|
After 15 years of globetrotting with a whirlwind production schedule for other clients, Tom is returning to phenomenal places to film personal projects. And it’s always more fun to share these experiences with friends! The first expedition Tom is leading will be to the magical world of Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. We’re excited about capturing the astonishing variety of creatures on the latest generation of ultra high definition digital 4K cameras.
More information here >>
 This past June, in Savannah, Georgia, Tom served on the global advisory board of the inaugural BLUE OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL. This global film and conservation event was the first industry film festival and awards competition in the Unites States dedicated solely to the oceans. BLUE was created to honor, promote and share films that inspire people to protect our oceans and was a fantastic success!
Tom presented a program on “Swimming with Sharks,” helped organize a RED hands-on workshop, co-presented, with Wes Skiles, “Overcoming Underwater Challenges,” and led two full day seminars. Along with seminars, presentations, and film screenings, more than 200 films competed for awards...and the competition was fierce!
Three films that Tom either filmed, or shot and produced as DP, garnered high honors: Competing against films with multimillion dollar budgets and years on locations, Tom’s “Giant Mantas of San Benedicto,” with a budget of under $170,000 and only a couple of weeks on location, received Finalist Honors for Best Cinematography. “The Dugongs of Abu Dhabi,” filmed and produced for the King of Abu Dhabi through the SOSF, garnered honorable mention in the Non-Broadcast category, while the film Tom shot for Beth Davidow’s WorldWild Productions “The Florida Manatees of Homosassa Springs State Park,” won Finalist honors in Non-Broadcast, too.
 Tom conducted two all day, sold out seminars on cinematography & marketing. Amphibico, one of the major festival supporters, generously donated several top of the line camera housings for participants to experience. After a presentation by Amphibico, Tom shared his experienced insights with participants on subjects such as beginning and advanced filming techniques along with successful marketing tips. He also provided hands-on training in the water with the various Amphibico housings during pool sessions. Here are a few of the comments from the 24 participants:
“You are a true professional and I love that you have done so much to help clear a path for those around you. I have to say, I regret not taking the advanced underwater workshop with you. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to filming underwater, and I should jump on any chance I get...especially when you are teaching it.” – Rob Sams, Sisbro Studios, Portland, OR
“I found your hands on workshop to be extremely helpful and informative; I certainly came away learning more than I had even hoped for. Sometimes just hearing how another guy thinks about a certain problem or getting another perspective on how to manage the business end is incredibly valuable. Not everyone is as generous with that type of hard to get info so Thanks!”- Doug Clevenger, DP, Chicago, IL
“That workshop was the most valuable learning experience I had a chance to participate in at the festival. The wisdom Tom shared from his experiences is still percolating in my head, and will continue to do so for some time.” Stefani Gordon, Open Boat Films, Livingston, MT
“I thoroughly enjoyed your talk on the last day at the pool and felt as though I was perpetually learning throughout the entire day. I felt like a sponge every time I was listening to you all week long. I think what I learned most from you is how you've run your company from a business perspective. To me, aside from your obvious abilities, your business sense is what sets you apart from virtually everyone else in the industry.” – Bryce Groark, Living Ocean Productions, Kona, HI
|
| © Save Our Seas Ltd/Tom Campbell |
The story behind Tom Campbell's grand prize photo: Tom Campbell, filmmaker and photographer, and fellow filmmaker and photographer Howard Hall were commissioned to shoot a film in the Channel Islands of Southern California, US. Their first project was to capture imagery of the drift nets, once common throughout the Santa Barbara Channel, which separates the Channel Islands from the mainland. Diving 100 feet below the surface in an area where the seafloor was more than 5,000 feet below them, they were horrified by the sight of suffering and death. Dolphins, seal lions, whales and anything that swam into these nets, which could stretch for a mile, were caught and drowned.
Soon after they began shooting images, fishermen found out about their activities and were not pleased with the attention that their fishing activities were attracting. This did not deter Tom and his partner. Trained as a military diver, Tom set up a nighttime operation where he would dive after midnight to avoid drawing the attention of the fishermen. Eventually the fishermen found out about his nighttime activities. As a result, they Tom and Howard were harassed and even received death threats. Undeterred, they continued to capture images and footage of the gruesome death.
"I took this shot at 4am. Light was starting to come up from beneath," said Campbell of his winning photo. "This was an animal that was struggling to get to the surface for a breath of air and finally succumbed to its entanglement in the net."
"I can tell you this shot has done something for the environment," said Campbell. As a result of this and his other photos, legislation was passed to stop this destructive practice. "It was one of the pictures used to restrict the use of gill nets in the Channels Islands."
(www.seaweb.org)
|
In 2009 Tom & his crew will concentrate, as time allows, shooting in the Northern Channel Islands, frequently referred to as the Western Galapagos. This material will be part of our new stock library. Productions in progress include a military submarine shoot in the Bahamas and a documentary on the elite US Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance team. |
 |
 Tom and his crew (Dennis Coffman, 2nd camera & underwater support; Beth Davidow, sound & location assistant) will be in Mozambique, Africa for 3 weeks in October & November, shooting for BigWave Productions on a BBC show about giant manta rays and the young woman scientist, Andrea Marshall, studying them.
Traveling with 20 cases of high definition camera and underwater housing gear, closed circuit rebreather equipment, and assorted cases of sound recording, diving, and other necessities is an adventure in logistics! Long flights from California, through London and into South Africa are followed by the flight into Mozambique. All the gear, however, goes on trucks from Johannesburg to our destination on the Tofo Peninsula, a major international hot spot for both manta rays and whale sharks. We’ll be staying at the Casa Barry Lodge (www.casabarry.com)
 In the waters off this remote coast, where the Indian Ocean pounds jagged cliffs and rolls onto long stretches of sandy beaches, gentle whale sharks glide through the waves, wide mouths agape to feed on plankton. Below, in deeper waters, the giant manta rays soar gracefully over rocky reefs, funneling tiny planktonic organisms into their mouths. Andrea has come to know these mantas and they are her passion.
Tom has been here twice before to film Andrea and her work. On this trip, he and BigWave Productions explore the story of how this young woman found her way to this remote area to become one of the top manta ray scientists in the world. BigWave (www.bigwavetv.com)
will edit and produce the film, scheduled for completion sometime in 2009.
Check out Andrea’s work and the manta rays at www.giantfish.org.
|
