The last scenes of primary footage were filmed today. In a 4.5-hour-long filming marathon, I was able to get footage of research, conservation efforts, educational programs and a few, last bits of medical care for a shark bit victim (turtle).
What this means is that the re-shoot for Journey Home, which started in September, now moves into post-production or the editing phase.
Journey Home 2.0 is a very amazing story...and one that is phenomenally different from the first, completed film.
I feel that I "lucked out" again in having the opportunity, not just to do it over, but to craft a stronger, more "timeless" documentary.
The newer story encompasses the global problem of saving a species as seen through the efforts of Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
I can say with 100-percent certainty that this would not be possible without the help and support of many, many people.
I wasn't a one-man band in doing this film. I'm still not.
I'm grateful for that.
As I have said once before, "now begins the hard part."

When I started filming "Journey Home" in October of 2011, I knew I'd see drama unfold during the course of saving the lives of sea turtles. I knew, too, there would be loss and sorrow.
For more than a year, I've seen triumph and tragedy play out too many times to count. As a filmmaker I think about how "lucky" I have been to capture these dramatic - yet not overly emotional - scenes.
Time and time again the most poignant scenes are the ones that illustrate just how directly - and, in some cases, adversely - humans impact the life cycle of these endangered species.
Sometimes it's the unintentional by-product of an industry, like commercial fishing or boat operation, but far too often it comes from ignorance and carelessness.
I have watched turtles die because of it.
"Journey Home" will carry the message of sea turtle awareness and education. In subtle scenes, viewers will see the results of litter, negligence and apathy on creatures who - if left unmolested - might have numbers so healthy as to no longer carry the "endangered species"  identifier.
There is only one chance at this and it is right now. If we fail in preserving and protecting sea turtles, they will vanish into extinction.
My philosophy while filming is simple: tell their story. It's not to "create" a story or "embellish" a story...it is simply to show others what I have been privileged to see.
Of course, as a visual artist, I hope to do it in a way that will be interesting and will have an impact on anyone who sees it.
What's more, you don't have to wait for the film to finish production. All of the information and tools to educate folks about the issues facing sea turtles are here - on the film's site. If you have other questions or want more information, visit Loggerhead Marinelife Center's website: http://marinelife.org/

As the U.S. Coast Guard C-130 taxied towards the small crowd of sea turtle rehab personnel, you could almost hear Samuel L. Jackson dealing out a profanity-ridden line involving turtles on a plane.
The operation undertaken today in Orlando involved more than a dozen federal, state, local and private organizations.
When the wheels of the plane skidded to a halt and the ramp came down, USCG crew members were preparing for New England Aquarium staffers to begin the unloading process.
35 cold stunned sea turtles rescued on the shores of Cape Cod are now finding hope (and much warmer weather) in Florida.
The massive operation unfolded without a hitch and Loggerhead Marinelife Center received five loggerhead turtles from the flight. LMC staff moved quickly to secure and transport the new patients back to the center in Juno.
I was lucky enough to have a "front-row seat" for the events today and filmed it all. The footage conveys how coordinated and expertly executed the operation was from the flight arrival to landing and offloading to ground transport of all of the turtles in less than 40 minutes.
I can't describe how proud I am to see that kind of cooperation and effort.

Turtle Power!!!

Cheers,
-Rick

Resumption of filming today meant testing out new gear in the "field" and solidifying the direction of the new film.
Along with an additional hour of raw footage, I was able to sit down with LMC staff and chart a course for the final bits of filming before Journey Home 2.0 goes into post-processing.
There will be a rapid succession of filming events and scenes at LMC over the next few weeks. I hope to finish primary filming by mid-January.
And, as insane as it might sound, I hope to deliver a completed film by the end of March.
This is a slightly-accelerated schedule but it is doable...and necessary.
Journey Home needs to be seen. It needs to be talked about. There is no time to wait.  Every day lost is a day we can never get back in the march towards extinction.

*Warning: Thar be preaching ahead!*

The real problem is that we don't see enough of ourselves in them. Sea turtles are easy to marginalize because of it. But that fishing line that snapped, the plastic grocery bag that accidentally flew out the window, that need we had to open up the boat's throttle because it's fun to do so...it kills them. The oil we spill, the encroaching beach side developments, those lights we need along every inch of road...we are killing them. And THIS MOMENT is that one point - that ONE MOMENT IN HISTORY - when we can save or doom an entire species.
I know it sounds "dramatic." I know there are species in more critical danger in places all over the world. But sea turtles CAN be saved. We just have to commit - as a whole society - to do something about it.
I'll exit my soapbox on that.... for now.

Cheers,
-Rick

Happy post-Thanksgiving for all of our American fans!
I thought I would take a sec and show you folks a "sneak peek" at some of the great new equipment that has already arrived.
I'll post new video soon!

Cheers,
-Rick

With the fundraising success of the last Kickstarter campaign, we now have the equipment and ability to secure the licensing for the film. During the "lean times" that just passed, all work on the film centered on conceptual reworking of the story, roughing a few animated sequences and continued research.
Now, it's "go" time.
This will be the final leg of a very incredible journey. The scenes that are left to be filmed will be done with equipment I didn't think I would ever have access for with this production. To say that it's a game-changer is a gross understatement.
Everything - from sound to the look of the film - gets bumped up a notch or two. As a director, I can't wait to get behind the camera and make it happen. Also, I will be getting in front of the camera...but I'm not quite as excited about that.
I have a face that was made for radio. lol
This week is Thanksgiving Day here in the United States. It's a holiday in which we take a moment to pause and reflect on all of the things in our lives we should be grateful for. From the profound to the trivial, we collectively give thanks for what is "good" in the world.
This year, for me, I feel a special gratitude for all of those who have supported my film in one way or another. From those who have now donated more than $4,000 to the production to those who have worked behind the scenes and to those dedicated folks and the courageous turtles in their care, on which the film is based, I am profoundly thankful.
So, onward and upwards!

Cheers,
-Rick

I sat down today with production coordinator Kim Byrne and music director Mike White and hashed out the "big" plans for the Journey Home re-shoot.
Mostly, I talked about the vision for the new film and the challenges inherent to the continuing production.
Mike and Kim are great. I finally feel like I am no longer taking every detail of the production onto my shoulders. I now have two highly talented and capable people helping to craft the best documentary we can make.
We also talked about funding and support....marketing and publicity. These things go hand-in-hand. The problem is how to widen the circle of folks who support the film. Social networking is great but only to the point that this website and blog expand beyond simply the sum of my friends and followers.

It was a good meeting and one that left me jazzed and motivated!

Cheers,
-Rick

Done!
Journey Home is a film!
There are a few odds-and-ends that need to be done prior to its release...but the movie has been completed!!!!
Here are a few fun facts about the film...

Filming locations:
Fort Pierce
Hutchinson Island
Six miles off shore in the Atlantic
Ocean
Delray Beach
Juno Beach
Loggerhead MarineLife
Center

 282 Filming days

First shot: a fish tank in the LMC educational exhibit area (Oct.
11, 2011)
Last shot: “Poseidon,” a Kemp’s Ridley getting blood drawn (July
19, 2012)

Post production: 37 Days

I shot 24.5 hours of “raw”
footage.

I made 20 trips to LMC for filming (spending more than 50 hours at the center)

Original budget: $7K

Final Budget: $6 (slightly less than $6,000,
actually)

I drove 4810 miles to filming sites (mostly
LMC)

I used 138 gallons of gas during filming (for a cost of
  $483)

The bulk of the cost went to camera equipment, lighting and audio gear ($4,800)

More than $2,500 of the budget was raised via donations
  (Kickstarter)

Last fun fact: Facebook Friends in the final movie: 7! 

19 minutes and 25 seconds of the final film...complete!
There's still a lot of work ahead but the most "difficult" scenes to edit are now behind me.
My obvious problem is cutting the audio (being that I'm completely deaf in my right ear and have significant hearing loss in my left). I have to strain to hear the "highs and lows" of each track in the clip. Still, no matter how long it takes me, I do it.
Now, as I look at roughly half the completed film (and truly some very, very beautiful scenes), I think I can feel that slight tug of a smile at the corner of my mouth.
One interesting thing has been working on special effects in post production. Now you might be tempted to say, "wtf, special FX in a sea turtle doc???"...but - trust me - these additions work wonderfully in the segments. 
I would post more clips here but I'm going to make you wait for it. You don't have much longer to wait, though. I am on schedule to deliver the film by Aug. 25.

Cheers,
-Rick

I'm very pleased to announce that I have filmed the last interview - last primary footage, really - and I can now say, "Final Footage...Filmed!"
Journey Home is now in post-production and final edit phase. I guess, in some ways, the "easy" part is done.
I thought I'd be more daunted by the task ahead...but, actually, I can't wait to put the story together! The little bits you can see here - the few clips and photos - do no justice to the awesome story as a whole.
Now it's time to roll up my sleeves and dive into it...well, maybe after a short vacation to the Keys, that is.

Cheers,
-Rick