Sea Venture Film

After several years in production the projected release date is summer 2013

This is the ultimate Bermuda history, culture, shipwreck film, shot in HD and produced to Network standards.

The film: 'Downing's Wreck - The Story of the Sea Venture' reviews the period of colonial expansion and the events of 1609 that led to the settlement of Bermuda before turning its attention to more recent times and the account of the Sea Venture's rediscovery in 1959, her identification and the study of her surviving timbers.

The study of the Sea Venture straddles a fascinating period in maritime archaeology, from its inception to the present day use of computer modeling techniques, each step shedding new light on Bermuda's most celebrated ship wreck.

Detailed mapping of the Sea Venture's timbers, a rare Elizabethan shipwright's manuscript and modeling software has allowed researchers to extrapolate the missing timbers and for the first time, allow us to see what the Sea Venture really looked like.

Further analysis with ship design software at the University of Southampton has demonstrated that her hull was exceptionally well designed and built specifically for the conditions of an Atlantic crossing - this allows us to address one of the key assumptions regarding the Sea Venture story - that her hull was not fit for purpose.

Historians have theorized that her deficiencies resulted in her being 'swallowed up' by the storm leading to the ship's demise. The archaeological research however, concludes that it was the fact that the hull was of such good design that she survived an incredible three and a half days in a hurricane, able to deliver her passengers safely to Bermuda and start over 400 years of our history. 

Its thanks to this ship not because of her that things turned out as they did - for all of us.

Here is a preview of a DRAFT version of the 2nd of 5 chapters from the documentary.

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This film has in part been made possible by the generous support of the following (if you would like to support this project, please contact us for more information):

Cahow Cam Project Press Conference

LookBermuda | LookFilms launch the Nonsuch Island Cahow Cam Project for Earth Day 2013

Please click here for our blog about the project and video streams from the Cahow Burrows or watch the BerNews YouTube video of the press conference below:

Photography for historic Chelston Estate

LookBermuda photographer Jean-Pierre Rouja recently produced the photography for the historic Chelston Estate, a world-class family compound which has been listed by Sinclair Realty, the exclusive Bermuda affiliate for Christie's International Real Estate.

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2011 Convening of Parliament - Virtual Tour by LookBermuda

Click to launch virtual tour of Convening of Parliament, November 4th, 2011

Mary-Celestia film receives international press coverage.

The Mary-Celestia film project continues to receive extensive coverage in major international publications:

This includes several hundred thousand hits via National Geographic:

We have also bee featured on the cover and in multiple pages in Archaeology Magazine:

Mary-Celestia film: dedicated website launched.

Blog and trailer for our upcoming Mary-Celestia film (click to view):

HumpBack Whales

A clip from a humpback whale encounter this spring.

We later found out that this was the famous "Magical Whale" which had starred in Andrew Stevenson's film and hadn't been seen in several years.

We will posting more to this story so please check back-

Higher Ground the Cahow Translocation Project Movie Online

View Movie Here:

Statement from Minister of Education re: Cahow Film Launch

"I am pleased to lend my support to the work of the LookBermuda Educational Media Foundation. 

Their efforts to visually document Bermuda's unique heritage, history and culture has opened up that world in a way that captures the attention and imagination of our young people and ensures that generations in the future will also understand the importance of sustaining our Island home. 

This film on the Cahow, Bermuda's National Bird, will be an asset to schools as they lead students through the local curriculum. 

I thank the Foundation and Jean Pierre Rouja for this contribution that will help to make teaching and learning in Bermuda even more interesting.

Dame Jennifer Smith, DBE, JP, DHumL, MP, Minister of Education.”

Royal Gazette: "Higher Ground" The Cahow Translocation Project - Film Launch

Photo: Chris BurvilleHalf a century of Herculean effort to increase the perilously small numbers of Bermuda's endemic cahow has culminated in this project's most remarkable achievement relocating a colony of the species to the safety of higher ground onto the island of Nonsuch in Castle Harbour.

Tonight a film entitled "Higher Ground" the Cahow Translocation Project will be launched, focusing on this unique management programme designed by Conservation Office Jeremy Madeiros to save Bermuda's national bird, and to safeguard its future.

JP Rouja of LookBermuda, the media company which produced Higher Ground, said: “The film follows the work of the translocation project between 2005 and 2010 as the team move chicks from the crumbling outlying islands and create a new and secure nesting colony on the island of Nonsuch.”

The film, the making of which was supported by Hannover Life Re, Butterfield and Vallis, the Audubon Society and BZS, will be broadcast on LookTV Cable Vision channel 001, online at LookBermuda.com and as an interactive curriculum asset through the LookBermuda Educational Media Foundation for the Public, Private and Home Schools.

It is showing Thursday evening at BUEI, for VIPs, Sponsors and Educators.

Anyone that has not received an invitation and is interested should send an email via the form on LookBermuda.com to be added to the list for future screenings.

Reefs, Wrecks and Renegades film launched.

Reefs, Wrecks and Renegades film viewable here:

Bermuda Sun: Film charts the discovery of a Bermuda shipwreck

The Bermuda Sloop Foundation, The National Museum and LookBermuda collaborate. An educational film charting the discovery and conservation of Bermuda’s shipwrecks has been launched. The short documentary — Reefs, Wrecks and Renegades: A Journey of Discovery Aboard The Spirit of Bermuda — has been made by the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, National Museum of Bermuda and LookBermuda. It follows the journey of 500 Middle 3 students who took part in the research project through five-day learning expeditions aboard the Spirit of Bermuda.

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Bermuda National Trust Award

The Deforest Trimingham Award was presented to LookBermuda "For creating a wonderful series of environmental films to educate the community".

Bermuda Sun: LookBermuda launches educational film series

LookBermuda has launched a series of educational documentaries in partnership with the Ministry of Education covering Bermuda’s rich history, heritage and environment... The ongoing series of films will be integrated into both the public and private curriculums in Bermuda.

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Royal Gazette: Film project is added to school curriculum

Film project is added to school curriculum: : The LookBermuda production company has teamed up with Government to bring their educational films to the public school curriculum.

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Royal Gazette: The Riddle of the Crest: A logical and highly entertaining history lesson

For those who don't know much about history, and even for those who do, LookBermuda's 'The Riddle of the Crest' is a fascinating investigation of a puzzle that has baffled historians for years... The film outlines the process by which Dr. Rouja came to the conclusion that the wreck on the Bermuda coat of arms is not a fanciful creation of some 17th Century artist but an actual historic wreck – just not that of the Sea Venture.

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Strategic Partnership with Ministry of Education announced.

Remarks for The Hon. Elvin James, JP, MP, Minister of Education : LookBermuda today launched “Riddle of the Crest”, the first in a series of educational films. We look forward to continuing the process of developing a strategic partnership with LookBermuda – a partnership that will produce the best results for our students...

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Documentary Series Preview

Here is a preview of some of the films from our Documentary Series that we currently have in production:

"Riddle of the Crest" documentary in full HD now here!

Here is a the full 30 minute version of The Riddle of the Crest, viewable in Hi Definition. It is the first of a series of Educational Documentaries that we will be releasing in 2010.

Travel Channel Bermuda segments.

The first of several segments that we worked on with Shane O and the Travel Channel this past summer, (see our Sophie @ 0:45):

Other Travel Channel segments: 

Bermuda Scuba Diving Clip  | 

Crystal Caves Clip  |

Bermuda Top 5 Beaches Clip  |

Bermuda Cocktails Clip  |