Plenty of people go to sea, but few people’s names become synonymous with it. There’s Capt. James Cook, the 18th-century explorer whose wake continues to inspire cruising itineraries all around the world. There’s Jacques Cousteau, the 20th-century adventurer whose legacy still leads people to don scuba gear and backroll into the deep for a look around. And in the world of fishing, there is Guy Harvey, the marine wildlife artist and conservationist whose work is even more ubiquitous than power pedestals on many marina docks today.
Harvey’s life and legacy are captured in a documentary film called, simply, Guy Harvey that premiered at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in February. The director and producer is Nick Nanton, who has won 24 Emmy awards, and who says Harvey’s work has been part of his life for years.
“I’ve grown up with Guy Harvey, the brand, being a part of everyday life,” Nanton says. “Literally every day I see someone wearing one of his signature shirts. What I became enamored with was Dr. Guy Harvey the artist and his love for the ocean and incredible dedication to conservation through his research. Guy Harvey bridges worlds. He’s as much a scientist as he is an artist, and his work has changed how millions of people see the ocean.”
The film, Nanton says, is intended to celebrate not just Harvey’s achievements, but also the conservation movement he inspired among all kinds of people.
Future show dates are expected to be announced at film festivals, along with theatrical, broadcast and streaming rollouts.
How They Made It
The documentary’s crew filmed across the Cayman Islands, Panama, California and Florida, combining underwater cinematography, exclusive interviews and unprecedented access to Guy Harvey’s world. Also appearing are artist and conservationist Robert Wyland; wildlife sculptor Kent Ullberg; photographer Jim Abernethy; Harvey’s children, Alex and Jessica Harvey; and dozens of other friends and colleagues.
