ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS is the story of one of the ocean’s largest but most overlooked creatures: the Basking shark.

Once a common presence in Irish waters, this giant had all but vanished from Irish waters until recently. This film follows a team of scientists in their first season of research. It's a race to unlock the secrets of an endangered species that is still teetering on the edge of extinction with estimates of as few as 6,000 sharks left on the planet. Their expedition is a journey marked by both triumph and heartbreak—reminding us that scientific discovery is a crooked path paved with uncertainty, resilience, and adaptation.

At the heart of this story are Alexandra McInturf and Haley Dolton—two young, determined shark biologists navigating a field still heavily dominated by men. With courage and grit, they undertake something never before attempted: tagging and tracking entire groups of Basking sharks during their fleeting migration through Irish waters. The work is both groundbreaking and deeply personal and a testament to what it means to follow your passion in the face of doubt and pressure.

The film also brings us to a small coastal village, where memories of a now-defunct shark fishery linger. Paddy Lineen (a local) and Claire Mullen (an actor from Dublin) recall how, decades ago, the Basking shark brought much-needed income to a struggling community. But with that gain came loss: the systematic slaughter of a species. Their reflections are both poignant and haunting, a reminder that even a small group of people can leave a lasting mark on the natural world.

Alexandra McInturf (top left) and Haley Dolton (top right) are the main participants and lead the scientific expedition to study the Basking sharks of Western Ireland. Claire Mullen (bottom left) and Paddy Lineen (bottom right) recount tales of shark fishing in the 20th century.

By the end of the journey, Alex and Haley uncover extraordinary new insights into the social lives and behavior of Basking sharks, data that changes everything we know about these enigmatic creatures. Their achievements lay the groundwork for future generations of scientists. But despite these victories, the road ahead is uncertain. There are large-scale forces that could drive these sharks back toward the brink of extinction. Factory fishing, climate change, and indifference still threaten their fragile resurgence...

There are three driving forces that have kept me energized and moving forward on this film:

ONE: CONSERVATION AS THE "C WORD"

We need higher quality and more responsible shark storytelling. Colleagues and I have been told countless times by people in high places that "sharks that don't bite, don't rate"...and "spectacle is the number one thing, science is secondary". Conservation has been literally referred to as the "C Word" - a ratings killer to be avoided. I reject these notions. There is a quantifiable thirst for thoughtful and multi-dimensional content. We have been FASCINATED by sharks since the beginning of time. Yes, they can be dangerous and scary. But that is only one part of the story. Let's dig deeper, let's tell better stories, and let's make a positive impact. The current narrative will not change on its own. Let's do something about that...together!

Stills from Shark Island, a 1951 British film that features prominently in GIANTS. Shark Island used the Achill shark fishery as a backdrop and captured the only footage of the operation at its height. Claire Mullen, just 17 years old, is seated in the boat on the far right. It was her first job as an actor. Four crew film members were killed during production - still the largest loss of life on a film set in history. Claire is still acting at age 95.

TWO: EMPOWERMENT OF A NEW GENERATION OF SHARK SCIENTISTS

We envision this film as an agent of change in two important ways: how we look at these animals, and who our heroes are. By showcasing Alexandra and Haley’s accomplishments, this film provides a much-needed example of the important work women scientists are doing for shark conservation. According to “A Content Analysis of 32 Years of Shark Week Documentaries,” by Lisa Whitenack, Discovery Channel's Shark Week experts were 79% male over that multi-generational period. In addition, according to a Reality Blurred article by Andy Dehnart, in 2020, when Discovery Channel released its Shark Week schedule, every scientist and researcher mentioned by name was a man. The needle has moved in the right direction in the past five years, but there is more work to be done.

With GIANTS, we want to contribute to combatting what shark scientist Amani Webber-Schultz articulated in a 2020 Scientific American article by Dr. Catherine McDonald. Webber-Schultz noted that "seeing almost exclusively white male scientists featured stopped me from believing becoming a shark scientist was even a possibility for me.”

Upon completion, the film will be part of an extensive outreach program in schools and other interest groups to highlight the work of women in this field. If it inspires one child to pursue a dream that may have seemed impossible - I will consider the film a success.

Dr. Catherine McDonald is the Director of the Field School and a leader in the effort to champion women and minority representation in marine biology and shark science, has agreed to be an advisor on the film and the outreach campaign.

THREE - THE BIG PICTURE: INSPIRE ACTION

As the population of our planet grows, our oceans are being stressed by larger and larger threats to its overall health. This film is a powerful reminder that even the smallest effort can leave a lasting legacy—and that the future of our oceans depends on what we choose to do now. With climate science under attack, it is more important than ever that messages like this get out into the world to inform and inspire.

Financially speaking, many, including the BBC, have passed on this story solely based on economics. Shortened timelines often means the exclusion of animals that aren’t readily accessible. I value exploration and intellectual curiosity. To tell this story, I had to be singular, nimble, and patient. I was enmeshed in a scientific mission for eight weeks over three years.

We need more content to inspire action. We can not expect people to engage in urgent and necessary conservation if they don’t know a problem exists. The world population of Basking sharks is in the danger zone. This is part of why it is important for this film to reach audiences.

THE BARRIER TO COMPLETING THE FILM IS NOW SOLELY A FINANCIAL ONE

Our initial funding goal is $20,000. Your support will:

ONE: Help us finish capturing the story this summer. From August 28th - September 1st the best and the brightest Basking shark scientists in the world (including Alex and Haley) are gathering in Galway, Ireland. This is our best - and most economical - opportunity to capture lots of additional interviews and footage that we need to complete the film.

IBSG Conference 2025: https://www.baskingshark.ie/conference2025

TWO: Launch into editing a Rough Cut of the film. Any additional funds raised above and beyond what we need to shoot in Ireland, will be allocated to the beginning of the edit process. Every penny above our goal pushes us closer to completing the film, and getting it out for everyone to see.

BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE!

Here are the FOUR ways you can help support our film:

• You can PLEDGE a donation to our project. Any amount helps!

• If you can't contribute - that's OK! SHARE our campaign page. Amplifying the message beyond our close circles is essential to success. If you have a platform and five minutes, PLEASE help us continue to grow our database of supporters.

• Click the heart "FOLLOW" button at the top of our crowdfunding page. You will get updates, even if you don't pledge.

• Follow the film on INSTAGRAM - @ontheshouldersofgiantsfilm - for updates and announcements.

THANK YOU!

Haley scans for a shark tag. Attempting to tag a shark by hand. The team approaches a massive shark.