Life television series in conjunction with
National Geographic and PBS. By revealing new science, communicating
uncommon natural history, and utilizing stunning photography, the
organization generates a new brand of engaging, educational television
programs.
Video
Learning Library
This online video library sells numerous videos about the oceans
and other natural science topics such as conservation, ecology,
national parks, weather, wilderness, wildlife & zoos.
If you
have Film suggestions for us to include, please let
us know! Thank you!
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