So, we're "diving" right into another snippet from the research trip, another short clip from an amazing interview.
The interview subject Brian Ackerman has spent more than 24 years in observation and study of Monterey Bay, Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing, California. If anyone can tell the story of "Deconstructing Eden" - and why this area needs to be protected - it is definitely Brian. He now operates Whisper Charters, Inc.,which takes guests into the slough in a comfortable electric boat, which is virtually silent running and leaves no carbon footprint in the estuary. His boat makes for a GREAT photography platform and is by far very "family friendly." Here are about five and a half minutes of a 15-minute interview I conducted with Brian that really goes to the heart of why the sea otters are so important to that area:
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It was my great pleasure to sit down with Dr. Claire Simeone at the Marine Mammal Center last month.
Her research is vital to finding solutions that will save (and already saves) countless marine mammals. The "Rough Cut" podcast, posted below, contains a couple of brief snippets from my interview with her, at the center in Sausilito, California. The second half of the interview clip really hits on a central theme of the film: domoic acid and algal toxicity. Some GREAT stuff here! Cheers, and keep your "Paws Up!" - RW
First...and let this sink-in, after you watch this video...this is NOT footage for the final film. This video is comprised of clips from test footage, shot on older cameras that will not be used to film the final film. DE, in completed form, will be in Ultra HD 4K. And, yet, even in saying that, the location scouting/test footage is pretty amazing!
Such breathtaking beauty, such an amazing environment! It was a phenomenal trip, and I cannot wait to return there in April and film. Hi, I'm Rick...and I am actually still alive! Seriously, though, it seems like a lifetime ago that I last posted. However, I have a pretty darn great excuse for it; I've completed a two-week research trip down in California!!! In the coming days I will be putting out more and more details from that trip, but let me start by saying that I was able to accomplish all of the goals I'd set for myself. It was an amazing trip - one that included life, death, predators, prey, otter mothers with their offspring and a plethora of wildlife. More importantly, from the research standpoint, the trip also included audio interviews with leading experts and scientists, about the environment, biology and conservation challenges not only to Elkhorn Slough, but to Monterey Bay, as a whole eco system. I spent a couple of days at the Marine Mammal Center (in Sausilito), and was invited behind-the-scenes to watch a necropsy and the care and feeding of current patients. In Moss landing I was able to go out with Marine Life Studies/Whale Entanglement Team's research team and volunteer for a day of research. Several companies and individuals deserve a HUGE "thank you," for making this trip happen: Whisper Charters (Moss landing), Kayak Connection (Moss Landing), Dr. Wallace J. Nichols (marine biologist/author of "Blue Mind"), Great White Adventures (California), Peggy Stap, Robin Rush, Doug Croft, Dr. Claire Simeone, Laura Sherr, Giancarlo Rulli, Chris (from Kayak Connection) and Brian Ackerman. There are many, many more folks I should thank...but it would start to sound like an Oscar acceptance speech. All I can say is that EVERYONE I reached out to helped in any way they could! Like I said, in the next few days and weeks, I'll share some of that with you here. I'm still going through still photography, test video, the interviews, and other media and cataloging it all (which is as daunting a task as it might sound like, with thousands of files). For now, I'll share this short clip of test footage (remember, I won't actually film the documentary until April 2016). I'm also super busy writing the film's narrative script, which is coming along awesomely! Glad to be getting started. Cheers, - Rick A slightly longer podcast today... thinking I'm making up for the fact that it will likely be the last podcast until November!
Starting in four and a half days, I'll be very busy, working on Deconstructing Eden in California for two weeks. For trip details and some news (plus a cool "behind-the-scenes" clip), please give the newest podcast a listen. Cheers, - Rick The past few weeks have been pretty busy around DE HQ. Prepping gear for the two week trip to Northern California (which, as I type, is only 11 days away!!!) has been a mashup between getting to know new cameras and digital sound recorders, and inventing or building DIY components to work with said, awesome, new gear. Here's an audio sample of a pair of seagulls, recorded today, from a distance of 120-feet between me and the subjects: The parabolic mic setup is homemade (which is obvious in the picture below, lol) but first tests indicate that it should work well for getting wild Foley sounds (water splashing, birds crying, sea lions barking, Rick cursing - er- well, hopefully not THAT). I'm keeping a few of the other surprises to myself for now, but I seriously can't wait to show you!
Hopefully, I'll knock out another podcast before the trip....certainly there will be many after the trip. Main GREAT interviews lined up! Remember to be on the lookout for LIVE broadcasting from California, via Periscope (my Twitter handle is: @wood_rick, which is what you'll need (along with the Periscope app for your mobile device or tablet) to tune-in and maybe see some otters! Cheers & PAWS UP! - Rick Hi all,
I've been staying exceptionally busy the past few weeks. From testing new audio and video equipment, to advanced planning for the October research trip and tons - TONS - of writing, I've stayed busy. Here is the newest "Rough Cut" Podcast (for the previous podcasts, please visit the archive located in the tabs above). You can expect more news and a bigger update very soon! Cheers, - Rick Getting REALLY busy with Deconstructing Eden these days....and LOVING it!!!!
Next, as mentioned in the podcast, here's a link to the wonderful article by Durand Dace, for YoOceans: http://www.yooceans.org/yooceans-interviews-deconstructing-eden-filmmaker-rick-wood/
As promised, here's a "real' podcast, with more in-depth info. Also not that there is now a "Podcast archive," for you to go back and listen to any podcasts you might miss. As always, I hope you like it. Cheers, - Rick (*Intro music: "Make it Funky" by MC Cullah)
Hi there! In an effort to be more interactive with supporters and folks interested in the issues behind "Deconstructing Eden," I'll be doing a bi-weekly (sometimes more often) podcast: Deconstructing Eden's Rough Cuts. This first one is a bit of a test to see how the recording and upload go, and hopefully future segments will be pretty entertaining and informative. Feel free to share the link, and get more people involved in the efforts to save California sea lions and sea otters. Cheers, - Rick (aka MC OtterBad....not really) *Intro music: "Make it Funky" by MC Cullah
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Rick Wood
Award-winning filmmaker, Bestselling author and journalist. Archives
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