SIZZLE REEL | CORAL STORY | BLACK WATER | JELLIES
SUMMARY OF WORK
Microcosm is a documentary film that will showcase the ocean in a way it has never been seen; through a microscope. In an era of climate change and a worldwide pandemic, it is critical that we understand the planet from the perspective of the smallest creatures, the proverbial canaries in the coal mine that inform us that life on Earth is out of balance.
Audiences will discover the complex interactions between microscopic plankton and charismatic megafauna like manta rays, the relationships between micro-communities and ecosystem health, and largely unexplored resource potential for humanity. Examination of this diversity will reveal the important role these creatures play in yielding the planetary oxygen supply, supporting the food web, and providing clues about the origins of life on Earth.
To see the ocean from this perspective will illustrate the quantifiable negative impacts of climate change, ecosystem destruction from harmful algal blooms, and the ramifications of plastic trash in the ocean. It will also give us clues to the changes that we can make worldwide, critical changes that will help humanity restore some balance to the ocean, for humanity and for the world.
PERSONAL STATEMENT: MICHELE HOFFMAN-TROTTER
Over the course of many years teaching Marine Biology at Columbia, it became apparent there was a glaring omission of accessible information about microscopic life in the ocean and the important roles it plays in sustaining us. As such, it became my personal mission to find ways I could make this secret world come alive in my classroom. It was also the reason that I reached out to Michael Caplan, who as a documentary filmmaker, would be my partner in telling this critical story.
It all began with experimentation using photo and video techniques through the microscope and before long, we had faculty and student collaborators that shifted the focus into a multidimensional team project that has seen us journey to the Arctic, Hawaii, Canada, Florida, and the Soccorro Islands. In addition, it has enabled us to meet with and interview top researchers from leading institutions such as John G. Shedd Aquarium, University of Miami, Dalhousie University, Alaska Sea Life Center, Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery, University of Washington, and University of Alaska (with whom we are now official partners).
Through this multiyear journey we’ve worked with over fifty student interns, come face to face with polar bears, and been personally present for the discovery of species entirely new to science. It has put us in the ocean with Emmy Award Winning cinematographers and in conversations with the likes of Dr. Sylvia Earle, Bill Kurtis, Captain Paul Watson, Michele and Howard Hall and other leaders in the world of conservation, film making, and science.
The most important part of this experience is that it has been a journey shared among students and faculty alike in true collaboration as opposed to my singular personal vision. It also led to the formation of Wave Film Fest, a multimedia journey into the waters of our planet held at Columbia College in February 2020.
Although this project has been in progress for many years, it has grown exponentially in ways never imagined in the beginning, and it continues to gain momentum and relevance in the context of the arts and STEAM based education. It is truly thrilling to see where this project will take us next.
PERSONAL STATEMENT: MICHAEL CAPLAN
This project is a natural extension of my 30 years of independent filmmaking,
including 20 years of documentary film production. This production has already substantially expanded my experience as a documentarian, in that I am collaborating with a scientific expert and focusing on a major science and nature documentary. A majority of documentary films that are in production are nature and science focused, which offers the greatest opportunity to both our science and documentary students.
As a documentary storyteller, I have had to learn (and continue to) how to tell a story about nature and science that draws audiences in, even as we educate them. Additionally, this is a significant partnership between faculty members from different areas of expertise at Columbia College. Ms. Trotter is a part-time faculty member and she brings her experience and knowledge gained from this project to the classroom as well.
Over the past 4 years, Michele and I have traveled to the Arctic (for 40 days), followed by trips to Florida and Alaska and we have captured a huge amount of striking and important footage. We have worked with internationally recognized scientists, who have discovered new species of organisms and have substantially increased their knowledge of the microscopic life of the ocean. Additionally, Canon has become a sponsor of the project, loaning us their top camera gear for all of our trips.
It is a remarkable opportunity to tell this story which, more than ever, is essential knowledge for humanity, as we try to get our planet back in balance.