The Not Next Big Blue ?
Posted By Paul Kotik on 14 January 2007
Sky - Some of the most insightful and deeply meaningful experiences in my life have come through moments of flow during my finest performances in my sport. I wanted to communicate this and I found freediving as a sport that is strongly conducive to these kinds of experiences. I found it interesting that freediving has been so grossly misrepresented by mainstream media as dangerous and even deadly. There are so many parallels between freediving and traditions that cultivate meditation- Zen Buddhism, for example.
To amplify this spiritual aspect of freediving, we created a character that struggles with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the body’s ability to breathe. In many cultures and religions, breath and life are synonymous. Max confronts his own mortality daily, but by learning to control breathing through meditation and freediving, he gains control of his fight for life.
DB - Freediving and cystic fibrosis. It looks like you may have introduced two groups that may not have known much about one another. Do you plan to screen your film for the Cystic Fibrosis community?
Sky - The Greater Meaning of Water shows that people with cystic fibrosis can lead full, active lives and and can even thrive and extend their lifespans, perhaps with freediving as a part of the cure. During our research for the script, a study was released showing the positive effects of salt water on individuals with CF. the saline assists in reducing the severity and frequency of the infections. We also found an article chronicling an event where children with CF got to experience freediving by tandem dives. They would be strapped to an instructor and “ride along” on dives. The article emphasized that both the diving and physical activity were beneficial to CF patients.
The film bridges spirituality, on the one hand, with the practical principle that activity can be a part of the total solution. We're hoping to show the film to several of the non-profit organizations that fund CF research, and also to children that struggle with the disease. Theses children need to know there are options and even greater freedom through athletics. If The Greater Meaning of Water can raise awareness of cystic fibrosis, I think it would be great. If freediving could be used as a treatment for cystic fibrosis -now that would really be something!
DB - If you were asked today to come up with a tag line for the film, what would it be?
Sky - The deeper you dive into the ocean, the deeper you dive into yourself. That's the philosophical tag line. Practically: Freediving is not insane and you do not need to be suicidal to do it. Rather, if done properly it is one of the most beautiful and natural things we can do. Too long for a tag line?
DB - Oops, I think in Hollywood the first thing you're supposed to ask about a film is how much it cost to make !
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