KIMBERLEY, AUSTRALIA DAY 4: GANTHEAUME POINT
6 minute read: Go behind the scenes of a filmmaking expedition in the remote Northwest region of Australia, The Kimberley. In this 14-part series, we’ll share the highs and lows, from marathon shoots aboard luxurious yachts to heart-stopping encounters with nature's fiercest creatures. Welcome to the wild side of cinema. (Part 4 of 14)
waiting for the perfect light at sunrise on Gantheaume PoinT WITH TALENT MANJIT & BRITT
Prehistoric Vibes
As the hues of dawn painted the horizon, my stomach continued doing somersaults. But it was game time. Day four of our filmmaking expedition in Kimberley, Australia, marked the transition from anticipation to action. The air filled with excitement as we prepared to embark the Akiko, the vessel that would ferry us through the rugged beauty of the Kimberley coast.
Did we plan correctly over the last six months? Time to find out.
But before we set sail, there were stories waiting to be told in Broome. Our morning began with a journey to the legendary Gantheaume Point, where the ancient whispers of the land mingled with the salty air. Here, surrounded by ochre cliffs and the waves, we sought to symbolize touching the past—a human hand reaching out to touch the footprint of a dinosaur.
DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS WITH BRITT
For me, this moment was the essence of our journey. It wasn't just about capturing video and photographs; it was about weaving together threads of history, nature, and human connection. And at the heart of it all were our lead talents, Manjit and Britt.
Manjit & Britt’s chemistry both on and off camera infused our project with authenticity and depth.
Our Cast
Our team’s bond with Manjit and Britt wasn't built in the comfort of a studio but amidst the unpredictable embrace of the ocean. From filming in submarines to traversing Caribbean islands, we shared moments of camaraderie that laid the foundation for creative flow in the Kimberley. Simply put, spending 10 hours in a submarine is a great way to know how much one enjoy’s another company.
Frequent collaborators, Manjt & Britt on set felt like a filmmaking reunion. It was this foundation of trust that guided our approach to filmmaking, where short lenses brought us closer not just to our subjects but to each other.
Gantheaume PoinT AT SUNRISE WITH MANJIT & BRITT ©SEABOURN
The Arrival
Writer Andrew and I were the first members of our team to approach Gantheaume Point. On the inside, I felt horrible, but nature has a way of speaking to our souls to overcome simple physical adversities. As we walked, the colors of the landscape started to shine. The sun rose and we sprung into action, orchestrating a symphony of photo, video, drones, and human hands.
Every shot was a delicate dance between timing and technique, a testament to the dedication and expertise of the crew. Seeing the golden glow upon the ancient sands, we knew that we had experienced something truly extraordinary. Moments like this are why I love filmmaking & photography. The pressure was on, the light was right, and our team moved like a Nascar pit crew.
©SEABOURN
©SEABOURN
The morning ended with high fives. I thought, “What an incredible start.”
Immediately after that thought, our luck went downhill. Unfortunately, our interview talent had a last minute emergency. We were advised it could be an hour or a few hours. On location, changes constantly threaten to derail our carefully laid plans, testing the adaptability of our crew. If we decided to wait a few hours, that would push our embarkation into the dark.
✅ Storyboard of human hand touching dinosaur footprint
Let’s embark before dark!
Rewind to our original game plan 3 months ago: crew & talent travel back to the hotel and prepare for boarding the Akiko, no easy task. Team packs all our gear on a 4X4 and drives onto the beach. Production team & Akiko crew hand-carries each piece of luggage across the beach through knee deep water onto a small vessel. After loading, the small vessel takes our gear, crew, and talent to the Akiko, docked in the bay. We said early on in pre-production, “No matter what happens, let’s embark before it gets dark.”
The crew sends gratitude to Broome after capturing the dinosaur footprint at Gantheaume POINT | Arri alexa mini + atlas Orion series lenses
The two-camera interview setup on Roebuck Bay in Broome | Arri alexa mini + atlas Orion lenses
Marc immediately started coordinating alternative options with the Akiko team and our production crew. We waited 1 hour. Then 2 hours. Then 4 hours. We really wanted this interview.
Unfortunately, the wait ended unsuccessfully. On the way back to the hotel, the crew alerted us wallabies were on the hotel property. “Perfect, let’s redeem ourselves,” I thought.
We arrived at the hotel and scrambled to shoot. With approximately 10-15 minutes left of filmmable light, I was sweating. We turned on the camera and composed our shot. Boom! The wallaby family exits the frame and runs into the woods. We failed again. Zero usable shots in the afternoon. Ouch!
Embarkation in darkness
Tik, tok, tik, tok…our clock is ticking to board the Akiko. We were losing light and we needed to complete the embarkation of 26 bags, crew, & talent. “No matter what happens, let’s embark before it gets dark” was lost in the pivot.
Producer Marc & I were the last two members of our team to embark the Akiko in full darkness. As we approached, we heard commotion. “A three and half meter hammerhead shark was just here,” said Expedition Leader Robin. “Here?” Marc and I shouted together. “Yes!” responded Robin enthusiastically. Stage one of the marine adventure!
boarding the akiko
CREW CABIN ONBOARD AKIKO with emergency Pringles
The stars began to twinkle overhead as we boarded the vessel. “Wow,” I thought to myself. “What will we see tomorrow...”
Up next on The Dash: day five in Horizontal Falls, named the 8th wonder of the world by David Attenborough.
