
ocean storytelling
Natasha Benjamin has spent her career fighting for the ocean and she is now using the power of filmmaking to share critical ocean stories. Mastering her skills in cinematography, film editing and film production, Natasha is using her twenty years of conservation experience to grow awareness of our blue planet.
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Sequoias of the Sea
CO-DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/DIRECTOR OF CINEMATOGRAPHY
Sequoias of the Sea tells the story of the environmental, cultural and economic destruction impacting a coastal town that lost its kelp forest. The film takes a deep dive into the lives of fishermen, tribes, scientists, and a community working to restore a habitat devastated by a warming climate.
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Fatal Watch
CONSULTING PRODUCER
Fatal Watch weaves the stories of four marine observers and investigators exposing the true cost of overfishing. Combining exclusive footage with access to key investigations, the documentary shows how tuna has become a prized commodity, lives are sacrificed and marine observers are dying to tell the truth.
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Eyes on the Seafloor
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR OF CINEMATOGRAPHY
'Eyes on the Seafloor' is a short film that will take you on a journey below the surface of the ocean with Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE) to explore and document never-before-seen areas. Plunge to the ocean depths alongside the MARE Team as they gather data to illuminate the mysteries of the ocean. In the face of our changing oceans, MARE stands as guardians, ensuring the effective conservation of critical coastal habitats. Uncover the secrets hidden beneath the waves and be a part of a mission that shapes the future of ocean health.
shorts
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What is an ROV?
Marine Applied Research and Exploration's (MARE) uses Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to monitor and document the seafloor. These tools allow researchers to access areas of the ocean that are too deep for divers. The ROV Beagle can dive to depths of 1,000 meters, to document the deep sea.
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Kelp! Exhibit
Kelp! is a collaborative exhibition with the 836M gallery, Erol Foundation, and the Above/Below project. Centered around bull kelp, the foundational species of California’s coastal marine ecology, this exhibition aims to bring art and science together to inspire wonder, activate visitors’ curiosity about bull kelp, catalyze action to protect our forests of the sea.
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Blue Tech for Ocean Conservation
Marine Applied Research and Exploration's (MARE) accomplishes their mission by building and deploying our own ROV systems in deep ocean environments for various underwater applications supporting scientific research and education.
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Blue Ocean Gear
Blue Ocean Gear's Smart Buoy System helps fishermen, scientists and managers track and monitor their valuable gear and equipment when it is in the ocean. It is currently used by the leaders of the world's most challenging fisheries, from Alaskan King Crab to American Lobster to Nova Scotia Longline and the emerging Deep-set Swordfish fishery in Southern California. Blue Ocean Gear works closely with fishermen, scientists and NGOs working to support sustainable fisheries.
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Sea Cucumbers
Sea cucumbers are an important component of the sub-tidal zone, feeding on benthic waste and recycling nutrients, they are the “earth worms” of the seafloor. Similar to other sea cucumber fisheries around the world, demand is increasing in California. Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE) joined forces in a unique partnership with California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the National Park Service, and fishermen to understand more about these critters.
Contact Natasha to learn more about filmmaking services