How We Became Whale People

Written by Blue | Published on December 2, 2024

Film

Residency

Let’s be honest: when someone says, “I’m off to the Mediterranean for seven weeks to make a film about whales,” your first thought is probably, “Ah, lovely. Sitting on the beach, drinking rosé, occasionally glancing at a dolphin.” Spoiler alert: it’s not like that at all. Making a documentary about Mediterranean whales, as our brave residents at Rocabella are discovering, is more sweat, spreadsheets, and sperm whales than anyone might reasonably expect.

Thanks to the Blue Endowment Fund, six wildly talented (and slightly terrified) creative souls from all over France have come together to make a short film about whales. But don’t let the end goal fool you—this residency isn’t just about a finished product. It’s about plunging into creativity, figuring out how to work with strangers, and maybe, just maybe, saving the planet along the way.

Week 1: Whales, Wine, and Why Are We Here?

The journey began as all good creative endeavors do: with a tour, a presentation, and a “What have I signed up for?” moment. Our residents were introduced to their temporary home, Rocabella—a villa so stunning it practically demands its own Instagram account. Georgia Eriksen, residency coordinator extraordinaire, kicked things off with a crash course in Mediterranean whales: their lives, their struggles, and why humans insist on making so much noise (spoiler: it’s mostly yachts).

Next came the team-building workshops with Marie Bouadjenak, a coach who is basically the Gandalf of group dynamics. She got everyone talking, sharing, and occasionally laughing nervously as they explored how to collaborate without wanting to strangle each other.

Adding a sprinkle of inspiration, Alain Barcelo and Louise Freyburger from Port-Cros National Park swung by with their dolphin documentary. Nothing like watching majestic marine mammals on screen to make you think, “Wow, I hope we don’t screw this up.”

Week 2: Noise, Nonsense, and Networking

By week two, the residents were knee-deep in the gritty reality of marine life. Noise pollution? It’s the underwater equivalent of living next to a 24-hour construction site. Denis Ody from WWF France and biologist-diver-superhero Sébastien Personnic broke down whale communication, ship collisions, and biopsy techniques (which sound like something out of CSI: Cetacean).

Meanwhile, producer-director Marie-Anne Sorba led a writing workshop under the Mediterranean sun. Imagine a group of slightly stressed filmmakers, notebooks in hand, trying to craft the perfect narrative while also wondering if their sunburn was getting worse. The focus? Sound and communication, because if whales can do it in the middle of the ocean, we can manage it on land.

The week ended with a field trip to Saint-Maxime for Miraceti’s 10th-anniversary celebration of High-Quality Whale Watching. Translation: networking, whale facts, and the occasional moment of “Oh no, do I sound like I know what I’m talking about?”

Week 3: Eco, Ego, and Excel Spreadsheets

This week was all about sustainability—because let’s face it, saving whales while trashing the environment with your film production is not a good look. Pauline Gil from EcoProd showed the group how to make eco-responsible films without sacrificing creativity (or their budgets). Think less “plastic bottles everywhere” and more “we brought our own mugs, thank you very much.”

With their green filmmaking skills leveled up, the residents turned to logistics. They locked in locations, booked interviews, and wrestled with archive footage permissions. Glamorous? Not exactly. Necessary? Absolutely.

Week 4: Shooting the Shots (and the Breeze)

Filming has officially begun, and the residents are on the move—exploring local gems like Sanary-Sur-Mer, Marseille, and Porquerolles with a rental car and an unshakable determination to get the shot. The Mediterranean isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a character in their story, all sparkling waters and dramatic coastlines.

For a weekend curveball, the team pitched their documentary ideas on camera as part of a self-development exercise. If you’ve ever tried to explain something you deeply care about while staring into a lens, you’ll understand: it’s half therapy session, half performance art.

Coming Up: Whales in Post-Production

Next week, the filming continues, but the finish line is in sight. After two weeks of shooting, the team will dive into post-production, with workshops on how to get their masterpiece seen by the world. Because what’s the point of saving the whales if no one knows about it?

Stay tuned for updates as our residents continue their odyssey into the world of Mediterranean whales. If nothing else, they’re proving that creativity, collaboration, and a healthy dose of caffeine can tackle just about anything—even the vast, noisy, complicated ocean.

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