There is no stopping David Etanboro. As the great broadcaster and natural historians turned 99 in May, they shared an important message that a feature-length of our oceans has a direct impact on our life in a feature-length documentary, Ocean with David Etanbaro“After staying on this planet for about a hundred years, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on the ground, but in the sea,” they say.
Directed by experienced protectionists, Tobby Novan, Keith Shaly and Colin Butfield, Ocean with David Etanbaro The world was shot over the world over two years, including Azorce (Portugal), California, Indonesia, UK, Liberia, Antarctica, Mediterranean and Hawaii. The film premieres on National Geographic on World Ocean Day on 8 June.
Working with Attenborough was a complete privilege, saying on a video call from Colin London. “He is a master storyteller. He had a life that spreads the story of the film, with all the great ocean discoveries as well as destruction.”
Ettonboro was embedded through the film, says Colin. He said, “We worked with him to develop and refine the script. He wrote these incredible pieces in a camera. You can understand their passion for the sea, as well as their great rights. People understand and trust it,” they say. The ability to tell the story of that quality was fundamental to the film, says Colin. “We certainly could not make this film without him.”
A humpback whale violates. (Credit: Silverback Films and Open Planet Studio/Steve Benjamin) | Photo Credit: Steve Benjamin
While the shooting on this scale comes with moments innovating the innumerable heart, a special shoot in the Azores Islands is burnt in the brain of the keith. “We were trying to film these big fodder balls, where whales, sharks and dolphins come to feed,” Keith says on a video call of Bristol. “There is an amazing moment when our underwater cameraman, Doug Anderson, jumped into the destruction.”
As Anderson was doing the film, Keith says, a huge Sei whale came on him. “This is the third largest whale in the world. Doug only chooses this correct shot, and you are going to her, you can see the whale’s tail coming on it, but he simply conducted the shot. It’s a remarkable scene.”
Colin says that being able to show the people of the world, he never saw. “One of the exciting things here was how you reveal an ocean in a way that really feels immersive? With Kelp forests and grand coral reefs, you have found an incredible natural world to play and be able to show and please people.”
Challenge, Colin says, some were trying to show some destruction in such a way that it had never been shown before. “We had a big objective to be able to film the film downwards. We thought and estimated, the footage would be already present, but found that it was not. In this way to catch that in a way that the audience would bring home destruction, and then be able to find the best examples of recovery around the world and to present those who were felt fresh and inspiring,” was a kind of fresh and inspiring, “
Always hope
It is always hopeful that there are no landscapes of dorsade that require hours, keith comments. “Whenever you show a problem, you have to show a solution. In this film, we focus on the fact that there is a really easy solution. The amazing thing about the ocean is, if you leave it alone, it jumps back. You can have a protected area, and in five years you will see a big change, and in 10 years, a big change.”
Colin Butfield in place while filming the Ocean with David Attenboro. (Credit: Connor McDonal) | Photo Credit: Connor McDonal
Not only does the protected area bounce back, Keith says, but everything around it also bounces back. “The safety of the ocean and can bring benefits to humanity that can bring benefits, not yet a more optimistic subject to talk in terms of protection.”
Colin said, “What we have tried here is realistic hope.”
When you see Ocean with David EtanbaroColin says, “You think,” I don’t like what is happening right now. It’s frightening, but not only I can see a way, but one that can be implemented quickly. ” It is much more motivational than leaving people with problems and hopefully they find a way through it. ,
A fodder ball in the open ocean near Azores. (Credit: Silverback Films and Open Planet Studio/Dug Anderson) | Photo Credit: Dug Anderson
Technological progress has greatly helped in the shooting of nature, says Keith. “We use the drone a lot. Earlier, if you wanted to film Ariel, you should have a helicopter, which requires a large ship that costs huge amounts. Now we can be out in the middle of the sea, and can pick up a small, cheap drone and get amazing pictures.”
Earlier, to film underwater, Keith says the scuba tank was used. “They gave you one hour under water. Now we use ribrettors, which broadcast the air and you can have four, five or six hours under water. So cinematographers can go down and you can do a film under water on the ground.
The Ocean with David Atonboro premiere on National Geographic at 7 pm on June 8, and will also be available to stream on Gehotstar on the same day
Published – June 07, 2025 12:16 pm IST
