On Set

Here’s a peek behind the curtain where all the magic is made.

Cool Locations

: The USS Lexington in Corpus Christie Bay.

: “Riverplay” exhibit at Creative Discovery Museum.

: Chickamauga Dam on the Tennessee River.

: Locks of Chickamauga Dam.

: Tennessee Aquarium’s Riverboat Explorer navigates the lock.

: Dave Lang from Atomic Films sets up a shot.

: Topside at Secret Reef tank.

: Directing Tennessee Aquarium’s Riverboat Explorer into position.

: The glass “peaks” of Tennessee Aquarium.

: Chattanooga Bluffs’ sculpture garden.

: Prepping set at Rainforest exhibit.

: Prepping to scout sea lions off coast of Cabo San Lucas.

: Sea of Cortez dive with sea lions.

: Shark Ray Bay Theater at Newport Aquarium.

: Dive deck at Newport Aquarium.

: Dolphin Bay at Texas State Aquarium.

Quiet On The Set

: Frog Bog

: Creative Discovery Museum’s “Riverplay.”

: Atomic Films’ Dave Lang preps camera.

: “Engineer” Lane in Chickamagua Dam’s control room.

: Anna and Zach find their marks.

: Makeshift fence for “Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari” spot.

: Crew preps backyard scene.

: Setting up the blue screen.

: Dennis Rutherford and Mark Alexander reviewing shots.

: RED Epic camera locked and loaded in underwater housing.

: Shark Tunnel shoot.

: This is our Aquarium.

: Lighting Penguins Rock exhibit.

: Chasing sundown in downtown Chattanooga.

: Mark Alexander and Dennis Rutherford.

: Shirt #9 during “The Artist” shoot.

Shark Infested

: Dave Theis and Rosie the Sand Tiger Shark.

: Dave Theis chasing sharks with the RED camera in underwater housing.

: Towing and shooting a fake shark fin in the Ohio River.

: Shark fin was flown in from Hollywood.

: Prepping for a dive with sharks.

: Dave Theis filming shark rays.

: Strength in numbers.

: Dave Theis getting eye-to-eye with a shark ray.

: Filming shark petting from underwater.

Fun With Critters

: The Aracari Director of Photography.

: Chattanooga Chuck’s Ground Hog Day predictions out-score Punxsutawney Phil’s.

: Butt-petting a hedgehog.

: Directing corn snakes.

: “Okay, now stretch out so we can get a profile.”

: Tarantula struts in straight line on cue.

: Box turtle hits his mark.

: Denver the sea turtle. Newport Aquarium’s king-of-the-tank.

: Newport Aquarium’s Ric Urban and “mini-mike” the gator.

Penguins-R-Us

: Mark Alexander directs an African penguin

: Ciara Bravo from Nickelodeon’s “Big Time Rush” with Paula the Penguin.

: Chinstrap penguin poses on green screen.

: Filming a king penguin.

: Jeff Barklage gets action shot of gentoo penguin.

: Stand in” penguins for CGI composition.

: Art Director Dennis Rutherford holds “scaled-to-size” penguins.

: Penguins will get place on the roof with CGI.

: Marketing Director Lynn Margason and her penguin crew.

: You are not allowed.

Dolphinmania

: Hugs.

: Studying dolphin behavior and patterns.

: Rehearsal.

: Directing dolphins.

: Jeff Barklage shares “shot list” with the talent. Jeff Barklage shares “shot list” with the talent.

: Ready for my close up.

: Come on in, the water’s fine.

: Director of Photography, Jeff Barklage, sets up shot.

: Dolphin trainer ready to roll.

: Scouting dolphins.

Favorite People

: Ciara Bravo from Nickelodeon’s “Big Time Rush” with Paula the Penguin.

: Lynn Margason, Marketing Director at Newport Aquarium

: Katie from Atomic Films and Thom Benson from Tennessee Aquarium

: Mermaid Melissa at AZA conference in Phoenix, AZ.

: Tennessee Aquarium’s Cindy Todd doubling as a diner.

: Bobby Stone from Atomic Films.

: National Geographic “Monster Fish” host Dr. Zeb Hogan with two Nat Geo associates.

: Dave Theis gears up for dive in the holding tank at Newport Aquarium.

: Jen Meeks, Mark Dvornak, Dave Theis and Steve Korb pre-dive safety prep.

: Jen Meeks, Mark Dvornak and Dave Theis warm up between dive 2 & 3.

: “Big Red” Jeff Barklage, Director of Photography.

: Texas State Aquarium’s dolphin trainer.

: Lowell Newberry’s 90th birthday with Andi.

: Dennis Rutherford with Photographer Mark Alexander.

: Curator and critter wrangler Ric Urban with “Mini Mike.”

Post-Set Production

: Nathan Neorr voices radio spot for Fota Wildlife Park in Cork, Ireland.

: Mark Cretcher at CommandX.

: Nathan Neorr voices radio spot for Fota Wildlife Park in Cork, Ireland.