TROUBLED WATERS: A TURTLE'S TALE
5 SUNCOAST EMMY NOMINATIONS - 2 SUNCOAST EMMY WINS IN 2020
Rory Fielding, Best Director, Non-Live (Post Produced) Film
Frazier Nivens, Felipe Marrou, Benjamin Hicks, & Jim Abernathy - Cinematography, Non-News Category

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Troubled Waters: A Turtle’s Tale

Exploring the impact of human behavior on our environment from the perspective of one of South Florida’s most beloved and fragile underwater creatures: the sea turtle. A critical look at the effects of global warming, water pollution, and our “throw-away” plastic lifestyle on this keystone species…and inevitably ourselves.

TWO-TIME EMMY WINNERS

Streaming on PBS.org and broadcast on local PBS stations in your city.

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ADDITIONAL MEDIA

Rory Fielding

Rory Fielding is an Emmy Award–winning director and producer and the Executive Producer of Rory Fielding Films. His environmental documentaries have earned nine Emmy nominations and four wins.

He produced the national PBS documentary Troubled Waters, featuring Ted Danson, which focuses on the human impact threatening our oceans and marine life. Troubled Waters has been broadcast throughout the United States on PBS and received five Emmy nominations, winning for Cinematography and Directing.

Fielding also produced 1955: Seven Days of Fall, the recipient of the New York Independent Film Festival Award for Best Documentary. 1955 has become a baseball classic and now resides in the Baseball Hall of Fame. It is the longest-running sports documentary in PBS history.

His film We’re All Plastic People Now explores the effects of plastic pollution not only on the oceans, but also on human health. The film received an Emmy Award for Long Form Documentary and airs nationally on PBS, with Ted Danson returning to introduce this groundbreaking work.

Fielding’s latest film, Descent: Into the Blue, merges the musical score of world-renowned composer Christophe Chagnard and the title song Into the Blue with stunning underwater photography. The film tells the story of the magical world beneath our oceans and the urgent need to protect coral reefs.

Descent: Into the Blue brings together musicians, poets, composers, and graphic artists for a multimedia experience. The film has been accepted into the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, Catalina Film Festival, and Orlando Film Festival. It was nominated for Directing and Original Musical Composition and won an Emmy Award for its original score.

Rory began his broadcast career as an investigative reporter for an NBC affiliate news station and was honored by the Associated Press for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. He is a graduate of the New York University Film School, where he also served as an Adjunct Professor. He continues to screen his films and guest lecture throughout the United States and serves as an Emmy judge for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Cortney Fielding

Is Co-Executive Producer of Rory Fielding Films and part of a father-daughter team. Cortney received her masters degree at the Annenberg School of Journalism at USC, Los Angeles. Her film writing and producing credits include the PBS national documentary ‘Troubled Waters: A Turtle’s Tale’ with Ted Danson and Peter Coyote. Other credits include The LA Times national syndication and NPR. Cortney is slated to Co-Produce and write Fielding Films’ new national documentary ‘Living the Plastic Fantastic: We’re All Plastic People Now’, which highlights the effects of plastic on our human health.

Frazier Nivens

Frazier Nivens is a world-acclaimed underwater cinematographer and ocean conservationist. Filming on the RED Epic Weapon, Frazier has been honored with multiple Emmys for his underwater filmmaking. Credits include National Geographic, Discovery’s Shark Week, Animal Planet, Nature, CNN, BBC, ABC, CBS and NBC. Frazier contributed principal underwater photography to the national PBS Documentary ‘Troubled Waters: A Turtle’s Tale’ & ‘Descent-Into the Blue’ with Rory Fielding Films.

Felipe Marrou

Luis Felipe Marrou Jr. is an Emmy Award–winning producer, director of photography, and filmmaker with more than 30 years of experience in television and documentary production. Through his company, VTM Productions, he has worked extensively on environmentally focused and socially impactful films for PBS and public television.

Luis Felipe’s work has earned multiple Emmy Awards, including for Troubled Waters: A Turtle’s Tale, We’re All Plastic People Now, and Changing Seas, along with numerous Telly and NETA Awards. His cinematography and storytelling have helped bring global attention to ocean conservation, wildlife protection, plastic pollution, and climate-related issues.

He has been a key creative collaborator on documentaries including Rory Fielding Films’ Troubled Waters: A Turtle’s Tale, We’re All Plastic People Now, and Descent Into the Blue, contributing powerful visuals and field production across challenging environments worldwide. His work continues to focus on environmental storytelling, conservation, and documentary filmmaking with lasting impact.

Dave Corona

In Memoriam

Dave Corona has more than 20 years of TV production experience. He started working at KPIX-TV, traveling the country on a magazine show called Mac & Mutley and continued with segments for HGTV, ZDTV, TECH-TV, Knowledge TV, and The Discovery Channel. In 2006 he became the Director of Photography for View from the Bay, ABC TV channel 7.

He has worked on projects around the world, filming King Tut’s tomb in Egypt and documentaries from South Korea, Australia, Hawaii and Fiji.

Along with Disney/ABC he developed the show Food Rush, a national cooking show with Chef Ryan Scott. For the past several years he’s been working the red carpet at the Oscars for ABC.

Dave is the recipient of numerous awards including 7 Emmys.

JERRY CARR

Just 27 when he stepped in front of the camera for the first time, Jerry Carr has gone on to become one of the most admired executives in broadcasting.

Jerry spent eleven years with WBFS TV Miami, where he served as Vice-President and General Manager.
He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of WXEL-TV and WXEL-FM, a PBS station in West Palm Beach, Florida. Jerry made his presence apparent with immediate improvement in the station’s financial status, while elevating program quality.
Mr. Carr is the former Chairman of the Florida Association of Broadcasters. He is also a member of the National Association of Broadcasters and the National Association of Television Programming Executives.

SCOTT ROGO

For over twenty years he has dedicated his efforts to post-production, where the magic is truly made. He honed his craft working at Avid Communications.

Scott has served as Senior Editor for Rory Fielding Films and Fast Focus Media since 2004, including our nationally acclaimed documentaries and music series Live at Capitol Records with Dave Koz. Scott produced and headed post production for the acclaimed documentary ‘1955: Seven Days of Fall’ and PBS documentary ‘Troubled Waters: A Turtle’s Tale’ by Rory Fielding Films. He received an Accolade Award of Excellence for ‘1955’-Seven Days of Fall and edited ‘Troubled Waters’. He Produced and Edited ‘We’re All Plastic People Now’, as well as produced & edited ‘Descent-Into The Blue’.

Thanks for Your Support

Gumbo Limbo Coastal Stewards
Monica & Terry Mayotte
Tom and Michele Peel
John Keith
Angela and Michael Gravallese
Dawn Ockelmann
Deborah Fox
Glen Fielding
Jeanette Wyneken
Laura Morgan
Lee Ronson

Maggie Johnson
Margaret Baxter
Michael Griffith
Mike and Yvonne Cisneros
Phyllis and James Greene
Randall and Kris Fielding
Robert Kerbeck
Sophie Baca
Stefani Farquharson
Wilma Fielding

THEO WEIERSTALL

Theo is an Emmy Award Winning producer, director, editor and writer in Phoenix, Arizona. He has been making short films since 2016 and graduated from the Sidney Poitier New American Film School in 2024.

Theo was an Associate Producer for Rory Fielding’s film We’re All Plastic People Now and is the team’s website and social media content manager.

MIA LAURENZO

Mia Laurenzo is a 37-year veteran of public television in Miami and began her career learning every aspect of video production. Her television experiences include producing for a series, special events and documentaries. As a documentary producer, her films have been distributed to PBS stations nationwide and have earned her six Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards.

Her freelance work with clients includes content writing, editing, video and audio production, marketing and media management for all platforms. She has been a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Suncoast Chapter’s board since 2020. She is currently the 2nd Vice President of the Chapter and Chair of the Student Production Awards Committee.

ROSIE PEARSON

Rosie Pearson served as manager for singer Marisela prior to transitioning to feature films and television. She served as a publicist and producer on films such as the Daytime Emmy nominated Rekindling Christmas. Rosie develops annual professional panels at San Diego’s Comic Con.

What’s most important to Rosie is her charitable contributions, having received major awards from the city of Los Angeles for her Millennium Stars Children’s Music Program, and also honored for her support of Wounded Warriors. Rosie serves on the board of Film It, West Covina, a nonprofit preparing filmmakers the young film makers of tomorrow. She also serves in the Los Angeles Chapter of Academy of Arts and Sciences as a member and Emmy judge.

Christophe Chagnard

Christophe Chagnard is an Emmy Award–winning, Grammy-nominated conductor and composer whose career has been defined by engagement through creativity. His work consistently addresses urgent global issues including climate change, systemic racism, and social justice, most notably through major compositions such as Gaman and Terra Nostra. Most recently, he won a Suncoast Emmy Award for Musical Composition/Arrangement for his work on the documentary Descent-Into The Blue.

Over a distinguished international career, Chagnard has led orchestras, operas, and ballets throughout North America and abroad, collaborating with many of the world’s leading soloists. He co-founded and led the Northwest Sinfonietta to national prominence for more than two decades and has been widely recognized for making classical music more accessible and inclusive. Deepening his environmental commitment, he founded Earth Creative, a nonprofit supporting artists who use nature as their medium to raise awareness about climate change. A gifted communicator and educator, Chagnard continues to inspire audiences through performance, composition, and advocacy.

JUSTIN FIELDING

Justin Fielding leads communications, web strategy, and promotional outreach for Rory Fielding Films. He manages the studio’s public-facing presence across the website, social platforms, and press, helping shape clear, engaging narratives that connect the films with audiences, festivals, and industry partners.

His work spans web content, social media coordination, press and awards support, and outreach efforts such as podcast bookings, interviews, and promotional appearances. With a background that blends creative production and operational experience, Justin brings a steady, practical approach to communications—focused on clarity, consistency, and follow-through.

TROUBLED WATERS: A TURTLE'S TALE5 SUNCOAST EMMY NOMINATIONS - 2 SUNCOAST EMMY WINS IN 2020Rory Fielding, Best Director, Non-Live (Post Produced) FilmFrazier Nivens, Felipe Marrou, Benjamin Hicks, & Jim Abernathy - Cinematography, Non-News Category