Director Sven Dreesbach Takes Viewers to New Depths with Underwater Film for Oceaner Freediving

“Bird’s Eye View” soars, winning multiple accolades in film craft categories

Making waves on the festival and awards circuits is a new documentary-style branded short film from award-winning director Sven Dreesbach of Revolutio Creative in partnership with Canadian diving brand Oceaner.  Shot entirely underwater on iPhone 13, “Bird’s Eye View” takes audiences on a sublime, moody, cinematic freediving visual that implores one to take a deep look within and at the instincts that allow one to truly live and provide us a beating heart in this life.

The Los Angeles-based filmmaker who cut his teeth in the industry by honing his skills working with leading directors like David Fincher, Edgar Wright, and Andrew Thomas Huang, is no stranger to filming in frigid conditions deep below sea level.  A few years ago Dreesbach made a splash on the scene with his underwater shooting talents, creating extremely sophisticated commissioned work for Apple. Using only his iPhone XS, Dreesbach’s “The Reef,” went on to garner multiple awards and festival wins. 

It was more than apropos that a partnership made sense when Dreesbach and Oceaner began discussing a new film project last year. The main goal at the helm was how the brand could best showcase its custom-tailored REC45 suit in the cold waters and incredible underwater scenery of Catalina. With an idea that had been in his head for years, Oceaner Freediving joined forces with Dreesbach’s production company Revolutio Creative, and got to work in bringing “Bird’s Eye View” to life. 

Showcasing Oceaner’s 6.0mm REC45 wetsuit, the film stars freediver Sarah Sylvester who dons the diving attire amongst the stunning, captivating underwater scenery of Catalina.

The short film opens with our hero, Slyvester, introducing audiences to what it means to submerge your body and soul into The Ocean. Centering  around her single dive on just one single breath, the film takes the viewer on a journey back to a time when our lives had just begun. Told with ethereally beautiful underwater photography of a freediver exploring a kelp forest in the depths of the ocean, “Birds’ Eye View” explores the primal relationship between man and the sea. It dares to shine a light on what viscerally attracts us to it by drawing a direct connection to instincts long lost along one’s path to becoming human.

Shot over two weeks in Catalina Island, the branded short commercial project utilized iPhone 13 Pro MAX, RED Komodo 6k, Mac Pro, Resolve, Nuke, as well as the instrumental  Filmic Pro app and its new frame.io integration.

“Sven Dreesbach is a great example of a talented filmmaker who has used FilLMiC Pro for a variety of use cases and to great effect over the years,” shared Neill Barham, CEO of FilLMiC Pro. “What his latest work for Oceaner shows is that small businesses can get a cutting edge production experience with features like ProRes and integrations with Frame.io ensuring spectacular results for the client and valuable cost savings at the same time.”

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The short film has already been awarded with multiple accolades, including three gold trophies at the recent W3 Awards for Best Use of Videography/Cinematography in the Video Features category and Branded Entertainment in both the Sports and Commercials categories. Additionally, “Bird’s Eye View” shortlisted at the prestigious 1.4 Awards in London, was nominated in the commercial category at the BAFTA-qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival, and has also recently been awarded a Bronze statuette at the CLIO Sports Awards in New York in the Cinematography Category. The film is also being lauded for multiple additional cinematography honors, including becoming a finalist for best cinematography at the prestigious One Screen Short Film Festival in NYC and receiving a nomination at the Natourale Environmental Film Festival in Wiesbaden, Germany.

“Working on this project with Oceaner utilizing Filmic Pros impressive technology to showcase the ocean as a reflection of how alike we are to water, and how it breathes just as we do if we both listen to our instinct and take heed of its message to us, has been so rewarding,” expressed Dreesbach. “I’m so thrilled that this film is resonating with so many people and continues to be shared and inspire people around the world.

CREDITS

Client/Brand: Oceaner Free Diving
Oceaner Founder: Mitch Mallender
Director: Sven Dreesbach
Production: Revolutio Creative
Talent: Lea Catania / Sarah Sylvester
Camera Operator//Marine Coordinator: Brooke Basse 
Editor: Eric Tosstorff / Sven Dreesbach
Music: Dominic Edgley
Mix: Sound Foundry Berlin
SFX: Connor Birch
VFX/Color: Revolutio Creative
Publicist: Carrie Wick
Voice Over: Sally Steiner 

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