Documentaries

THROUGH MY PRODUCTION COMPANY Blue Pluse Pictures I have produced a number of documentaries to draw attention to marine conservation issues. Some of my more recent work includes:

Sharks in Deep Trouble (21 min Documentary)

Sharks in Deep Trouble Awards: 1. Conservation Message Award, Montana Cine International Film Festival 2008; 2. Honorary Conservation Message Award; 3. Honorary Investigative Journalism Award, 32 International Wildlife Film Festival 2009; 4. Outstanding Achievement Award; 5. Conservation Message Award, Celebrate the Sea Festival 2009; 6. Best Information Film Award, Film Category A, at the 36th World Festival of Underwater Pictures 2009, AND 7. Best of Festival Award, Beneath the Waves Film Festival, 39th Benthic Ecology Meeting 2010.

Director, Producer, Camera, Editor, Research, Script and Narration: Lesley Rochat.  A Blue Pluse Pictures and SABC 2 Co-production.

I spent 2 years researching the subject and securing an opportunity to film on a longline vessel. I spent a night and 2 days on the vessel. It was broadcast on 50/50 in South Africa to over 1 million people. It contains footage rarely seen which shocked viewers, bringing many to tears. It is important to note that most of the footage was shot on a legal shark fishing boat and that the problem, as depicted in this film, does not lie with the fishers operating legally, but rather with the illegal fishers and the South African government's inadequate management and compliance of this resource. General inertia of governments worldwide in taking responsibility for their natural resources is driving many fish species, including many shark species to extinction. 

A Sharks Odyssey (3-part Documentary Series)

Producer, Director, Researcher, Script Writer, Editor, Presenter: Lesley Rochat. A Blue Pluse Pictures and SABC 2 Co-poduction.

This is a 3 part series which was broadcast on 50.50 Each episode was 15-20 minutes long.  Though I shot  a lot of it, I also worked with different cameramen. It follows my work with Maxine, and the SOSF Maxine, Science, Education and Awareness Programme, including Maxine's release. Watch the YouTube promo

Maxine's Journey (52 minute Documentary)

The compelling story of a shark, a woman, and the amazing journey they share.

Producer, Director, Editor, Writer, Presenter: Lesley Rochat. A Blue Pulse Pictures Production. Save Our Seas Foundation only funded the post production of one cut.

Maxine’s Journey is the remarkable true story of an extraordinary ragged tooth shark that narrowly escaped death twice before being displayed at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa. Here she stayed until a chance encounter with me, which set a course of events in motion that would see her returned to the ocean after nine years in captivity.

Maxine becomes the icon for an internationally recognised shark conservation project, the M-Sea Programme, and AOCA initiative, in collaboration with Two Oceans Aquarium, sponsored by the SOS till 2007. Before she was released she was satellite tagged so that we can track her movements. Soon she was joined by the other sharks that shared the tank with her.

I follow the path Maxine is expected to travel along a picturesque section of the Southern African coast in the hope that I will find Maxine. Along the way I learn more about the plight of sharks worldwide and meet leading scientists who aim to assist in their conservation. Evidently freedom for Maxine and the other sharks comes at a price for they must face the dangers of their world again – will Maxine be third time lucky?

SOSF: Tigers of the Sea (28 min HD Documentary)

Post Production direction, research, script and edit: Lesley Rochat. Executive Producer: Save Our Seas Foundation.

I was given 20 tapes of footage and asked to produce two half hour documentaries. It was a huge challenge. The result is a documentary that looks at research SOSF were once doing on tiger sharks in South Africa, while at the same time it highlights the issues that threaten the future survival of the resident population. This film provides key information on the biology and behaviour of this awe-inspiring shark.