Smog of the Sea

Marine scientist Marcus Eriksen invited renowned surfers Keith and Dan Malloy, musician Jack Johnson, spearfisher Kimi Werner, and bodysurfer Mark Cunningham to join him on a one-week journey through the Sargasso Sea to assess the fate of plastics in the world’s oceans. After years of hearing about ocean “garbage patches,” the crew is stunned to learn they are actually a “fog” of microplastics—trillions of barely visible shards—permeating the world’s oceans. How do you stop a fog? Using nostalgic super8 footage, sparkling underwater cinematography, an original score by Jack Johnson and shipmate Simon Beins, and live-action footage of the crew’s research, Ian Cheney’s The Smog of the Sea provides a new perspective on marine pollution, and makes an artful call to action for rethinking the scourge of the sea—single-use plastic.

Screens as part of Shorts First 1.

Director Ian Cheney in attendance