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New film about humpback whales screens today at ProArts Playhouse

Maui filmmaker Jenn Wakefield will premiere her new whale documentary, "Deep Wisdom," today at the ProArts Playhouse.

The new film takes audiences beneath the ocean's surface, offering an intimate look at the lives of humpback whales through underwater cinematography accompanied by an original musical score intermixed with whale sounds.

"Through the film, there's the humpback whale song and a set of frequencies for healing, and musicians from Maui," Wakefield explained.

Maui musicians on the soundtrack include Andrea Walls, David Jimenez, Mica Soulfire, Kelly Noelle and Denise Kusmit.

"These films are more of an underwater meditative experience where the nervous system relaxes," she said. "The sounds of the whales, the sounds of the instruments, the sounds of the frequencies are all about regulating the nervous system."

The soundtrack includes the 432 Hz frequency, which is popular in sound healing, meditation and yoga. Some studies indicate that listening to music at 432 Hz can induce physiological relaxation for some people. Another frequency employed in the film, 528 Hz, is believed to promote healing and deep relaxation, while 174 Hz is said to act like a natural energetic anesthetic, grounding the nervous system.

Wakefield's first film, "Tuning to Peace," features close-up film of whales accompanied by a hypnotic soundtrack.

"Whales are helping wake up our field of awareness or consciousness," said Wakefield. "A couple of people saw that I have this sixth sense for the whales, a spirit whisper type thing. I'll get in the water and observe the whales for a while, and then I'll drop into my heart and go into the theta field, a sort of meditation. Then 95% of the time the whales come right up to me. There's something going on between me and them that they're wanting to provide to human beings."

Wakefield is the founder of Whale Wise Productions, a Maui-based collective of ocean enthusiasts, naturalists and storytellers dedicated to sharing the beauty and importance of humpback whales and the marine environment.

A Maui resident for 30 years, she specializes in underwater whale photography, with images featured at Paia galleries. She founded the alternative Roots School in Haiku and played a key role in establishing The Studio Maui movement and healing arts center.

Because NOAA Fisheries requires a permit to film humpback whales up close, Wakefield filmed in French Polynesia around the islands of Moorea and Rurutu.

"Our first film was put together quickly because I was able to go down to Moorea and French Polynesia to get footage," she said. "I can't legally use any kind of footage in Hawaiian waters. So I'm in the process of getting a NOAA permit."

Free diving and snorkeling, she can spend four to eight hours a day in the ocean.

"The first trip I did down there was six weeks, and I was on the water all but three days of those six weeks," she said.

She shoots with a Canon R5 in an underwater housing and a GoPro, and she has filmed in 360-degrees because she would like to be able to do more sphere-dome work down the line. "All my lenses are wide-angle because (the whales) are so big," she said. "It's really about them coming close that makes the film."

Another important element is editing, which is handled by Kirsten Whatley. A former dancer with Hana-based Hālau o Nakaulakuhikuhi, Whatley is an acclaimed author and photographer.

"It's really artistic the way she is able to put the footage together," said Wakefield. "It has this incredible flow."

On "Deep Wisdom," Wakefield collaborated with her son Justin Simmer. "He's totally up-leveled our whole game on the technical level," she said. "He dives really deep, so he's got great images of the whales from deep down under."

Future projects include a "Legends Below the Sea" series exploring the cultural significance of humpback whales and the narratives of indigenous cultures from Hawaii and New Zealand's Māori to Tahitians of French Polynesia and Tlingit from Southeast Alaska.

"NOAA told me I couldn't just do these healing films," she said. "I had to do a documentary. I'm actually going to Tonga in August and I'll be doing my first cultural run down there. 'Legends Below the Sea' is the myths and legends of the humpback whales from the indigenous cultures around the Pacific Rim. It's talking about the legends and the spiritual connection that the people have had for the longest time. A lot of Māori believe they were originally related to the whale."

"Deep Wisdom" will screen at 7:30 p.m. today at ProArts Playhouse. Tickets are $26 to $53 at proartsmaui.org. Following the screening, Wakefield and the Whale Wise team will host a talk-story session, sharing behind-the-scenes insights in making the film, the importance of whale conservation and the inspiration behind the project.