This is not a story about saving a sea turtle...it's the story about a difficult fight to save an entire species.
While working as production coordinator on a different documentary film, I developed the idea of doing my own doc, focused on sea turtle rescue.
The plan was straight forward enough; find an organization that rescued sea turtles and get permission to film them doing it. After a few weeks of researching rescue groups and centers, I decided upon Loggerhead MarineLife Center (LMC), in Juno Beach, Florida.
Part of my decision was based on the volume of annual rescues taken in and the good standing of their reputation in the community. In short, I needed them to get turtles frequently and have a proven track record for success.
LMC met both criteria in spades.
My next step was contacting center administration and outreach in order to pitch my idea. While I made the initial contacts, I also decided that the film itself should be used to help save sea turtles.
After a meeting with admin staff and gaining tentative approval, I then had to think about how, exactly I would best tell the story.
Obviously, the easiest and most compelling way is to show what happens to an injured/ill turtle from the day it is rescued until the day it is
released back into the ocean. That, however, is trickier than it sounds.
The harsh reality is that many turtles come in to the center too far gone to be helped, or survive their injuries only to be poorly suited for
return to the wild.
When I began filming, I treated every new patient at LMC as if they might become my “star.”
Two months into filming, it started to get pretty clear who was thriving and becoming the likely candidates for the journey…home.
After 10 months of filming, post-production and licensing, Journey Home emerged as a 35-minute, heartwarming story that spoke of the dedication of a small group of heroes and the strength of the will to live for injured sea turtles.
But that film would never see the light of day.
Due to significant changes in procedures and staffing at the center (including all of the people used as primary interviews), LMC administration asked me to re-shoot the film. Though it was startling change of plans, it turned out to be an opportunity to make a few creative and important changes to the documentary.
Journey Home, the current film, is extraordinary.
It tells a complete and touching story of what happens to injured and ill sea turtles brought to the center for rehabilitation. The final version is a 29-minute journey that starts in a nest and ends.... well, for that you'll need to watch the film.
The plan was straight forward enough; find an organization that rescued sea turtles and get permission to film them doing it. After a few weeks of researching rescue groups and centers, I decided upon Loggerhead MarineLife Center (LMC), in Juno Beach, Florida.
Part of my decision was based on the volume of annual rescues taken in and the good standing of their reputation in the community. In short, I needed them to get turtles frequently and have a proven track record for success.
LMC met both criteria in spades.
My next step was contacting center administration and outreach in order to pitch my idea. While I made the initial contacts, I also decided that the film itself should be used to help save sea turtles.
After a meeting with admin staff and gaining tentative approval, I then had to think about how, exactly I would best tell the story.
Obviously, the easiest and most compelling way is to show what happens to an injured/ill turtle from the day it is rescued until the day it is
released back into the ocean. That, however, is trickier than it sounds.
The harsh reality is that many turtles come in to the center too far gone to be helped, or survive their injuries only to be poorly suited for
return to the wild.
When I began filming, I treated every new patient at LMC as if they might become my “star.”
Two months into filming, it started to get pretty clear who was thriving and becoming the likely candidates for the journey…home.
After 10 months of filming, post-production and licensing, Journey Home emerged as a 35-minute, heartwarming story that spoke of the dedication of a small group of heroes and the strength of the will to live for injured sea turtles.
But that film would never see the light of day.
Due to significant changes in procedures and staffing at the center (including all of the people used as primary interviews), LMC administration asked me to re-shoot the film. Though it was startling change of plans, it turned out to be an opportunity to make a few creative and important changes to the documentary.
Journey Home, the current film, is extraordinary.
It tells a complete and touching story of what happens to injured and ill sea turtles brought to the center for rehabilitation. The final version is a 29-minute journey that starts in a nest and ends.... well, for that you'll need to watch the film.