October 22, 2010 I took a day away from the new mag because I found inspiration for our upcoming film shoot. For those that don't know, we have plans to shoot a new Summer of the Sharks film early next year. I first started talking about this film, geez back in November of 2009, but we were busy with The Shark Con, so I just put it in the back burners and let it stir. I decided about 2 months ago to get serious about the new film when the Con found a home with our new distributors, SideWays Films out of London. They took over, and the film is out of our hands now, and for me that just means I needed a new story to tell. After all I am a storyteller, that is my roll in life. That is my job. And I had been itching to get back on the road again and continue the shark diving journey that we started back in 2006.
Me and Andy doing some promo pics for Summer of the Sharks 2 back in November 2009. Thats how long ago I was thinking of this film.
The original story was an introduction to shark diving, and I tried to tell it in a way that was both entertaining, and fun. I kept away from traditional styles of diving documentaries, and created a film that was different. And considering it was our first film, I thought we did an amazing job of changing things up and showing shark diving in a different light. However that was yesterday, and now I look at the film, and want to create a much better film for today. And because I have evolved as a human being, and as a shark diver I want to create a story that reflects how I feel about sharks and life right now. When I first started talking about doing this film, I was talking to my good friend, and fellow filmmaker Joe Romerio of 333 productions. I told Joe I was going to make another Summer series movie, and he kinda frowned upon it. He had just finished watching The Shark Con and told me I should stick to this style of documentary filmmaking which was edgier and had some real deep issues, vs. the fun and sporty Summer film. I smiled at the compliment and just left it at that, but I did take what he said to heart.
Summer of the Sharks original Trailer
The Shark Con Trailer
THE PROJECT BEGINS... So a few weeks ago, I began putting together a list of places I wanted to shoot and sharks I wanted to see, I scribbled them into a journal, which is how I like to begin any film project, with a notebook. I do that because when I get an idea, or a thought it is much easier to write it down vs, wait till I am in front of a computer, by then the idea may be gone. So anyway, I wrote the list down of what I wanted to shoot, people I wanted to feature in the film, and so on. When I looked at the list I thought it was a cool list, with a lot of great dives, and great people, but there was no story there. It felt empty and soul-less. Which is ok, that is the evolution of any project. You have to create a foundation and then go from there.
I wrote out the location list about 2-3 weeks ago. Then I put it away, forgot about it and got busy with creating the mag. That was until a few days ago...a story inside of me started building, and was itching to get out. So I started doodling with it, I sent back and forth ideas to my team asking them for their opinions, and writing bits here and bits there - and then a few nights ago I was sitting out side writing out more ideas and before I knew it - the story just started pouring out. I wrote page after page and it all just flowed. When I was done, I read it and just got completely fired up about the project. The story was original and powerful, and fun and important...very important, which is what I love. It is an angle of sharks and shark conservation that really has not been explored and brought to the surface on film yet.
Will I share what the new story will be about? Yes and No. Yes there are going to be a lot of behind the scenes stories, videos and images on the making of this film available online throughout the year, but no we canot share what the bulk of the story will be, cause some of it, has to remain a surprise, especially for the people we intend to surprise. I am going to stir the shit out of this pot. I will say this, shark people are going to love this film, because it is going to be a very powerful pro shark movement film. Others might not like it very much, but too bad...I am a big believer that some shark populations are in serious decline, and in our world, the only way to get people rallying behind a cause is to do things that piss people off. And pissing people off - we is gonna do!
I wish I could say more about it, but I know if I do I will let out too much information and that kind of information might get into the wrong hands and foil our plans.
So keep checking back because I am going to get pretty vocal about the new film as we get deeper into it. This movie is going to be the biggest thing we have ever done - and maybe will be one of the biggest, if not THE BIGGEST shark conservation films ever made. I know big words. I guess I will have to back up those words? All I can say is, I can't fracking wait!!!
October 14, 2010 Mag update time...well all the stories for the new issue are in, which is great. I don't have to go searching for any. Of course the important job of turning the images and articles into art is what's on my plate. Not an easy task I have to say. It would be great if all I had to do was slap them onto a white background, keeping them simple and classy, sort of National Geographic magazine style. BUT, I am proud to say, we are not Nat Geo magazine. Our mag is much edgier, and much cooler, and way more fun...thats right I said it! And I am not disrespecting the grand daddy of all great adventure magazines. Nat Geo is the bible for the modern day adventurer and is deserving of much respect for turning all of us wander lusting adventurers on to the world around us. But hey, our mag is pretty amazing for what it is... the holy grail for shark diving stories! And I am always working toward making it look amazing. I feel it is my responsibility to keep it cool and hip and show case the images from all our great shooters. There work alone is amazing but when you add a little bit of life into the pages, it makes their work just pop. Here are a few examples of different layouts from different issues as an example of what a reader expects to see from an issue of SDM.
Layout from issue 21 Andy Murch's Road trip journal
Layout from issue 21 Nathan Meadow's Salmon sharks
For me the whole thing is to push the envelope and help take things to the next level. When you focus on that, it makes it fun and exciting, because conventional diving is boring as frack - and so are most of the magazines... That's right I said it. And I say that not to piss people off from the other mags, I say it as a wake up call for the diving industry. Our industry is shrinking and not growing. Diving is a hip and cool sport, but it sucks at attracting new people to our industry because they keep it old and rusty. Sports like surfing and mountain biking, and snow boarding are growing and growing - attracting more and more people everyday. because they focus on being cutting edge and cool, and so do the companies that supply the gear. They created hip and gnarly heros to look up to. Guys that are pushing the envelope. The gear suppliers for these sports know this is the key to growing sales and push hard to promote them and support their efforts. So their industries just keep going up, while the dive industry keeps pushing out Lloyd Bridges, and Cousteau. They were the pioneers and should be respected for their contributions, but that was yesterday - and it's time to move on! It's time to celebrate the next generation of core dive leaders, who are willing to do bad ass shit! And that is what our mag is all about - bad ass shit with bad ass divers.
Layout from Issue 23. Cristina Zenato's article about her sharks.
October 5, 2010 There is going to be a long spell of quiet in the month of October, it is time to put together the latest issue of SDM for you all and during this time I am totally consumed with the task at hand. As I have said in the past, each issue needs to out do the last issue and that is what I work towards everytime I am cutting together the mag for you. Each article has to have its own personality and feel to it. Basically each one needs to be a work of art. I know it sounds vain, but I was once told that films and books are forever, so if you are going to create one, it better be great. Well magazines were never quite meant in that forever story, but thats ok, because I heard what they had to say, and when I put together an issue of SDM I have forever in mind. My hope is that you never want to throw away a single issue of SDM.
So if the blog goes quiet, or my Facebook account does not have any updates, then you'll know why. Because issue 24 is under construction and I am fired up at the task at hand to create this issue for you. I am always focused on finding you all the very best images and articles for SDM, and this issue is no exception, the cover image alone is hands down one of the best if not the best image we have ever had grace the cover of SDM. I am stoked and excited when I finally reveal it to you. And I know what is going to happen once I post the cover, I am going to get endless emails on where and what is going on when this image was taken. Its exciting stuff man, and I am stoked for you all. Its a jaw dropper for sure.
Sitting at my desk at SDM HQ preparing for a long month of craziness, while I create # 24 for you all.
This has been a pretty busy season for me, I have been hard at play and diving every chance I have gotten, but gonna take a break from that to bring you the best issue of SDM to date, and trying to compete with issue 23 is going to be hard, because that issue is by far one of the best I have ever put together for you all. 22 was awesome as well, but 23 was pretty amazing. So anyway, the work started yesterday and I need to get back to it, but before I did, I wanted to let you know what I was up to before I got full into it, and ignored the blog that all of my 3 devoted readers love to read - thanks again - Mom, Dad, Uncle Rico.
October 1, 2010 Contrary to popular belief shark diving is not just a boys club, even though it may seem that way. The majority of people in the outside world only think the guys want to play with big and seemingly dangerous sharks, but in truth it is far from that. There are plenty of woman that enjoy and thrive on encounters with sharks. Through the years I have tried to showcase their work in SDM. Publishing images and articles as often as I can. Shark photographer, Kathy Cope was the first woman to have had her work grace the cover of our magazine. I remember being in Fiji when I decided that I was going to use her work for the cover. And looking back I never even gave it a second thought, or any significance that I was putting a woman's pic on the cover. To me it was just another cover I was choosing for SDM. And thats the way it should be, why should we think it any different? Why should it matter if it was a woman or a man who shot the cover, or an article, or contributed images to the mag. It shouldn't... but in reality it does.
Why it matters I don't know? Maybe it is society, maybe it is each of us personally. We are all responsible for it, because were all just humans evolving, and we screw up and get things wrong a lot. All I know is there is a lot of talented woman shooters out there in the shark world that are very well known for their art and many others that are yet to be discovered. My job as the editor of this magazine is to find you the very best images and articles I possibly can, regardless of race, gender, or whatever the frack. And each issue we keep doing that very thing. There is a lot of politics in the magazine world, especially the diving; and every magazine has their core shooters, and they really don't stray far from that. Me I don't care who or where it comes from, because if it is a bad ass pic or story, I am going to publish it. But I have to admit I love when it comes from the girls. I especially love publishing images with woman diving with sharks. I love the shock factor it creates, so that the shark fearing men (and woman) in the outside world can see how big wusses they really are. The fear of sharks is such a silly fear, and the longer I am in this game the more I see how ridiculous this fear really is. So I get so fired up when the articles come in from a woman shooter, because I know and understand the significance of it. How important it is to show the world that yes the girls can do anything the boys can do, and often times even better.
Cristina Zenato is carving a path where very very few follow. She is an amazing spirit
So expect to hear more from the girls - because contrary to popular belief they are just as core as the boys, and maybe...just sometimes...a little bit gnarlier!
