Our planet’s greatest freshwater ecosystem, like you’ve never seen it before

TVO Original, All Too Clear uses cutting-edge underwater drones to explore how quadrillions of tiny invasive mussels, known as quaggas, are re-engineering the ecosystem of the Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers. To capture this epic change, the husband-and-wife filmmaking team of Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert spent more than 150 days filming underwater, making it the most ambitious underwater film ever made about the Great Lakes. Part scientific exploration, part natural history adventure – the film showcases freshwater wildlife and environments like never before.

It’s a Hit! Hundreds of Thousands

Tune in for All Too Clear Premiere

We’re thrilled to share that All Too Clear has reached hundreds of thousands of Canadians and is one of TVO’s top shows of the year! Thank you to everyone who tuned in.  Missed the show? No worries! You can still catch it for FREE. The entire 3-part series is NOW available to stream across the country on TVO.orgTVO Docs YouTube channelSmart TV apps. You don’t need to live in Ontario to access TVO online – anyone in Canada can watch the show online for free. We are working hard to lock down a broadcast for our American friends. As soon as we have the info., we’ll post it here and in our socials.

Join us at these upcoming screenings of All Too Clear

  • Big Water Film Festival, Wisconsin Virtual Screening, get tickets here! On now until Feb. 9, 2025
  • Detroit River Canadian Cleanup is hosting a screening on January 29th at 6:30pm in Windsor – tickets are FREE, grab yours here!
  • SOLD OUT! Special “Fish Tales” Presentation at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on January 30th at 6:30pm.  Link to event online here!
  • Green Bay Film Festival, Green Bay Wisconsin in November, 2025.  More info. coming soon!
  • We’ll post additional screening dates here and in our socials as soon as they’re available

Follow our socials for more screening announcements and to see incredible underwater footage

Photo credit: Ben Powless/Melody Maloney

Yvonne & Zach Inducted into the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s College of Fellows

In June 2023, we discovered the wreck of the steamer “Africa.” We worked with Canadian Geographic to share the story that fall, and were given a glimpse into the incredible work of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Our storytelling has always included a deep connection to place and a drive toward the same goal as the RCGS – to help to make “Canada better known to Canadians and the world.” We’re honoured to be part of this inspiring community!

Winner at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival

We’re overjoyed to share that All Too Clear has won the Ecosystem/Habitat category at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in Monterrey, Mexico!But that’s not all—our film was also honoured as a semi-finalist in both the Conservation and Best Cinematography categories. A heartfelt thank you to the festival organizers and to everyone who has cheered us on.

Want to learn more about All Too Clear? Download the press release for the project.

While filming All Too Clear, we found a shipwreck. Read about it on Canadian Geographic, and watch the video below.

Although numerous divers were filmed for the TVO Original All Too Clear, none were actually used to capture the underwater footage in the series. Instead, filmmakers Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick relied on an advanced underwater drone, or Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), to explore beneath the surface of the Great Lakes. In this video, they share insights into the technology behind the ROV and its role in the production, with a surprise cameo by a curious beaver.

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