Filmmaker Tasha Van Zandt descended over half a mile to the ocean floor in a submersible to document the pioneering work of marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder, according to production notes and interviews from a recent screening of the documentary A Life Illuminated. Widder’s decades of deep-sea research, including the invention of remote monitoring systems and optical lures, have revealed bioluminescence as a prevalent form of communication in the ocean depths, providing unprecedented footage of marine life such as a live giant squid.
Deep-Sea Submersible Descents Reveal Bioluminescent Ecosystems
Reaching the ocean floor required submersibles capable of withstanding extreme atmospheric pressures, according to project background. Dr. Edie Widder founded the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) to design devices for unobtrusive deep-sea observation. Her innovations include an “eye-in-the-sea” system utilizing far-red illumination, which evades the detection of deep-sea creatures, and an “electronic jellyfish” optical lure.
By deploying the electronic jellyfish, Widder became the first person to capture video of a live giant squid in its natural habitat in 2012, according to project accounts. Director Tasha Van Zandt noted that seeing this footage years later sparked the creation of A Life Illuminated, prompting her to reach out to the marine biologist in 2020.
Did you know?
Light sensitivity in professional photography is measured in ISO. While standard daylight settings typically use ISO 800, producer-director of photography Sebastian Zeck used specialized Canon cameras set to ISO 100,000 to capture the faint bioluminescent flashback effect in total darkness during the final deep-sea dive.
Capturing the Flashback Effect on Camera
A central focus of the film follows Widder’s mission to record the flashback effect, observing how bioluminescent marine animals respond when flashed with light from a darkened submersible. Producer-director of photography Sebastian Zeck explained at a Santa Monica Q&A that filming this sequence required extreme technical adjustments. Utilizing specialized Canon cameras, the crew shot the sequence at ISO 100,000 to register the faint glow of the deep sea.
During the dive, the crew observed numerous organisms reacting to the light source. Van Zandt described the visual environment as resembling the Milky Way surrounded by blue glitter, noting that cameras also captured a tomopterid worm glowing in golden orange alongside the blue bioluminescence.
Theatrical Screenings and Festival Runs
A Life Illuminated, produced by Sandbox Films and XTR, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, according to screening schedules. The documentary has since traveled to multiple events, including the Camden International Film Festival in Maine, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival in Arkansas, CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, and SFFILM’s Doc Stories.
The film began its theatrical run at DCTV Firehouse Cinema in Manhattan and opened at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco. Screenings feature post-film Q&A sessions, including an event moderated by oceanographer Sylvia Earle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the subject of A Life Illuminated?
The documentary focuses on pioneering marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder and her decades of research into deep-sea bioluminescence, according to production materials.
How was the deep-sea footage captured?
Director Tasha Van Zandt and producer-director of photography Sebastian Zeck filmed from a submersible using specialized Canon cameras set to an ISO of 100,000 to record faint bioluminescent displays in complete darkness.
Where can audiences watch the film?
Following a festival run spanning international and domestic events, the documentary opened in select theaters in Manhattan and San Francisco, with ongoing festival and theatrical screenings.
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