Behind the Scenes: "Mountain in the Sea"/"Filming Secrets" (continued)
by Mark Conlin, cinematographer

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE      We were filming dolphins on the banks of the Bahamas and stopped to scout out a location known as the Sugar wreck. We had heard about an old Loggerhead turtle that lived there. Being the stealthy, underwater filmmakers we are, we spent the better part of a day observing his den from afar, watching his daily patterns as he casually swam back and forth over the reef.      The next day we tried to get a little closer, and he seemed amazingly accommodating. In fact, he did not seem the least bit put off as we swam right next to him while he made his slow rounds looking for dinner. No one knows for sure how old he is, but he has been seen at this reef for as long as anybody can remember. He is probably 50 years old, and could easily be 100. Of course, when you are 100 years old you don't care about anything, which is why we were able to accompany him on his morning scout for breakfast, or lay right next to him during his midday nap. The lesson here is simple: If you are going to live to be over 100 years old, nothing should happen too fast. Life is just another day filled with crab sandwiches and you should take things slowly. This is a lesson we could all afford to learn. MANTIS SHRIMP      We had the good fortune to have an old friend with us during our filming in California, Dr. Jack Engle. The script for Cathedrals in the Sea called for filming mantis shrimp and Dr. Engle, an expert on any critter that lives in a southern California kelp forest knew just the right place to look.      We had all seen a mantis shrimp burrow or two over the years, but most of us had only heard stories about the shrimp itself. The same animal that made elaborate dens ten feet under the sand, could also break aquarium glass or your finger with its wicked smashing claws, and looked like a space alien with its stalked eyes and colorful body. Mantis shrimp typically live in boring sand and mud flats, environments are quickly passed over by the average sport diver. We spent a week filming the mantis shrimp's life in the sand and muck. Once we stopped quietly in the silt and watched, an animal's life story unfolded before us. It just goes to show that if you spend enough time anywhere in the ocean, there is some new animal that will astound you. It is wonderful to have people watch your films and say, "I have never seen that animal before." CONTINUED... BACK... Sea Dwellers | In The School | Producer's Secrets | Secrets Quiz On The Air | Screen Saver | Secrets Products