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Howard & Michele Hall

Underwater Filmmakers & Giant-Screen Cinema Pioneers

Howard and Michele Hall built a filmmaking partnership around a deceptively simple method: spend enough time underwater for the animal to do something real. Meeting the demands of IMAX film, stereo cameras and remote field locations required invention and logistics, but the purpose was always to let natural behavior carry the story.

Career

A filmmaking partnership whose work spans more than 100 television projects, multiple giant-screen features and seven Emmy Awards, with Michele producing and managing complex field operations and Howard directing and photographing marine wildlife.

Signature Contributions

  • Created the first underwater IMAX 3D feature, Into the Deep.
  • Produced and directed major giant-screen films including Island of the Sharks, Deep Sea 3D, Under the Sea 3D and Secrets of the Sea 3D.
  • Created the five-hour PBS series Secrets of the Ocean Realm.
  • Established a patient, behavior-first approach to underwater natural-history filmmaking.

Timeline

  1. Early 1970s · Howard’s professional film career begins

    Developed as an underwater wildlife cinematographer, photographer, writer and producer.

  2. 1975 · Michele begins diving

    Started the underwater experience that later became central to production, photography and field leadership.

  3. 1990 · Seasons in the Sea

    Howard’s landmark natural-history film won the Golden Panda at Wildscreen.

  4. 1990–1991 · Michele enters full-time production

    Left a long pediatric-nursing career to produce films and manage the growing visual archive.

  5. 1994 · Into the Deep

    Howard directed the first underwater IMAX 3D feature.

  6. 1997–1998 · Secrets of the Ocean Realm

    Howard directed and Michele produced the five-hour PBS series on marine behavior.

  7. 1999 · Island of the Sharks

    Michele produced and Howard directed the IMAX film at Cocos Island.

  8. 2005–2009 · Deep Sea 3D and Under the Sea 3D

    Returned to giant-screen stereo production with two internationally recognized films.

  9. 2022 · Soul of the Ocean and Secrets of the Sea 3D

    Released new feature work continuing their marine-wildlife and conservation storytelling.

Media Work

More than 100 television projects and a defining body of IMAX and 3D marine-natural-history films.

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