elephants, horses, and falcons

Alex, what are student film topics at the Gray's Reef Ocean Film Festival?

Seriously, those were the topics of three of the student films on Saturday.
There were also two films about the Okefenokee Swamp, one about abandoned theme parks, three which were swamp or marsh related, and two about marine lifeforms.
Yep, you heard right.
Of the eleven films accepted for screening at this ocean film festival, only two were directly about life in the ocean.
Pretty open-minded, right?
I certainly thought so.
The day began with a short: "TAGGED-YOU'RE IT!". The title says it all. To study the different species of fish that use Gray's Reef, some of those fish are tagged. Those fish then become the representatives for their species, allowing documentation of the importance of the reef to their existance.
Cool!
Then, "A Penguin's Life", originally slated for Friday, was at last screened. Yeah! How very nice to see the story from the young penguin's perspective! And, as on Friday, Greg Marshall was there to answer questions and encourage interest in the world around us.
Magnificent!
The next two films concerned oysters. Not a very glamorous topic, you say? Then perhaps you should view "Lifeline: A Chesapeake Oyster Documentary" and "Shellshocked" to become not only better informed, but an advocate for these mollusks which clean water more efficiently and effectively than our machines do.
Wondering how to help local oyster beds? Check out the G.E.O.R.G.I.A. program at the Savannah Marine Extension Service on Skidaway Island. Recycle those oyster shells - they'll help!
The next two hours were devoted to the student films. Lots of proud parents, lots of anxious filmmakers, and an audience eager to view! As I had said, these films covered a mixed bag of topics.
"Finding Sanctuary" concerned the plight of elephants which had been abused and worked nearly to death before their refuge was created in Thailand.
"Eternal Darkness" warned of the problems created when overzealous homeowners build long docks which block the path of dead marsh grass.
"Overgrown Kingdom" took us on a visual tour of deserted theme parks, now reclaimed by nature.
"Okefenokee: The American Amazon" and "Okefenokee: The Land of Trembling Earth" both introduced newcomers to the vast swamp in southern Georgia. My maternal grandparents lived near that swamp with its cypress knees and sweet-tea stained waters.
"We Easily Forget" sought to leave a video record of the flora and fauna of tidal marshes.
"Cheek By Jowl" had the interest of alligators at heart as it painted its picture of animals which look prehistoric but are not naturally vicious.
"My Side of the Falcon", by Marc Murano, was about the hobby, and new love, of a retired military man. Told by his loving wife to develop a hobby, working with raptors was the key to his sanity...and hers.
"Back On Track", by Kara Colvin, showed us aging racehorses gaining a second chance at life, in pastoral settings.
One film, "The Dolphin Project", reminded me of a gift given to me for my 40th birthday, a gift I had not yet redeemed. Named for the organization it documents, the film encouraged participation in working to save the dolphins native to this region of the low country. (When the weather warms again, remind me that I want to do this.)
The final film exhibited was also the first-place winner. "OCEARCH" followed the exploits of a crew hunting, and tagging, great white sharks, in an effort to learn more about their habits. Very interesting!
I stayed for the announcement of the winners, then I was off to retrieve the peace Guy from my house. Off we went to meet others for tacos and roasted marshmallows, then to Muse Arts Warehouse to view the six ten-minute masterpieces created for the finale of the Late Summer Night's 24-Hour Play Festival.
The night continued on as we helped Deborah celebrate her sweetie's birthday, first at the Crystal Beer Parlor, and then on to River Street for dancing and singing at Chuck's.
Sanity mostly restored...nice!
And the Ocean Film Festival will roll in for three more screenings tomorrow.
And I will be there to wiggle my toes in its surf!