There’s something quietly powerful about a great short film: you step into another world for only a few minutes, but it stays with you long after the credits roll. The Kelp Collector is exactly that kind of story — a beautifully observed ocean portrait that’s about to hit the big screen at the Ocean Film Festival.
Made by a filmmaker originally from Williamstown, Victoria and now based in Townsville, Far North Queensland, The Kelp Collector is a warm, intimate glimpse into a life shaped by the sea — told with authenticity, heart, and a natural sense of wonder.
And perhaps what makes it even more impressive? This film wasn’t built with a huge crew, endless shoot days, or months of production.
It came together through a clear weather window, a tight deadline, and one filmmaker who describes themselves perfectly in a single phrase:
“Wants to be a fish.”
A film shot in two days (and one perfect ocean morning)
The Kelp Collector was filmed over just two days — one day for the interview and shoreline collection scenes, and one morning underwater for a scuba dive in Williamstown.
If you know the conditions in that part of the world, you’ll understand why the dive day felt like winning the lottery.
Filmmaker Jack Breedon couldn’t believe his luck with the weather. And for good reason: visibility in Williamstown can be hit and miss at the best of times. To land a calm, clear morning for such a short production was, in his words, “a dream come true”.
It’s one of those rare filmmaking moments you can’t plan — you just have to be ready when it arrives.
The hardest part wasn’t filming… it was cutting the story down
While the filming itself came together quickly, shaping the final story was the real challenge.
The Kelp Collector was originally created for a competition with a strict five-minute maximum run time, and Breedon had to trim an interview that ran for an hour and a half down into something tight, focused, and emotionally resonant.
Breedon described it as “unbelievably difficult” — not because the material didn’t work, but because there was too much that was worth keeping.
And while the short film keeps things beautifully contained, Breedon hints that maybe, one day, there could be a longer version.
We’ll be first in line if that happens.
A personal story years in the making
Even though the film was made in a fast burst, the idea behind it has been quietly brewing for a long time.
Breedon first met Sandy Webb when he was around 12 years old — and she played a big role in shaping his connection to the ocean.
“She’s a big part of how I came to love the ocean and gain my confidence snorkelling and exploring the coastline,” Breedon shares.
Sandy isn’t just a great subject — she’s someone deeply respected in the Williamstown community, and the kind of person whose story deserves to be shared carefully, thoughtfully, and on a big stage.
One camera, one filmmaker, one subject — and a whole lot of instinct
Breedon calls this project the best example of what he and his business partner nickname “run-and-gun” filmmaking: turning up with a camera, working things out on the fly, and letting the story reveal itself in real time.
The entire project took less than 10 days from start to finish.
One morning filming underwater.
One afternoon filming the interview and collection.
Around five days of editing.
Just one camera, one filmmaker, one subject — and one week.
It’s the kind of production that relies on instinct, trust, and knowing how to find the emotional thread in everyday moments.
Why The Kelp Collector matters right now
Beyond the beauty of the storytelling, Breedon hopes audiences walk away with two key takeaways:
1) Australia’s southern marine life deserves far more attention. Australia’s south coast is extraordinary — wildly diverse, deeply unique, and often overlooked compared to tropical icons like the Great Barrier Reef. This film adds to a growing wave of work helping shine a well-deserved light on our southern ocean habitats.
2) There are more ways to connect with the ocean than we often think. We tend to focus on three main ways people engage with the sea: swimming (including diving), surfing, and fishing. But those aren’t accessible to everyone — and one of them is extractive by nature.
The Kelp Collector offers something refreshingly different: a creative, personal way of being connected to the coast, without needing to be extreme, athletic, or adrenaline-driven.
Watch the Kelp Collector on a big screen near you this March at The Ocean Film Festival
Tickets on sale now at OceanFilmFestivalAustralia.com.au
You might walk in expecting a short film about seaweed…
…and walk out feeling more connected to the ocean than you did before.
