Mechanism for the fin

Date2022

Object number00056427

NameSupport

MediumMetal, acrylic, plastic, wood

DimensionsOverall: 278 × 80 × 745 mm, 277 g

ClassificationsTools and equipment

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Robert Connolly

Collections

Ocean Science & Sustainability

Terms

Plastic and rubber

DescriptionPrototype fin mechamism used during testing phase for production of Blueback puppet by Creature Technology, Ltd for the feature film Blueback (2022).SignificanceMarine conservation filmmaking in Australia has been primarily limited to factual programming, which, although very successful, may not have the reach of dramatic production in ‘changing hearts and minds’ of Australian audiences towards a sustainable future for our oceans. Acquisition of materials associated with Blueback provide an opportunity for the museum to utilise these objects in exhibition and online to showcase the power of filmmaking to connect audiences to the underwater world.
This collection includes a world’s first puppet and associated prototyping materials created for use underwater, and to showcase the technologies used to ensure that the puppet was ‘lifelike’ in a marine environment, and acquire materials associated with the production of the puppet and feature film Blueback, as a record of marine conservation-related filmmaking in Australia.