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Howard Hall Productions
Film Expeditions
Join NAI'A as part of the underwater film crew
for the world's top marine cinematographer.

Bula!

I'm Howard Hall and I'd like to invite you to join Michele and me aboard NAI'A on a special journey to film Fiji's coral reefs.

During the next year, we will be hosting a series of expeditions to Fiji, the primary location for our most recent IMAX® film, MacGillivray Freeman's Coral Reef Adventure. The IMAX® film, scheduled for release in February 2003, features the spectacular reefs and marine life of Fiji. Also featured in the film are our good friends Cat Holloway and Rob Barrel of Nai'a Cruises, who not only provided their on-camera talents for the film, but also organized the Fijian diving logistics and location consultation.

We will be returning to Fiji aboard Nai'a for a special extended-duration trip. The purpose of these expeditions will be to begin production of a television film about coral reefs and tropical marine life using high definition video. Passengers accompanying Rob, Cat, Michele, and Howard aboard Nai'a will have an opportunity to watch us at work and help in scouting for animal behavior sequences. In order to capture these sequences in detail, Naia will be spending 2-3 days at each of the dives sites we visit.

We will also offer slide shows about film production and marine life. In addition, we will show video versions of our films and offer discussion on production and editing.

We invite you to come and join the adventure!

Howard & Michele Hall

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Howard Hall filming with the IMAX rig in Fiji.

Dive on location at Fiji's finest dive sites alongside Howard and Michele Hall as they produce High-Definition video sequences telling the stories of life on a coral reef.

The Hall's are the most acclaimed marine natural history filmmakers in the world with TV series including Seasons of the Sea and Secrets of the Ocean Realm and IMAX® credits including The Living Sea, Into the Deep and Island of the Sharks. Their most recent work on MacGillivray Freeman Films' next IMAX® release, Coral Reef Adventure, gained them enormous familiarity with and admiration for Fiji's premier diving areas made famous by NAI'A. So, it made perfect sense for them to return, but this time armed to shoot with the latest in high-definition video technology.

This special 14-day filming expeditions throughout Fiji give you the chance to not only watch the Hall's at work underwater, but also to actually help them achieve the astonishing animal behaviour sequences for which they are so renowned. Using underwater communications systems to liaise with the director while diving, guests will be welcome to dive with the Halls to scout for locations or animals and help set up the shots. This filming activity will take place independent of the regular quality diving service and dive guiding that NAI'A offers. If you prefer to do your own diving, videography and photography but spend time learning from the Hall's back on the ship's deck or around the dinner table, Howard and Michele will be available for advice in finding and filming animals, assistance with the technical aspects of underwater photography and video, critiquing of each day's work and a professional insight into how to edit your efforts into a masterpiece. The duo will also present the behind-the-scenes tales and tricks of their award-winning productions throughout the world. Having welcomed them aboard NAI'A before, and worked alongside them during three months of filming Coral Reef Adventure, we learned that apart from their talent and expertise as filmmakers, Howard and Michele are great fun and entirely open about the ocean work and life they love so much.

The expedition itineraries will follow closely NAI'A's usual areas: Bligh Water, Namena Barrier Reef, E6 & Mt Mutiny, Wakaya and Gau. Time and weather permitting, 14-days does pose the possibility of us reaching further a-field and into even more remote areas. But with the filmmaker's focus on earning an intimate understanding of each site and its inhabitants (and thereby getting the perfect shot!), we plan to spend longer at each area than we do on a regular trip. This does NOT mean we will dive the same exact dive site for two days! Rather, that NAI'A will stay in the general area of several sites for 2-3 days instead of the 1-2 days normally spent. The flexibility of having three dive skiffs means that we can satisfy everyone's needs and explore the greatest variety of locations -- maybe even taking the time to find a few new ones! Our experience working on Coral Reef Adventure proved what we already suspected: life on these coral reefs is infinite and the longer you spend there, the more you will discover.

So, join us for these rare and exciting voyages aboard NAI'A and put yourself at the frontline of wildlife documentary production among what Howard Hall has called "the world's most beautiful coral reefs."