For Port Side’s project Inches to Miles, presented by Athletic Brewing Company we faced the unique challenge of capturing the physicality, grace, and narrative weight of an underwater scene with Lynn, an athlete facing challenges from CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy). This project required creative solutions, technical expertise, and a close collaboration with a local city pool that we rented exclusively for the shoot. Here’s how we pulled off the shots, from gear to lighting, and why the details matter in creating an immersive viewing experience.
Securing a controlled environment was essential. The City of Chicago allowed us to rent the pool shutting it down to the public and also provided on-site lifeguards to ensure safety. Total access allowed us to choreograph and capture dynamic scenes without interference, a privilege in any production but particularly valuable when working in water. We had a few hours to capture everything from above and below the water, so precision and planning were essential.
Underwater filming comes with its own set of challenges, both for the gear and the crew. To protect our cameras, we used specialized underwater housings, essential for keeping water out while preserving full camera functionality. The cinematographer and photographer equipped themselves with fins, goggles, and snorkels, allowing them to glide along with Lynn and capture close-up tracking shots that highlighted her movements in the water. For the shots that required being submerged for extended periods, our team used weights, holding them between their knees to sink to the bottom of the pool.
The second scene we filmed that day was the most emotionally charged and visually difficult to achieve. In the script, Lynn describes to the audience in a sit-down interview the moment she felt the paralysis of CIDP moving up her limbs. To reflect this visually, we waited until ambient light began to fade in the evening, then shut off all the lights in the pool area. We introduced a red LED light, which cast an eerie glow through the water. This red light combined with 48 FPS footage accentuated a critical emotional beat in the script. The effect gave a visual representation to an otherwise invisible disease.
The pool scene was the final scene we filmed in Chicago. We wrapped, got back to the Airbnb, and knew that we had something special sitting on the media cards. Filming swimming scenes like these for “Inches to Miles” not only highlighted the technical demands of underwater shooting but also underscored the power of storytelling through visual metaphor. By grounding each shot in Lynn’s experience, we aimed to give viewers a glimpse into her world, showing not just the strength of an athlete but the resilience of the human spirit. Check out the project case study.
