It’s always an amazing experience when I show people high definition footage, particularly, when it is their first time seeing this high resolution, immersive format. The wonderment, the awe, the total engagement with the content is so rewarding. Further, the spontaneous and even unsolicited brainstorming that transpires when the viewers recognize the unmatched scientific, education and outreach applications of this very special media is additionally satisfying. These same outcomes occurred with our recent mobile high definition screening at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. During a marathon week of 18 hour production days, my team and I were also involved in several high definition screenings in Sarasota and Bradenton Beach, Florida. With the assistance of Brian Greene and his “one of a kind” mobile HD production coach, we took the world of high definition, literally, right to the doors of our selected audiences.
Brian pulled up the gleaming silver 45 ft. mobile production coach to the Mote parking lot, complete with his “high definition theater on wheels”, including a large high definition plasma screen, a HD deck and a load of HD tapes for the screening. Dr. Bud Cross, EISF’s Science Advisor, and I were also on board, anticipating how our visiting viewers might react.
Throughout the afternoon, scientists from Mote and various governmental agencies, Mote employees and board members, START (Solutions to Avoid Red Tide) members and others boarded the coach and were directed to their seats in the mobile HD theater. Surrounded by the high definition equipment and the surround sound audio, our guests eagerly listened to our overview of high definition and the details of our red tide documentary production. But when they were treated to a multitude of high definition videos, as well as, a glimpse of some of the high definition footage shot during the September red tide production shoots, the comments made our work as filmmakers all the better.
Ryan Denton, START Manasota Chapter director, exclaimed that the HD footage inspired him, that it was the most effective means of outreach that he’s ever seen and said we should “show it to the legislators to raise more funds for red tide research.” Andy Reich, Coordinator for the Aquatic Toxins Program of Bureau of Community Environmental Health Florida Department of Health, as another example, said that our underwater, marine related high definition footage prompted him to feel the same emotions he experienced when he first decided to be a marine biologist. Statements like that reminded me as to why I decided to become a filmmaker and why I started the Essential Image Source Foundation. The passion Ryan and Andy felt viewing our HD footage is the same intense passion that motivates my team and me to make a difference with high definition media every day and with every project. And on this day, Ryan, Andy and the others really made a difference to us!
-Submitted by Susan Sember, President & Founder of the Essential Image Source Foundation
