Of Shark and Man - nearly there!

Sorry for the protracted silence.

The last few days have been hectic.

Catering to Royalty is of course both an honor and enormously inspiring - but at the same time, people of that caliber have very precise ideas about what they want to achieve, and staging the Shark dive so that everybody got the shot, and this without interfering with the others has been challenging. Methinks we pulled it off, this especially due to the incredibly hard work of the BAD boyz who were proud and eager to showcase our Sharks to such an illustrious audience - but like I said, images are forthcoming and you will get the opportunity to judge for yourselves.

Truth be told, I'm still somewhat reeling.

So this could not have come at a better time as I really don't have the energy to come up with original content let alone a breathy rant - so please, do take the time to read David's post and also watch the interview which is certainly intriguing.

Yes OSAM is completed and will be rolled out very shortly indeed. I haven't yet seen it and must confess that I look forward to it with great trepidation - not only because the SRMR is my baby but also, because I've broken with one of my rules and have sat for extensive interviews. The footage dates back to 2011 and I've obviously forgotten what I said back then - but I've since learned a lot, and some of my beliefs and priorities have evolved, become more nuanced or changed altogether. 

Looking back will certainly be an interesting personal experience!

Anyway - enjoy!

 

A Ray of Light II - finally online!

Behold!

Like AROL I, this is simply a masterpiece.
Story including not one but two making of here and here!

Enjoy!

Wanted: UK Film Makers!

Source.

Of Shark and Man is nearing completion.

And I may add, not a moment too soon!

And David has come up with a new idea.

He is offering a platform to a talented aspiring UK film maker - or could it be more, and could they also be established?
Be it as it may, that person will have the opportunity of editing a "Behind the Scenes" featurette that will be circulated widely among David's ever increasing fan community. I'm hundred percent sure OSAM will be absolutely epic, and being associated with this unique project cannot but be a plus.

Details here - technical requirements here!

So, what are you waiting for!

David - Teaser-Trailer # three!

Yes this would be a stack of 3m Bull Sharks - fabulous pic by DaMary!

This is just awesome!

Yes of course I'm biased.

So once again, I'm not gonna dwell in superlatives but instead invite you to refer to my assessment of Mr. Diley here - I cannot but fully confirm, and then some! And, do check out this post on David's blog!

Bravo!

Only this.

I fully concur that the letterboxed version is by far the better one so please please pretty please, do edit the movie in Anamorphic! And more importantly: I really want to thank the many people who've kindly agreed to be interviewed and are now providing awesome quotables - in this particular case Ratu Leone and Alfie from Uprising, Manasa, my dive buddy Rusi, the ever formidable Helen and the unequaled MPO. And of course the forever Facebook-status-changing Nani!

Vinaka vaka levu!

So without further ado, here it is!

Enjoy!

AND, here's one more post!

David - Strike Two!

Yes they are toothy - epic pic by Sasha!

Oh for crying out loud!

I should have known better.

Hiring that monkey and above all, having the audacity to feature THAT guy was always gonna be a recipe for total disaster - and bingo!

But by all means, don't take my word for it.

Check it out!

Just kidding!

Seriously - totally AWESOME!

This time, however, I'm gonna spare you the back story and the accolades - there's only so much I can come up with in order to describe David Diley's talent and perseverance, and I've pretty much said it all here. Plus, this time, I'm really in no position to be objective anyway.!

Only this.

He's still producing this with close to zero support, and any assistance will be much appreciated - and even if you can't spare a dime, you can help enormously by spreading he word via the social media or even among your friends, Shark lovers and otherwise.

David has written a long post on the subject, so no need to post more details here - and by all means, do leave a comment if you've liked it!.

Applause applause!

Anticipation!

David Diley as we all know him.
Great at proffering breathy announcements - but will he deliver?

I am excited!

David is posting that

Just a quick heads up, Teaser Trailer 2 for Of Shark and Man is going to be out THIS WEEK!

and that he is

Currently rendering out the new teaser with the full audio mix. 
Sounds good on TV, just need to check laptop and headphones now but as it stands, I think it's finished...

Soooo.... ?

In case you haven't noticed, THIS WEEK is nearly over!

All I can say is that after all that unbearable suspense, it better be brilliant - and by that I mean, at least as good if not better than the last one!

No pressure!

Of Shark and Man - Progress!

Please read this post by David.

Cool.

Yes it really looks like we're nearing the finishing line!

And, we shall be shortly treated to the second teaser-trailer!

Mate lemme tell 'ya, the sheer impact of the first one will be a tough act to follow - so best of luck with that, the more as my expectations could not be higher!
 
No pressure!

Mediterranean Elasmobranchs - two Movies by David!

Xisco Perez's 2nd Great White, Mallorca 1976 - source.

The big Elasmobranchs in the Med are screwed.

This insight is obviously not new - but it is once again being confirmed by this latest assessment by the FAO, paper here.

With that in mind, David's movies are of particular importance.

I've blogged about A Ray of Light a while ago and can only once again invite everybody to watch it.

Fantastic, isn't it.

And I'm obviously not the only one liking it.

Not only has the movie helped Brad take his Stingray conservation project to the next level, but it is now attracting international praise which bodes extremely well both for Brad but also for David Diley as a film maker!

Huge kudos once again!

Which brings me straight to Behind Blue Glass.

Remember?

WeIl the wait is now officially over.

As announced last December, it is finally being released to the public in tandem with Vimeo's launch of its ingenious Tip Jar pay-per-view (= pay once, watch forever) service. The price for viewing it is a ridiculous 5.99 bucks and I leave it to David to tell you why you should watch it.

And on top of all of that, he just simply deserves your solidarity - for being passionate, extremely hard working and talented, and just simply a good guy who loves Sharks like crazy!

C'mon - just DO it!

You won't regret it for so many reasons, all of which are good!

Thank you!

PS And talking of the Med's GWS.

Want to know where the nurseries are?

Read the paper linked at the top - and no, I'm not telling! :)

The Sanctuary (that wasn't)!

Rusi and Granma - click for detail!

So here it is.

A short film commissioned to celebrate the incredible efforts of the Fijian people and their Government in creating the first ever Melanesian Shark Sanctuary which would have provided the most stringent and detailed protection for every Shark and Manta Ray in Fijian waters.
Unfortunately the decree did not pass and was rejected in July this year (2012)

"The Sanctuary" features interviews with leading shark experts, conservationists and the people who have dedicated their lives to understanding and protecting these magnificent animals every day.

We offer sincere thanks and the utmost respect to:

• Rick MacPherson
• Ron & Valerie Taylor
• Douglas Seifert
• Arthur Sokimi
• Cristina Zenato
• Manasa Bulivou
• Angelo O'Connor Villagomez
• Rusiate Balenagasau
• and let's not forget that tattooed dude whose name escapes me!

This film also features stunning underwater footage filmed on Shark Reef on the island of Viti Levu from the upcoming film "Of Shark and Man" which will be released in 2013.

• Underwater Footage: Mike Neumann, David Diley, Hugh Fairs
• Music: "Laserdisc" - Chris Zabriskie
• Edited by David Diley
• Produced by David Diley (Scarlet View Media) and the The Fiji Shark Conservation & Awareness Project

Story here.
Again, there is nothing to celebrate - but David has invested an inordinate amount of time into completing it, and some wonderful people have agreed to participate. Now, this has become a tribute to their passion and generosity, and a testament to David's dogged perseverance and remarkable talent.
Thank you so much!

Enjoy!

David's PSA - awesome!

David in Fiji: realism and documentary guerrilla film-making with a cinematic delivery.

Love it!

And lemme tell 'ya, this has not been easy!
This has been an incredibly time consuming and difficult endeavor, a true labor of love that David Diley has taken on in his own time and on his own money . The clips are from a variety of cameras, with different formats and codecs requiring a lot of technical wizardry, and this on an editing suite that at the time consisted of little more than David's frustratingly slow laptop; and to top it off, the challenge lay in producing something fresh, different and positive within the strict 60-second confines dictated by the aim to eventually air it on local television. Having witnessed its creation from afar, I can attest to many, many moments of utter dejection due to lost footage and computer crashes - so the more power to David for having pulled it off in the end!
But read it here, straight from the horse's mouth - great post!

Shame the public in Fiji will likely never see it.
Barring a miraculous turn of events (don't hold your breath!), the Shark Sanctuary is toast and the best we can now aspire to is that the authorities will come true on their announcement that the upcoming Fisheries decrees will translate into effective Shark conservation measures.
For that to eventuate, the noise that has been, and I cite, a continuous irritant has to finally stop, as especially this government (!) does not appreciate being pushed and lectured in public - and I'll certainly leave it at that, the more as you can read a surprisingly insightful analysis of what happened here. It's not the whole story but it does contain a few valid pointers to the fact that as always in real conservation in a real world, things are far from being simple and straight forward - and yes, Andersen & Co's bloody interference at a critical time did certainly play a role!

But I'm digressing as always.

Please enjoy David's PSA.
As David explains here, it contains many of the stylistic elements that he has chosen for Of Shark and Man and that are also apparent in A Ray of Light. Featuring some of the Shark greats (thank you!), it is a testament to his creativity and technical brilliance - and of course, to the most incredible collection of charismatic, intelligent sharks on the planet! :)



And there's more!
David will shortly post a longer version featuring more awesome people and brilliant sound bites!

A Ray of Light: brilliant Video by David!

David's new production company, Scarlet View Media.

I'm in love with Brad.

No not in that way! :)
But David's masterful portrait is so full of tenderness and empathy that one is instantly mesmerized by the guy's humanity and compassion, and by his selfless commitment to try and better protect the Sting Rays of Mallorca.

This is David Diley's coming out as a filmmaker.
Like Brad, he is achieving the seemingly impossible with zero back-up and minimal resources, simply driven by his passion for marine conservation and the need to make a difference by telling a story. I say, if this is a taste of things to come, the man is in for a stellar career!
Love the storyline, the filming, the editing, the style, the music!

A short film about Brad Robertson, a passionate conservationist tirelessly working to maintain and grow a grassroots, community based project to help protect the Stingrays of Mallorca.

This is the reality behind "spit and sawdust" conservation, there are no glossy marketing campaigns, no sexy photo-shoots and most critically of all, no financial support, just Brad and his wife Bea, struggling against bureaucracy, apathy, crippling financial pressure and a lack of support from the people who could actually help.

The economic crisis has had a devastating effect on Spain, a country which has cut funding to support the policing of its Marine Reserves by up to 80% and as a result, we see that without vigilant protection, a "Marine Reserve" is no more a haven for marine wildlife than any other stretch of unprotected coastline.

So why does he bother? Because he's a diver, a diver who wants future generations to experience the kind of things he has in his twenty years underwater, the kind of incredible experience we see at the climax of the film an experience which illustrates just how important Brad's work in Mallorca is.

Enjoy David's video.



Story here and here.

PS Richard Theiss' take here.