You see them on documentary TV channels, in adverts for exotic holiday destinations or simply when you’re visiting a friend who’s been to one of those locations – endless films of the rich and varied natural life under water in the crystal clear blue seas of the world. Underwater filming has become a worldwide industry and even has its own film festivals. Amsterdam hosted the third North Sea Underwater Film Festival this week.
Listen to a Newsline report here:
The name of the festival is a bit misleading, as it doesn’t actually show that many films made in the North Sea. “That’s a hostile place”, says festival director Edward Snijders, an underwater filmmaker himself. “It’s dark and cold and due to the tides, you can only dive for a few hours a day”.
Understanding
Not surprisingly, most filmmakers prefer more exotic locations. But one thing the festival proves is that there’s more to underwater filming than just capturing pictures of colourful fish in tropical waters. “So many people don’t have a clue what’s going on down there”, Mr Snijders says. “Our festival’s aim is to help people to understand the underwater world”.
Crumbling reefs
And that’s the problem, according to Mr Snijders – most people think of rising sea levels, crumbling reefs and fish trawlers that are depleting fish stocks when they talk of sea life. The festival tends to look on the bright side, he says. “I don’t think the oceans are in such a bad state. Of course, I’ve seen reefs going down but I’ve also seen them coming back to life. It’s a continuing process”.
“I’d like to tell people that we have to take care of what we have now”, Mr Snijders add.s “There’s the message that we should hand over the seas to future generations in a better state than we found it. But I’m not a pessimist”.
See a trailer for the North Sea Underwater Film Festival here: (Story continues below)
Darker side
The films also show the darker side of submarine life, says Mr Snijders. “There are a lot of films that are shot in dark waters. There’s a film made in Lake Baikal in Russia and there are a few films made in the black and cold waters in the Netherlands. But these films show that even these hostile waters are full of life. It’s a challenge for the film maker to bring that life to the surface”.
Worldwide industry
Thanks to the rising popularity of global documentary TV channels such as Discovery, Animal Planet and National Geographic, professional underwater filming has become a worldwide and profitable industry. Film makers are working in different areas in the world, not just the exotic ones. In Iran, for instance, which is not known for its marine life.
“They had a sudden algae boom in their territorial waters”, says Mr Snijders. “The algae were sucking all the oxygen out of the water, killing all fish. People use these films to highlight the problems and to find solutions. In this case, the film had an effect, as the government immediately took action after it was shown in Iran”.
Solution
“In a film you want to tell a story”, Mr Snijders continues. “If a film maker sees that certain underwater developments are heading for disaster, he will try to present a solution. That’s what makes a good film – a film that tells a story and that makes people aware of what is going on underwater”.
But the festival is not delivering an “Al Gore message”, as Mr Snijders puts it. “I remain optimistic. We’re not saying that we’re heading for disaster. We’re all talking about how bad the situation is and that the world seas are going down. But there are more messages to be told than just that one”.
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.