‘Ocean' goes deep to look at highs, lows of deep blue seas
Director Toby Nowlan explains that the structure of the production that is now available on the National Geographic Channel was to examine the overarching theme of hope and then show the juxtaposition with the damage being done to the seas.
'The theme is we are living in the age of the greatest ocean discovery, and it is David's story of ocean discovery in the last 100 years, his lifetime,' Nowlan says. 'Through that lens you are seeing this ocean of wonder where every year we are discovering things that are transforming our idea of how vital the ocean is.
'Then there is the importance of the discovery of what we are doing to the seas and how we are demolishing the seabed. Just the act of showing some of that footage for the first time, the images speak for themselves.'
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Nowlan points out the last big wave of the documentary looks at there is real reason to hope to protect the oceans. What the team found was that areas of the ocean that have been devastated will recover far quicker than the way dry land rebounds.
The director comes to 'Ocean' having worked on a variety of projects dealing with nature. His credits include 'Our Planet,' 'Deadly Pole to Pole' and 'Wild Arabia.'
In the feature-length special Attenborough draws on his lifetime of exploration and knowledge of the sea to take audiences on a journey through the planet's most spectacular undersea habitats. Attenborough investigates diverse marine ecosystems, from bustling giant kelp jungles and coral reefs to towering seamount outposts within the open ocean. These are all revealed to be intricately connected, vital to avoiding climate catastrophe, and in peril due to destructive forms of fishing.
While Attenborough exposes the greatest threats to our oceans' health, he points to inspirational stories from around the world to reveal the most remarkable finding of all: If we take action now, the opportunity for marine life to recover on an unprecedented scale is well within our reach.
Attenborough's more than 70 years filming the natural world has made him the world's preeminent natural historian. The English broadcaster, writer, and naturalist is best known for his award-winning BBC documentaries, including 'Life on Earth,' 'Frozen Planet,' and the 'Blue Planet' series. His work has brought the natural world into homes and classrooms, inspiring millions and motivating action towards preservation.
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Nowlan stresses that the purpose of the film is to show that when it comes to the ocean, efforts to correct problems will be beneficial to every living creature or if ignored would spell total catastrophic disasters.
The documentary is filled with undersea footage that is so stunning it rivals any CGI work done in feature films. Director Keith Scholey is quick to point out that there were no computer-generated images used in the film. He says the reason the movie has such a stunning look comes from the initial plans to open the documentary in theaters.
'We made a lot of feature films before and we know that is kind of a high bar,' Scholey says. 'The starting point is the cinematographer. Underwater we have the best in the world in Doug Anderson who is not only a superb diver and superb underwater naturalist, but he has an incredible sense of natural composition.
'I think one of the reasons the images look different is Doug and his eye.'
Scholey knows the importance of cinematographers having worked on 'Guardians of the Galapagos,' 'Life on Our Planet' and 'Polar Bear.'
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Both men agree that the most vital part of the production was Attenborough. Despite being one year shy of reaching 100 years old, Attenborough continues to bring energy to every project.
Scholey – who has worked with Attenborough for 44 years – says, 'I met him when he was in his mid-50s, and he had it then, a huge energy and power. He has remained this person in his mid-50s because of his constant thirst for information, a constant interest in the world.
'I think it is that that keeps him modern all the time. The only way you can tell he has aged is that his accent has changed over time. Because that has happened because he has been modernizing himself.'
'Ocean with David Attenborough' debuted on the National Geographic Channel and is now available on the streaming services of Disney+ and Hulu.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Black America Web
3 hours ago
- Black America Web
Ryan Coogler's New Series Exposes the Real Story of Katrina & America
Source: Walt Disney Company / Walt Disney Company Two decades after Hurricane Katrina drowned New Orleans and exposed deep cracks in America's disaster response and racial divide, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is helping to tell the story like it's never been told before. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker has teamed up with Oscar-winning producers Simon and Jonathan Chinn ( Searching for Sugar Man ) and director Traci A. Curry ( Attica ) for Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time , a five-part National Geographic docuseries that brings viewers inside the storm—and the systemic failure that followed. 'This series goes beyond the headlines,' Coogler said. 'It reveals stories of survival, heroism, and resilience. It's a vital historical record and a call to witness, remember, and reckon with the truth of Hurricane Katrina's legacy.' Premiering July 27, the series opens in the sweltering summer of 2005 as Katrina barrels toward New Orleans. Episode one, The Coming Storm , sets the stage for what would become one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. But as the series makes clear, the tragedy wasn't just the hurricane—it was the government's failure to respond. Episode two, Worst Case Scenario , captures the terrifying moment the levees broke and the city began to flood 'like a bathtub.' With emergency services overwhelmed, everyday people risked their lives to save neighbors and strangers alike. Coogler, known for using his lens to amplify Black voices and lived experiences, said it was important that the story be told through the people who were there—not pundits or politicians. 'What happened in New Orleans wasn't just a natural disaster,' Coogler explained. 'It was the result of long-standing neglect, inequality, and abandonment. The people of New Orleans were left to fend for themselves.' As the episodes unfold— A Desperate Place , Shoot to Kill , and Wake Up Call —the series chronicles what happened in the days and weeks after the floodwaters rose. It is an unflinching narrative of survival and strength. Viewers are taken inside the Superdome, where thousands sought shelter in dire conditions. It shines a light on the chaos and confusion at the Convention Center, the militarized response, and the media-fueled narrative of looting that often overshadowed real stories of courage. Through it all, Race Against Time keeps its focus tight: the people who lived through Katrina. Their testimonies are raw, emotional, and unforgettable. Director Traci A. Curry brings a cinematic edge to the storytelling, with rare archival footage, urgent pacing, and cliffhanger endings that make each episode feel like a chapter in a larger American epic. Known for centering truth, dignity, and emotion in his work, Coogler said he approached the series the same way he approached Fruitvale Station or Judas and the Black Messiah —with deep respect for the lives behind the headlines. 'This is a story about community, about loss, but also about resilience,' Coogler said. 'The people of New Orleans didn't just survive—they resisted, they rebuilt, and they kept their culture alive.' The series also tackles the aftermath of the storm—how families were scattered across the country, how the city changed forever, and how, even now, the scars remain. While Race Against Time arrives 20 years after the storm, its urgency is very much present-day. It speaks to what happens when disaster meets inequality, when bureaucracy fails, and when Black lives are treated as expendable. 'This series is not just about what happened,' Coogler noted. 'It's about what we allowed to happen—and what we need to learn from it.' Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time premieres July 27 at 8/7c on National Geographic. All five episodes will stream July 28 on Disney+ and Hulu. Source: Jazmyn Summers / Jazmyn Summers Article by Jazmyn Summers. You can hear Jazmyn every morning on 'Jazmyn in the Morning 'on Sirius XM Channel 362 Grown Folk Jamz . Subscribe to J azmyn Summers' YouTube . Follow her on Facebook and Instagram. SEE ALSO


National Geographic
6 hours ago
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Illustration by NASA/ESA/STScI The Hubble Space Telescope snapped this image of our solar system's second-known interstellar visitor, a comet named for its discoverer, amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov. Photograph by NASA, ESA and D. Jewitt (UCLA) An entire catalog of interstellar objects, however, can help reveal how cosmic forces shape planetary systems over time. Right now, "there's a whole zoo of explanations for interstellar objects," says Susanne Pfalzner, an astrophysicist at Forschungszentrum Jülich, a research institution in Germany. The space rocks could have been ejected because of the gravitational jostling of giant planets fresh from the cosmic oven. Most stars form in clusters, and the crowded environment could force objects from several budding planetary systems to fly off. 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Hamilton Spectator
9 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
You can touch an actual piece of the Titanic at this interactive Toronto exhibit
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