Living Fossil

Every spring thousands of horseshoe crabs spawn along Mid-Atlantic beaches under the glow of the full moons; a reoccurring ritual for the last 450 million years. Citizen scientists venture out along the shores of Brooklyn, NY to keep tally of the animal’s population. The film attempts to document the annual observance on 16mm film exposed in timelapse by ambient moonlight. LIVING FOSSIL is just a brief glimpse into this prehistoric phenomenon.

The Process

Sean Hanley shot and hand-processed the 16mm footage and then edited the piece with the help of Jeff Sterrenberg.  Members of the Collective contributed to the sound design during a foley recording session in the Meerkat office. The soundtrack was created with shells, rocks, water, sand, nail clippers and even parts from an old clock.

Screenings

Production Team

Sean Hanley, Jeff Sterrenberg, Dara Messinger