by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
When a High Springs production company first envisioned a documentary on water’s journey from the clouds to our drinking glasses, it faced a dilemma: how to keep viewers interested in a story with water as its central character.
Karst Productions’ cameras followed human divers deep into Florida’s underground aquifers to make “Water’s Journey, the Hidden Rivers of Florida,” airing nationally on PBS beginning in October. Its intent was to show people how their everyday actions affect water quality. To really tell that story, Karst had to go not underground but into the ground; into places where no camera would fit. Producer Hill Heinerth wanted to trace water’s path through the roots of plants, through water pipes, and between grains of sand.
To turn that concept into on-screen reality, Karst contacted Jacksonville’s Digital Video Arts, where Director of Post Production Tony Haines said computer generated images were used to turn the movie’s liquid protagonist into an empathetic character.
“We blended natural sound with computer effects to create a powerful adrenalin rush that mirror’s water’s place in nature,” said Haines. “Our goal was to have the viewer care more for water at the end of the movie than when it started. In that sense it really is like watching the lead character of a movie.”
In addition to blending the computer generated shots with live footage, Haines said producing the movie for High Definition Television meant his crew and his equipment had to put in overtime.
While a regular television picture is rendered at about 500,000 pixels per frame, Haines said the high-definition, wide-screen picture required two million pixels per frame, meaning computer generated pictures had to be produced with much greater levels of detail and accuracy. Haines said the movie represented North Florida’s first high-definition production.
The efforts of DVA and Karst have already paid off more
than a month before the
movie’s scheduled Oct. 21 local premier on Ch. 7. The team
was recognized for several
international film making awards. Karst’s production team will travel this month to
the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival to accept an award
for the movie. “Water’s
Journey” beat out 500 entries submitted globally, including films from National Geographic, the Discovery Channel and NOVA.
Haines said the success already enjoyed would alert filmmakers to local talent.
“We have the talent right here in Jacksonville to create these kinds of movies. You don’t have to go to New York or Miami,” said Haines. “The awards are yet another sign that Jacksonville is on the rise as a city.”