Freeport, Bahamas - On November 8th, the Grand Bahama Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) held the Bahamas premiere of
Beneath the Blue, a film shot entirely on location at Smith Point, Grand Bahama Island.
The Bahamas Weekly News Team was on hand to capture interviews with Donna Mackey, Sr Manager, Bahamas Film Commission; Gregory Von Hausch, President & CEO of FLIFF; Bonnie Leigh Adams, Sr Program Director of FLIFF; Betty Bethel, General Manager of Business Development, Ministry of Tourism in Grand Bahama; Leah Eneas, Bahamian actor in the film; and Paul Mockler, Associate Producer and Underwater Cinematographer for the family movie.
Listen as Donna Mackey tells how the collaboration between the Grand Bahama Ministry of Tourism and the Fort Lauderdale international Film Festival came together. Then president of FLIFF, Gregory Von Hausch talks about his film festival, FLIFF, and how it is the longest film festival in the world according to the Guinness World Records. His wife and Sr Program Director of FLIFF, Bonnie Adams shares how inspired they were upon seeing the film and the efforts they took to make contact with The Bahamas to share in promotion of the visually beautiful film.
You will also hear from actor, Leah Eneas of Nassau, Bahamas who played the lab technician and marine biologist in the film. She is now working on her next role in "Bahamian Sun", an American film being shot in The Bahamas.
Listen as Paul Mockler, Associate producer and underwater cinematographer tells you about the challenges of filming with dolphins (and humans), and how the film has a message, and it not only a family film, but a love story. Mockler says that Sellers, the film's director was inspired to do this film sequel when he heard of the massive kill of dolphins and beached whales in 2000 when the US Navy was performing ultrasound experiments. He goes on to tell of how local Grand Bahamian veterinarian, Alan Bater did the necropsy of the dolphins and testified on the case. Mockler the shares exciting news that the film may move on to a third movie sequel, and there is even talk of a TV series.
In this video, Betty Bethel, General Manager, Business Development, Grand Bahama Ministry of Tourism goes through the role of the Bahamas Film Commission and the efforts they go though to promote film making in the country.
About the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival: Now in its 25th year, The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
(FLIFF) will reel out over 200 films from around the globe. Filmmakers
and celebrities will attend many of the screenings and events over the
21 day fest, October 22 - November 11. Parties and gatherings at area
"hot spots", on board yachts, and on the beach will provide audiences an
opportunity to hob knob with film talent and other movie buffs.
Beneath the Blue
will be a feature film at this year's Bahamas International Film Festival which takes place from December 1st to 5th in Nassau, Bahamas.
ABOUT THE FILM
Alyssa
Harker, an 18-year-old dolphin researcher works with her famous
scientist father Hawk on Grand Bahama developing a dolphin language.
Beneath the Blue picks up where Eye of the Dolphin left off, showing
Alyssa's powerful bond with the wild dolphin Rasca. Having assimilated
to the island, the research center and the dad she never knew, Alyssa is
now tested when she meets a somewhat mysterious tourist named Craig.
BENEATH
THE BLUE features Paul Wesley, who stars in the smash CW hit television
series “Vampire Diaries." He was recently named one of Cosmopolitan’s
“Fun Fearless Males of 2010". Caitlin Wachs (Alysssa) was named one of
People Magazine’s “20 Teenagers Who Will Change The World” and received
the Young Star Award from The Hollywood Reporter. David Keith (Hawk) is
currently starring in the new hit Fox TV Series “Lonestar”, and is best
known for his work in “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “Behind Enemy
Lines”. The majority of the shoot took place in the quaint, friendly
town of Smith’s Point, Grand Bahama, where Director Michael D Sellers
worked creatively intertwining the actors and story with the Bahamian
community both on land as well as beneath the ocean. Sellers captured
researched developments of human-dolphin interaction while bridging
fictional elements with actual ongoing supreme court rulings.