Exploring human connection with the ocean
Show notes
A few years ago, we all experienced something new, strange and frightening, and during that time looked to nature for solace. In the same year that the global pandemic kept us all indoors, a Netflix documentary about one man’s relationship with the ocean and his journey to finding meaning in his interactions with an octopus captured our imaginations and resonated with people all around the world. My Octopus Teacher went on to receive global acclaim, winning an Oscar for ‘Best Documentary Feature’. On this episode of World of Sharks, award-winning film-maker and conservation storyteller Pippa Ehrlich, one of the film’s two directors, discusses why she feels people connected so much with the film, and the power of emotion in conservation storytelling. We also chat about Pippa’s journey from investigative journalism to film, her passion for telling the stories of scientists, and her own love for sharks, the ocean, and the wider natural world.
As always, we start at the beginning and find out where Pippa’s love of the ocean began. Her most memorable experience goes back to a free-dive in Mozambique, where she was presented with an astounding ‘wall of fish’ [07.05]. Mesmerised, Pippa watched as the wall parted, revealing a large bull shark. At first, she wondered what the shark was looking at, before realising that she was what it was interested in! Remembering the advice of a fellow diver, Pippa removed her snorkel and screamed into the water. Startled by the sudden stream of bubbles and vibrations, the bull shark turned and fled. Pippa remembers this as a life-changing moment – realising that even huge, predatory animals experience fear.
Long before her confrontation with a bull shark however, Pippa had a strong affinity to water. Growing up a long way from the sea in Johannesburg, she craved water and looked forward to visits to her grandparents house in Simonstown where she could swim in the ocean [10.20]. Many years later, Pippa would come to know the kelp forests of that coastline extremely well, and even film My Octopus Teacher there. But first, she needed to learn how to dive. She can even recall her first open water dive at Port Elizabeth – despite getting lost, she still loved the feeling of being underwater [11.24]. Pippa went on to dive all over the world, including the coral reefs of Thailand. But returning to South Africa’s kelp forest was a magical experience for her. Seeing beneath the surface of the place she had played in as a child, and experiencing the diversity of life under the waves, changed something in her [12.35]. She describes it as being able to fly through a forest canopy, observing the changing seasons just as you would on land.
Pippa began her career as an investigative journalist, working on TV programmes like Carte Blanche in South Africa [14.40]. However she wasn’t happy, and struggled to connect with the stories she was being commissioned to write – until one assignment that took her to meet astrophysicists working with the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) telescope. In the middle of nowhere, in the desert region of the Karoo, sat huge satellite dishes, and extremely passionate scientists whose eyes lit up when talking about their project. Pippa says this ignited something in her, and she discovered a love for science that she hadn’t realised before. A short time after, she applied for a job at the Save Our Seas Foundation after seeing an advertisement on social media, and worked for the foundation for four years [17.00]. Her primary role was to tell the stories of the many project leaders around the world, translating their science into something the public could connect with, writing articles and making short films. It was a dream come true for Pippa, who got a “crash course” in ocean science. She was also able to travel to places like the Bimini Field Station, and the D’Arros research centre in the Seychelles – the latter of which was “life-changing”. Pippa was struck by its beauty, and the sheer diversity of life that showed her what nature could be, and what was possible if it was cared for [20.40].
Pippa’s transition into film-making was driven by frustration about the lack of action for sharks and rays [23.20]. She began to re-evaluate her approach to conservation storytelling, and wondered how to grab the attention of a non-scientific audience in the same way that something like true crime, or sports, seemed to be able to do. At the same time she was also searching for a deeper connection with the ocean for herself. Along the way, Pippa met Craig Foster, founder of the Sea Change Project. Craig had a deep love and knowledge for the Great African Seaforest, and introduced Pippa to the practice of cold water immersion [27.30]. In the waters of False Bay – where My Octopus Teacher was shot – the temperature can hit lows of 10-12 degrees Celsius! Slowly, Pippa was able to spend longer in the water without a wetsuit, and believes that this training provided her with a great tool for the trials and tribulations of life. She learned a great deal from Craig, who knew so much about the kelp forest and its inhabitants, but was also a film-maker himself and could offer valuable insight on the short films that she was making for the Save Our Seas Foundation [30.31]. They worked extremely well together, and a little while later Craig sent her the treatment for a film that would revolve around the seaforest – which would later become My Octopus Teacher.
Pippa immediately knew this was the type of story she had been searching for. It covered all the themes that humans resonated with – family, finding happiness and purpose – but through the lens of experiencing nature. Although My Octopus Teacher did feature some threats and some jeopardy (in both the Octopus and Craig’s lives), it did not pressure the viewer into a call for action. Instead, Pippa wanted the film to have a bigger message of what it means to be a human being, sharing the planet with so many other non-human species [35.40]. And, as the film was released in 2020, many people could connect with Craig’s story on a deeper level as so many sought meaning themselves [37.15].
Pippa’s latest film will tell a similar story, of emotion and hope and the beauty of nature, but this time for sharks and rays – and of the Save Our Seas Foundation [38.18]. Older Than Trees is a film produced by Pippa for the Foundation’s 20th anniversary, which falls in 2023. Pippa wanted the film to reflect on the history and achievements of the Foundation, without it feeling like a “corporate film”. It was difficult to find the right direction, until she remembered a conversation she had had with SOSF CEO Dr James Lea. He has worked with the Foundation almost since its beginning, and conducted his research on silky sharks in the red sea – research that was made difficult by the huge decline in silky shark numbers, which he saw in real time. This drove him to dedicate his life to saving sharks. Pippa felt that James’ story perfectly encapsulated that of the Foundation, and so Older Than Trees is told through his eyes. It tells a hopeful story, but also an emotional one.
It is often difficult for scientists to reveal this more emotional, subjective side of themselves, as they are trained to be objective. But Pippa feels that including this more ‘human’ approach to storytelling can help more people to connect with science [42.50]. Emotion drives action. People have to feel something, in order to be compelled to act. She believes that this is slowly happening for sharks [48.00]. Good storytelling is helping more people to connect with sharks on a deeper level, and realise their vulnerability.
ABOUT OUT GUEST
PIPPA EHRLICH
Pippa is an Oscar-winning filmmaker and freelance conservation journalist. She co-wrote, edited and directed the multi-award-winning Netflix documentary My Octopus Teacher. For the last five years, she has worked for the Sea Change Project, an organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting the Great African Seaforest. Prior to this she was a conservation journalist for the Save Our Seas Foundation, telling stories of the Foundation’s project leaders across the world. For the last decade, Pippa has specialised in the intersection between people and the natural world, particularly the marine environment. She has worked with the world’s top marine researchers and underwater photographers. She is also an avid scuba and free diver.
My Octopus Teacher received more than 20 international awards, including the prestigious Wildscreen Golden Panda, Jackson Wild’s Grand Teton, the IDA’s Pare Lorentz, the PGA for best Documentary Motion Picture, and a BAFTA.
Twitter: @PippaEhrlich
Instragram: @the_rewilding
