Untangling an Ocean

A multi-day expedition to pull ghost gear out of protected coastal waters.

Client: Emerald Sea Protection Society and Global Ghost Gear Initiative
Location: Hanson Island
Runtime: 6:51
Production: Seven days, small crew. Shot on RED Komodo

Told chronologically, the film puts viewers inside the physical and emotional reality of the work: long days at sea, cold dives, and the weight of confronting damage hidden beneath the surface.

Shot over seven days, it blends aerial and underwater cinematography to show both the scale of the place and the intimacy of the mission. The approach is observational and unscripted.

Result Helped Emerald Sea Protection Society secure new funding, including a six-figure private donation. They called it the quickest and easiest funding they'd ever received, and credited it directly to the film.

Watch on YouTube

From the client

“I’ve seen many of these kinds of videos in the past, but when I saw the final cut of Untangling an Ocean, I was blown away by the work [Curtis] did. The video was incredible. Haunting. Moving. The visuals and cinematography were breathtaking, and most important of all, the tone of this work and why it matters was captured perfectly. We couldn’t be happier with both the quality of the work and the value for money.”

Joel BaziukAssociate Director, Global Ghost Gear Initiative

“The project had some significant challenges, including the remoteness of the location and difficult subject matter. Despite these conditions, [Curtis] was able to capture incredible footage, and thoughtfully crafted a film that hit the tone of our organization perfectly. … The film is powerful and almost hypnotic in its presentation, really drawing in the audience to watch the project unfold and to learn more about this issue.”

Brooke LeesVice Chair, Emerald Sea Protection Society