Seeds of Hope
The Rebel Reef is an award-winning short documentary that follows Christian Carias, the only divemaster in Tela, Honduras, after he survives a near-death experience that awakens questions about nature, healing, and the limits of both. Through parallel stories of environmental resilience and personal recovery, the film explores themes of perseverance, loss, and hope in the face of uncertainty.
Unit Stills: Christian on his motorcycle; Christian preparing lion fish; Christian rinsing off his gear; Christian at the Beach; Christian on a dock by the river; Paco and Christian sitting on the docks in Utila; Christian and Paco starting a fire for a backyard barbecue; Interviewing researcher Senyacen Ramirez; and Antal Borcsok opening up the Tela Marine aquarium
Supporting the Production
As part of the producing team, I supported the project across development, production, and post-production with a wide range of creative and logistical responsibilities. My involvement included onboarding key crew members such as the cinematographer and editor, overseeing media management workflows to ensure footage was properly backed up and distributed to post-production partners, and sourcing a DCP packager for theatre formatting. I also contributed to the film’s visual marketing efforts by creating the official key art and building a library of promotional photography used for outreach, presentations, and festival materials.
During production, I assisted wherever needed, including camera operation, lighting support, sourcing materials on location, and helping the crew execute the day’s objectives. In post-production, I provided creative feedback and input on edits, story development, and overall presentation while helping coordinate assets and workflows between departments. This hands-on involvement allowed me to contribute to nearly every stage of the filmmaking process while supporting the team in bringing the documentary from concept to completion.
Official Key Art: Official key art for the film, featuring imagery captured during principal photography
Behind-the-Scenes: An inside look at the cast and crew working across various locations during the 18-day shoot in Honduras, showcasing the talent, teamwork, and collaborative effort behind the documentary