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Q&A with Bob Talbot

1. What do you think is the most serious problem facing the ocean today?

I believe the single greatest problem facing the ocean today is a general lack of awareness of marine issues. The relatively small percentage of people who experience the ocean first-hand interact with the sea on a very superficial level. Even those of us who spend a lot of time in the water have skewed baselines. From the surface the ocean looks fine to the average person, and most people feel it is so vast that they can’t affect it in their daily lives. They have no idea that the sea is in a state of crisis.

2. Tell us about the LegaSea Project and how it addresses this problem.

The mission of the LegaSea Project is to create a high resolution, poetically shot, motion picture archive of ocean wildlife before more marine species disappear, and to develop mainstream entertainment properties that focus on ocean issues. For many of today’s youth the environmental movement is old news. Our productions need to be hip, edgy, and empowering. We need to inspire people to take ownership of their little piece of the ocean and fight to protect it.

3. What can we do from day to day that will increase public awareness of threats to the ocean?

When I first got involved in ocean conservation, the catchphrase was ‘think globally, act locally.’ At the time I thought that was absurd — how could local action ever have a significant effect on the world ocean? But I’ve since come to learn that what is absurd is the expectation that an assortment of diverse interests will come up with a meaningful and effective global marine management plan. I now believe that if we become stewards of our own backyards, whether marine or terrestrial, eventually those backyards will overlap to create large areas that we’ll have a shot at preserving.

Individual action is really the only way to move forward, because no one is going to save the ocean for us. Even small lifestyle changes can reap huge benefits. Programs like the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch make it very simple. You look at the card, choose a sustainable species for dinner and, just like that, you’re in the game — you’re making a difference. There are countless less-obvious ways people can fight for the health of their local environments. Vote for your city to update their sewer system rather than build a new but unnecessary city hall. Create programs that make it very simple for people to dispose of used motor oil and paint. Dig in and fight for no-take zones. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is this: get informed, get involved – deeply involved – fight hard, and make it easy for others to do so as well. Small groups of dedicated people can be amazingly effective.

4. What was your inspiration for the LegaSea Project?

For most of my career I’ve tried to create beautiful images that I hoped would foster respect for marine life and inspire people to protect it and its habitat. A few years ago, during a roundtable discussion about marine conservation, someone made the case that pretty pictures actually make it tougher to convince the public that the ocean needs help. The contention was that beautiful images make it easy for people to believe that all is well in the sea. During that same meeting there was much discussion about the data coming out of academic research and the two recent ocean commission reports. The picture was bleak. I came away from that night with a new imperative for my work — to create an archive for future generations and produce projects that would help re-energize the marine conservation movement.

5. How is the LegaSea Project different from other video or image archives?

The main difference between existing archives and what we are setting out to create is the format and style we are shooting in. My partner on this project, Pete Zuccarini, and I spent a lot of time researching state-of-the-art electronic imaging technologies. We decided that, from an artistic and archival perspective, 35mm motion picture film is the best choice for the LegaSea Project. New 35mm film stocks yield extraordinary resolution and maintain a far greater dynamic range than electronic mediums. It is also much more practical to shoot at high frame rates (slow motion) in the field. In addition, film is a time-tested, stable medium to archive. Thirty-five millimeter film is expensive to shoot and is rarely used in wildlife documentaries. Indeed as the quality of affordable video formats has increased the trend has been to move away from film altogether. Ironically, while the technology has improved, the bar for quality is being lowered rather than raised. Technology aside, our goal is to create footage that puts the viewer in the sea in a visceral way and to strategically use that footage together with existing footage to revitalize the marine environmental movement.

6. Why is film the best way to communicate to the public about ocean issues?

Movies can reach people on several levels and are integral to popular culture, often driving our collective mindset. Films can be experiential, informative, or story telling devices that engage the audience both intellectually and emotionally. Issues can be addressed directly or simply as the undercurrent of a compelling story.

7. What’s next for you and the LegaSea Project?

Right now we’re working on a documentary feature film that will essentially launch the project. The film will tell the story of the marine environmental movement over the past thirty years and what’s happened to the sea during that same period of time. The story will be told through the people who lived it: environmental heroes, academics, political advocates and ordinary citizens who took a stand. Our goal is to create a film that is entertaining, informative and, most importantly, empowering. We’re also shooting for the archive, and looking at TV, print, and stand-alone venue opportunities for immersive ocean experiences.

8. What do you see as your role in ocean conservation?

To use whatever talents I have to empower and inspire people to fight for the environment. It sounds dramatic to use the word ‘fight,’ but that’s what we need to do. We need to dig in and fight relentlessly. I remember watching Jacques Cousteau as a kid — he came into our living rooms and showed us what was happening to the sea. He was the spark that ignited the marine eco-movement. Dedicated people worked tirelessly and made great strides. Courageous people took a stand and risked their lives. But the sad truth is that the health of the world ocean is worse than ever.

To learn more about Bob Talbot and the LegaSea Project, visit www.legaseaproject.org.