My Story
I want to become a documentary filmmaker. I want to film anything and everything that I think the world should be able to see that isn't available to them at their doorstep. Especially when is comes to marine biology and ocean conservation. There are so many problems out there than can be fixed with just a little effort, and I want to expose those issues. But I need lots of help to do it.
I graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2011 and a big dream to move out to California and create impacting films. A big goal yes, but it has been my dream since I got my first book about whales when I was six years old. All I've wanted since then was to document everything and anything I see in the ocean, and keep their environment safe.
So I worked hard for years saving up to move to San Diego from little Rhode Island where I believe there are more opportunities out here for me.
Did you know that the largest Eastern Pacific green sea turtle ever recorded has been known to spend time in San Diego Bay? The turtle, affectionately known to local scientists as “Wrinklebutt” due to the unique deformity of her shell, weighs in at a hefty 550 pounds!
Researchers from the Marine Turtle Research Program at the NOAA - Fisheries (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Southwest Fisheries Science Center captured, weighed, and released her on February 1, 2006, as part of an ongoing green turtle research project in South Bay. A satellite transmitter was attached to her shell, allowing researchers to track her movements for several months until the transmitter's battery expired in late June 2006.
How does this local-record holder like to spend her time in San Diego Bay? She probably enjoys foraging on eelgrass and resting in the warm water throughout South Bay. Dr. Peter Dutton, Dr. Jeff Seminoff, and researchers at SWFSC mapped her movements to learn how this enormous turtle makes use of different habitats within her environment, and whether she ever migrates out of San Diego Bay. Throughout the 4-month period during which the transmitter provided information, “Wrinklebutt” did not appear to leave the bay.
What We Need & What You Get
The equipment I don't have includes an underwater camera, Mac computer, and the film editing program Final Cut Pro. My best option would probably be a GoPro because they do produce great footage and are inexpensive. If anyone would like to help me raise some money to make my dream a reality it would mean the world to me!