Sea Americas
Austin, Texas | Series
Documentary, Adventure
Sea Americas launches a large-scale all-female expedition team to document the most threatened protected waters across the Americas. Your support funds the pilot that brings urgent underwater stories to life before they disappear.
Sea Americas
Austin, Texas | Series
Documentary, Adventure
1 Campaigns | Texas, United States
10 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,250
Goal: $25,000 for development
Sea Americas launches a large-scale all-female expedition team to document the most threatened protected waters across the Americas. Your support funds the pilot that brings urgent underwater stories to life before they disappear.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Sea Americas
One team. One chance.
Diving to save what remains.
Sea Americas is a cinematic expedition documentary following an accomplished team of female divers as they investigate the most urgent environmental mysteries unfolding beneath protected waters across the Americas.
From coral reef collapse and recovery to freshwater acidification, Arctic transformation, and biodiversity decline, each destination is framed as a question:
- What is happening here?
- Why does it matter?
- What can still be preserved?
This is not a studio production. It is a field expedition. The team conducts real dives, works alongside scientists and local experts, and documents ecosystems in real time as they shift.
Why this expedition is different: For much of my career, I worked alone, documenting fragile underwater environments one story at a time. Sea Americas marks a turning point. I have seen how much more powerful and responsible expedition storytelling becomes when the right team comes together. The divers joining this project represent the highest level of dedication and expedition experience I have worked alongside. Together, we can document threatened waters with a depth, safety, and perspective that would not be possible alone.
This pilot expedition is our opportunity to show what a unifie em can achieve, and to capture these stories while there is still time.
–Jennifer Idol, Host, Producer, and Cinematographer
This team includes the first woman to dive all 50 U.S. states, a Royal Canadian Geographical Society Explorer in Residence who mapped Antarctic ice caves, a freediving world champion, a NOAA maritime archaeologist from Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, stuntwomen from Avatar, Black Panther, and Pirates of the Caribbean, a professional mermaid and ocean educator with 50 million YouTube views, a reef-safe skincare pioneer who testified before the U.S. Senate, a marine ecologist featured in Enslaved with Samuel L. Jackson, a Hollywood film producer and award-winning conservation photographer, and an author whose works have sold over 200,000 copies. This is not an assembled cast. This is the team these waters deserve.
Why it matters: Protected waters are often seen as safe. Yet even within sanctuaries, species are declining, habitats are changing, and fragile systems are under pressure.
Sea Americas reveals both vulnerability and resilience. Some reefs are collapsing. Others are recovering. Some species are disappearing. Others are adapting.
The story is not simple. That is why we are diving in.
Oceans produce 50–70% of the oxygen we breathe. The Florida Keys' coral reef, the only barrier reef in North America, is dying in real time from disease, warming water, and runoff. Freshwater acidification is accelerating through the Great Lakes, threatening ecosystems and human health. Indigenous coastal cultures are losing ancestral waters as environmental change severs bonds that have held for generations. These are not distant projections. They are happening in the exact sanctuaries we are filming. Every season we delay is documentation we cannot recover.
What this campaign funds: Your support funds the first Sea Americas expedition pilot that will determine whether Sea Americas becomes a full documentary series.
This pilot allows us to bring the team together, capture the first major expedition story, and present a finished cinematic segment to broadcasters, streaming platforms, and conservation partners. This is the bridge between idea and impact.
Pilot expedition timeline
- May — team assembly and pre-production
- July — principal expedition filming
- August — pilot assembly edit
- Fall — distributor presentation
Several ecosystems featured in the pilot are undergoing rapid change now. Filming within this seasonal window is essential to documenting what is happening in real time.
Why support: Because these stories cannot wait.
Sea Americas is built to reach global audiences through premium documentary storytelling. With your support, we can document these waters while they still exist and share their stories widely.
Help unlock the Sea Americas expedition pilot.
Join the team documenting these waters before they change forever.
Where we are
Pre-production is complete. The expedition team is assembled. The June filming window is confirmed. This campaign is the bridge between preparation and the water.
What happens next
The pilot is assembled by August and presented to broadcasters, streaming platforms, and conservation partners in fall. Backers receive private early viewing access before any public release. You see it first.
If we exceed our goal
A second sanctuary destination is added to the pilot, expanding the story arc and the scientific scope of what we document.
Follow this campaign now — every follower before launch signals momentum and helps this film get made.
Pledge in the first 48 hours — early backing is the single most important factor in whether a campaign succeeds.
Share this with one person who cares about the ocean.
Visit SeaAmericas.com
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Expedition team airfare
Costs $12,000
Flights to bring the expedition team together in Florida for coordinated pilot production.
Topside Camera Operator
Costs $3,000
Dedicated cinematographer for land-based and boat-based filming during principal photography.
Production audio recordist
Costs $2,000
Professional field audio capture for interviews and expedition dialogue.
Editor (pilot assembly)
Costs $3,500
Editorial assembly and refinement of the proof-of-concept pilot segment.
Equipment logistics
Costs $1,000
Transport, prep, and maintenance of camera, dive gear, and lighting systems.
Insurance and permits
Costs $1,000
Production insurance and filming permissions for protected waters.
Campaign fulfillment and reward production
Costs $1,000
Fine art print production, tote deposit, and supporter shipping logistics.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jennifer Idol
Producer, Host, and Underwater Cinematographer
Jennifer Idol is an expedition leader, underwater filmmaker, and visual storyteller connecting audiences to the natural world through immersive marine imagery. A native Texan who flew over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, she was driven to raise awareness of local waters through a five-year quest to become the first woman to dive all 50 U.S. states.
She chronicled this journey in her book An American Immersion and has published work in DIVER, Scuba Diving, and Alert Diver. Jennifer is a PADI® Ambassadiver, a member of the Ocean Artists Society, and a Fellow of The Explorers Club. Her work bridges exploration, conservation, and cinematic storytelling.
Alex Rose
Producer, Host, and Underwater Cinematographer
Alex Rose holds a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Aquatic Biology, bringing scientific rigor to her work as a marine storyteller. She serves as Science Editor and principal writer for Ocean Geographic Magazine and Managing Editor of Ocean Geographic Explorers.
A professional violinist and filmmaker, Alex integrates science, music, and visual storytelling to translate complex marine issues into emotionally resonant narratives. Her mission is to protect marine habitats through diving, research, education, and media.
Keero Birla
Director
Keero Birla is an award-winning producer and director of documentaries, television series, and IMAX® films that blend cinematic spectacle with environmental and cultural storytelling.
His recent work includes the Emmy-nominated The Space Race (Disney+), Tiger Tiger, winner of the Warner Prize at the Environmental Film Festival, and IMAX® films including India: Kingdom of the Tiger and Dinosaurs Alive 3D. With more than 150 hours of factual television directing and writing, Keero brings large-scale cinematic experience and global distribution credibility to Sea Americas.
Justin Alderfer
Executive Producer
Justin Alderfer is a producer with over 25 years of experience in documentary and reality television. His credits include The Real World, Storage Wars, Mama June, and Below Deck. Equally skilled in field production and post, Justin brings deep expertise in production management, storytelling, and delivery across major networks.
Renfro ‘Gippetto’ Hodge
Executive Producer
Renfro “Gippetto” Hodge is a Caribbean-born producer with experience across film and television projects for networks including BET, Amazon Prime, WEtv, and others. His work has premiered at Tribeca, ABFF, The Micheaux Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival.
He was selected for the Disney CTDI database for screenwriting and completed the Plenty of Pie television producer incubator founded by three-time Emmy-winning producer Sasheen Artis. Gippetto brings a strong background in development and culturally resonant storytelling.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Sea Americas
One team. One chance.
Diving to save what remains.
Sea Americas is a cinematic expedition documentary following an accomplished team of female divers as they investigate the most urgent environmental mysteries unfolding beneath protected waters across the Americas.
From coral reef collapse and recovery to freshwater acidification, Arctic transformation, and biodiversity decline, each destination is framed as a question:
- What is happening here?
- Why does it matter?
- What can still be preserved?
This is not a studio production. It is a field expedition. The team conducts real dives, works alongside scientists and local experts, and documents ecosystems in real time as they shift.
Why this expedition is different: For much of my career, I worked alone, documenting fragile underwater environments one story at a time. Sea Americas marks a turning point. I have seen how much more powerful and responsible expedition storytelling becomes when the right team comes together. The divers joining this project represent the highest level of dedication and expedition experience I have worked alongside. Together, we can document threatened waters with a depth, safety, and perspective that would not be possible alone.
This pilot expedition is our opportunity to show what a unifie em can achieve, and to capture these stories while there is still time.
–Jennifer Idol, Host, Producer, and Cinematographer
This team includes the first woman to dive all 50 U.S. states, a Royal Canadian Geographical Society Explorer in Residence who mapped Antarctic ice caves, a freediving world champion, a NOAA maritime archaeologist from Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, stuntwomen from Avatar, Black Panther, and Pirates of the Caribbean, a professional mermaid and ocean educator with 50 million YouTube views, a reef-safe skincare pioneer who testified before the U.S. Senate, a marine ecologist featured in Enslaved with Samuel L. Jackson, a Hollywood film producer and award-winning conservation photographer, and an author whose works have sold over 200,000 copies. This is not an assembled cast. This is the team these waters deserve.
Why it matters: Protected waters are often seen as safe. Yet even within sanctuaries, species are declining, habitats are changing, and fragile systems are under pressure.
Sea Americas reveals both vulnerability and resilience. Some reefs are collapsing. Others are recovering. Some species are disappearing. Others are adapting.
The story is not simple. That is why we are diving in.
Oceans produce 50–70% of the oxygen we breathe. The Florida Keys' coral reef, the only barrier reef in North America, is dying in real time from disease, warming water, and runoff. Freshwater acidification is accelerating through the Great Lakes, threatening ecosystems and human health. Indigenous coastal cultures are losing ancestral waters as environmental change severs bonds that have held for generations. These are not distant projections. They are happening in the exact sanctuaries we are filming. Every season we delay is documentation we cannot recover.
What this campaign funds: Your support funds the first Sea Americas expedition pilot that will determine whether Sea Americas becomes a full documentary series.
This pilot allows us to bring the team together, capture the first major expedition story, and present a finished cinematic segment to broadcasters, streaming platforms, and conservation partners. This is the bridge between idea and impact.
Pilot expedition timeline
- May — team assembly and pre-production
- July — principal expedition filming
- August — pilot assembly edit
- Fall — distributor presentation
Several ecosystems featured in the pilot are undergoing rapid change now. Filming within this seasonal window is essential to documenting what is happening in real time.
Why support: Because these stories cannot wait.
Sea Americas is built to reach global audiences through premium documentary storytelling. With your support, we can document these waters while they still exist and share their stories widely.
Help unlock the Sea Americas expedition pilot.
Join the team documenting these waters before they change forever.
Where we are
Pre-production is complete. The expedition team is assembled. The June filming window is confirmed. This campaign is the bridge between preparation and the water.
What happens next
The pilot is assembled by August and presented to broadcasters, streaming platforms, and conservation partners in fall. Backers receive private early viewing access before any public release. You see it first.
If we exceed our goal
A second sanctuary destination is added to the pilot, expanding the story arc and the scientific scope of what we document.
Follow this campaign now — every follower before launch signals momentum and helps this film get made.
Pledge in the first 48 hours — early backing is the single most important factor in whether a campaign succeeds.
Share this with one person who cares about the ocean.
Visit SeaAmericas.com
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Expedition team airfare
Costs $12,000
Flights to bring the expedition team together in Florida for coordinated pilot production.
Topside Camera Operator
Costs $3,000
Dedicated cinematographer for land-based and boat-based filming during principal photography.
Production audio recordist
Costs $2,000
Professional field audio capture for interviews and expedition dialogue.
Editor (pilot assembly)
Costs $3,500
Editorial assembly and refinement of the proof-of-concept pilot segment.
Equipment logistics
Costs $1,000
Transport, prep, and maintenance of camera, dive gear, and lighting systems.
Insurance and permits
Costs $1,000
Production insurance and filming permissions for protected waters.
Campaign fulfillment and reward production
Costs $1,000
Fine art print production, tote deposit, and supporter shipping logistics.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Jennifer Idol
Producer, Host, and Underwater Cinematographer
Jennifer Idol is an expedition leader, underwater filmmaker, and visual storyteller connecting audiences to the natural world through immersive marine imagery. A native Texan who flew over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, she was driven to raise awareness of local waters through a five-year quest to become the first woman to dive all 50 U.S. states.
She chronicled this journey in her book An American Immersion and has published work in DIVER, Scuba Diving, and Alert Diver. Jennifer is a PADI® Ambassadiver, a member of the Ocean Artists Society, and a Fellow of The Explorers Club. Her work bridges exploration, conservation, and cinematic storytelling.
Alex Rose
Producer, Host, and Underwater Cinematographer
Alex Rose holds a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Aquatic Biology, bringing scientific rigor to her work as a marine storyteller. She serves as Science Editor and principal writer for Ocean Geographic Magazine and Managing Editor of Ocean Geographic Explorers.
A professional violinist and filmmaker, Alex integrates science, music, and visual storytelling to translate complex marine issues into emotionally resonant narratives. Her mission is to protect marine habitats through diving, research, education, and media.
Keero Birla
Director
Keero Birla is an award-winning producer and director of documentaries, television series, and IMAX® films that blend cinematic spectacle with environmental and cultural storytelling.
His recent work includes the Emmy-nominated The Space Race (Disney+), Tiger Tiger, winner of the Warner Prize at the Environmental Film Festival, and IMAX® films including India: Kingdom of the Tiger and Dinosaurs Alive 3D. With more than 150 hours of factual television directing and writing, Keero brings large-scale cinematic experience and global distribution credibility to Sea Americas.
Justin Alderfer
Executive Producer
Justin Alderfer is a producer with over 25 years of experience in documentary and reality television. His credits include The Real World, Storage Wars, Mama June, and Below Deck. Equally skilled in field production and post, Justin brings deep expertise in production management, storytelling, and delivery across major networks.
Renfro ‘Gippetto’ Hodge
Executive Producer
Renfro “Gippetto” Hodge is a Caribbean-born producer with experience across film and television projects for networks including BET, Amazon Prime, WEtv, and others. His work has premiered at Tribeca, ABFF, The Micheaux Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival.
He was selected for the Disney CTDI database for screenwriting and completed the Plenty of Pie television producer incubator founded by three-time Emmy-winning producer Sasheen Artis. Gippetto brings a strong background in development and culturally resonant storytelling.