Exploring the Depths of Representation: A Dive into Nova West's Filmmaking Journey
By Olivia Johnson
In the vast expanse of the ocean, where mysteries abound and life thrives in uncharted territories, Nova West emerges as a beacon of creativity and inclusion. As a National Geographic Explorer, Video Engineer for the EV Nautilus, and wildlife filmmaker specializing in expedition and underwater cinematography, Nova’s journey is as fascinating as the depths they explore. They’re also my friend, courtesy of the Jackson Wild Media Lab, and I’m thrilled to have an excuse to pepper them with questions about their impressive career.
Today we’re chatting about their documentary, Diving for Rays (2023), a short film that serves as a visually stunning testament to the power of representation in STEM fields, particularly for the Queer community. The film follows Nova’s friend, Nicole Morris, along her journey from aspiring marine conservationist to realizing her dreams despite feeling marginalized as a Queer woman in the field. Raised in San Diego among sea creatures, particularly drawn to rays, Nicole found solace and identity in the ocean. The documentary captures her decision to pursue her passion, highlighting the lack of LGBTQ+ visibility in marine science and its impact on aspiring conservationists. The film, shot by Nicole’s spouse Angel Morris and close friend Nova West, has garnered success, winning awards and premiering for esteemed organizations like the Corps of Exploration. Available for streaming on WaterBear Network, Diving for Rays is more than just a documentary—it’s a journey of self-exploration and advocacy. Nova explains how the film provides a roadmap for Queer individuals aspiring to enter STEM fields, while also educating allies on the importance of visibility. They emphasize the importance of authentic storytelling and diverse perspectives in science documentaries, drawing from personal experiences and a poignant realization sparked by a past viewing of a documentary. “Back in 2021 or 2022, we [Nicole and I] watched this film that was highlighting specifically women in STEM and wildlife filmmaking and science…and by the end of the film, Nicole noticed that there had not been a single Queer woman in that film.” They elaborate on how the viewing experience thematically inspired Diving for Rays: “In that film,” they note, “they have a line that says you can’t be what you can’t see. And so the backbone of our film became, you can be what you can’t see.”
Here our conversation takes a reflective turn as Nova shares the challenges of carving out space for themselves in an industry dominated by traditional norms. “I’m still, as far as I know, potentially the only trans underwater cinematographer out there. I would love to meet another person like me. But I’ve grown really comfortable with knowing that I very well could be the unicorn for now.” They acknowledge the weight of being a trailblazer, yet embrace the opportunity to pave the way for future generations. Right now, Nova in some ways exists as an island, unfairly (in my opinion) tasked with pioneering the way for an entire community. They mention that they’ve been lucky to have had incredible mentors, and I ask them how their career might have been different with more inclusion in higher level positions. Pausing, Nova says that although they’ve been fortunate to have wonderful mentors, they’d likely have a bit less anxiety and a bit more confidence. “I think there’s something to be said for having a mentor that understands you on a deep level,” they say, “…That’s the beauty of having a mentor, is to be able to connect you with people and kind of save you from the things that they made mistakes in.” As the first shoot that they’d ever been on with other Queer people, Diving for Rays acted as a transformative experience for them. “Why is it radical to show up as your full self?” Nova laughs, calling the set “amazing.” I have to say, the sense of belonging and authenticity permeated every frame in Diving for Rays. It’s a reminder of the power of representation both behind and in front of the camera.
“The ocean, to me, is one of the queerest things I can think of in nature because it’s full of so much life that doesn’t fit into a box in any way, shape, or form. And water itself does not fit into a box in any way, shape, or form.”
As the conversation unfolds, Nova offers insights into the intersection of nature and queerness, highlighting the ocean as a metaphor for diversity and fluidity. “The ocean, to me, is one of the queerest things I can think of in nature because it’s full of so much life that doesn’t fit into a box in any way, shape, or form. And water itself does not fit into a box in any way, shape, or form.” I quietly muse on my own opinions on how impactful it is to combine hard science with squishy, intangible “feelings type things,” and Nova smiles, thoughtfully adding: “Hard science is often so built to be so inaccessible because it takes a lot of information to comprehend it and to process it. So combining nature, which is something that's a part of all of us and is just back of the mind instinct, I think is a really great gateway into helping people understand bigger concepts.”
This resonates with me, as it is a big part of why I joined CFF. People respond best to messages that feel personal and immediate in their own lives, and film is undoubtedly one of the most powerful mediums for conveying such messages. Now more than ever, we need climate messages to hit home. Nova agrees, expanding on my point to include other forms of art, beautifully putting it: “If music is a way that your community really shines together and communicates together and bonds over, bring that music into your conservation work. Write a song about conservation or putting it in your documentary, take non-traditional documentary filmmaking aspects and work that into your films.”
In closing, Nova shares details about their upcoming projects, including their Nat Geo Explorer series Out in the Wild, which is still very much under wraps, but promises to explore queerness in nature in groundbreaking ways. As we bid farewell (which takes about 20 minutes due to our deeply entrenched Minnesotan urge to never say goodbye) to this enlightening conversation, it’s evident that Nova West’s impact extends far beyond the depths of the ocean—they are a beacon of hope and inspiration for storytellers everywhere.
Diving for Rays is currently streaming on WaterBear. You can keep up with Nova’s adventures via their website.
Olivia is an award winning director and producer with a passion for climate media. She holds degrees in Environmental Studies and English, and has worked on projects for Comedy Central, Fox, NBC, and Netflix. Her independent short documentary, Caddisfly, is available to stream on WaterBear. She currently works at the intersection of machine learning and sustainability for Climate Change AI.