A love, respect for sea lions

Elia Powers

“California Sea Lions: An Unforgettable Encounter,” is a love story,

though not in the traditional cinematic sense.

Filmmaker Alan De Herrera shows his endearment through a camera

lens, following the mammals as they twist under water and interact

with each other in their natural habitat.

The 40-minute film plays tonight at the Newport Dunes Waterfront

Resort and features narration by Sean Astin, one of the stars of “The

Lord of the Rings.”

A portion of the proceeds will go to Newport Beach-based Orange

County Coastkeeper, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting

the region’s natural resources.

De Herrera decided to focus the film on sea lions after a

memorable encounter in 2000. He was snorkeling off the shores of

Laguna Beach when he spotted a female sea lion swimming toward him.

“She came right up to me, about 12 inches from my face,” De

Herrera said. “I wasn’t sure if the sea lion was going to attack me.

She started spinning and I followed her under water. It was like we

were doing a ballet together.”

De Herrera visited the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna

Beach to inquire about making a short nature film. Michele Hunter,

the center’s director of operations and animal care, encouraged De

Herrera to go ahead with the project.

He partnered with the center, featuring employees on camera as

they performed sea lion rescue and rehabilitation missions.

Through De Herrera’s research, he discovered some troubling facts:

California sea lions are particularly prone to cancer because they

often stay near the shore and swim in polluted water; and they are

easy targets for fishermen who shoot them during outings.

A portion of the film outlines problems facing California sea

lions and offers environmental solutions. But De Herrera said

exposing the general public to the mammals’ disposition is the true

purpose of the movie.

To better understand his subjects, De Herrera teamed up with

Fullerton College Professor Carolyn Heath, who has spent years

studying sea lion behavior.

Heath appears on camera to provide perspective on ecological

issues.

“I was pleased with the way he made an effort to capture some of

the typical behaviors,” Heath said. “Sea lions don’t have as good of

public relations agents as dolphins, so he’s doing a great service.”

In the film, De Herrera takes viewers on a virtual, overhead tour

of the Channel Islands, where the majority of California sea lions

live during spring and summer months.

He traveled to the islands with a crew of six people in early 2002

to begin filming. De Herrera said he often spent days alone on the

islands shooting underwater scenes.

De Herrera said he modeled the film after IMAX productions, using

dramatic visual shots to illustrate the sea lions’ movement.

After about three years of production, “California Sea Lions” made

its premiere at last year’s Newport Beach Film Festival, but De

Herrera said that wasn’t a finished version.

He intends to take this version of the film across the country to

raise money for a variety of preservation organizations and schools.

“There have been a lot of cutbacks on grants,” he said. “I figure

if my film can be used as a means to educate and fundraise, I will be

doing my part.”

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at

[email protected].