USS Cooper: Return to Ormoc Bay
Encyclopedia
USS Cooper: Return to Ormoc Bay is a 2001 Philippine documentary film
produced by Bigfoot Entertainment
and directed by Daniel Foster. The film documents the fate of an American destroyer
that was torpedoed during World War II
.
Traveling to dangerous depths, this film takes the time to remember fallen heroes, honor comrades and acknowledge those who made great sacrifices.
The film explores the state of tragedy, the incomprehension we face when confronted with great, unspeakable loss.
This documentary features Rob Lalumiere's record-breaking 193-meter dive to place a memorial plaque on the shipwreck.
Battle scenes feature a recreation of the USS Cooper as it dodges torpedoes, fires off salvos and careens through the moonlit night. The animators extensively researched how the ship sailed, sounded and turned. A model of the ship was created using Maya software, and was given motion, lighting and texture to bring it to life. Other key elements in these scenes involve accurate portrayal of waves, torpedo trajectories and munitions fire. In the documentary USS Cooper: Return to Ormoc Bay, the USS Cooper sails once again.
The animators brought subtle movement to 1940s photographs and documents donated by survivors and their families into which they breathed on new life, such as cigarette smoke wafts from a cigarette, sailors' hats soar in the air and champagne bursts from a bottle during the USS Cooper dedication ceremonies.
Since the documentary involves the complicated sport of technical diving, the CGI team also animated dive charts and decompression and gas mixing schedules to convey the intricacy of the dive, as well as the danger involved.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
produced by Bigfoot Entertainment
Bigfoot Entertainment
Bigfoot Entertainment is the parent company of Bigfoot Films, Bigfoot Productions, Bigfoot Production Services, Bigfoot Partners, the International Academy of Film and Television, and New Cebu Films...
and directed by Daniel Foster. The film documents the fate of an American destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
that was torpedoed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Synopsis
A daring world record scuba dive to the sunken is witnessed by a man who nearly perished on that same ship over sixty years ago. The destroyer was found to be at a depth of 633 feet (193 meters) -- deeper than the world record technical dive of 581 feet (177 meters).Traveling to dangerous depths, this film takes the time to remember fallen heroes, honor comrades and acknowledge those who made great sacrifices.
The film explores the state of tragedy, the incomprehension we face when confronted with great, unspeakable loss.
This documentary features Rob Lalumiere's record-breaking 193-meter dive to place a memorial plaque on the shipwreck.
Production Team
- Director/director: Daniel Foster
- Producers: Daniel Foster, Leica Cruz
- Executive Producers: Michael GleissnerMichael GleissnerMichael J. G. Gleissner is an entepreneur, film producer, director, screenwriter, actor, photographer, and musician.-Germany/USA:...
, Kacy AndrewsKacy AndrewsKacy Andrews is an American film producer and CEO of Bigfoot Entertainment.-Education:Kacy graduated Cum Laude from Ball State University in 1991 with a degree in telecommunications and continuing studies at the American Film Institute...
, Matt Lubetich - Associate Producer: Jeneth Borlasa
- Director of photography: Eugene Florendo
- Underwater videographer: Jacques Tarnero
- Editors: Daniel Foster, Kristoffer Villarino
- Composer: Mark Ambervill
Interview Subjects
- Rob Lalumiere: Diver
- Hank Wagener: Survivor
- Richard Sementelli: Eye Witness
- Veda Kelley: Widowed wife
CGI and animation
CGI and animation were crucial design elements in USS Cooper: Return to Ormoc Bay. Both were used to fill in story gaps and augment various memories by simulating the USS Cooper and creating movement within charts and old photographs. The night of December 3, 1944, springs to life in the documentary, replete with its inherent terror, chaos and suspense.Battle scenes feature a recreation of the USS Cooper as it dodges torpedoes, fires off salvos and careens through the moonlit night. The animators extensively researched how the ship sailed, sounded and turned. A model of the ship was created using Maya software, and was given motion, lighting and texture to bring it to life. Other key elements in these scenes involve accurate portrayal of waves, torpedo trajectories and munitions fire. In the documentary USS Cooper: Return to Ormoc Bay, the USS Cooper sails once again.
The animators brought subtle movement to 1940s photographs and documents donated by survivors and their families into which they breathed on new life, such as cigarette smoke wafts from a cigarette, sailors' hats soar in the air and champagne bursts from a bottle during the USS Cooper dedication ceremonies.
Since the documentary involves the complicated sport of technical diving, the CGI team also animated dive charts and decompression and gas mixing schedules to convey the intricacy of the dive, as well as the danger involved.