After a tragic drowning accident in the surf, I needed to find my way back to the ocean.
So I decided to walk a rock across the bottom of Easton's Bay. One breath at a time. Filmed by award-winning filmmaker Kelly L. Riley - who held his own breath to capture every underwater moment - Tuckerman's Rock is a short film about grief, nature, and what happens when you stop avoiding the thing that scared you.
Damian & filmmaker Kelly L. Riley
Resting between dives
The inaugural Ocean State of Mind Film Festival at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography
Day 1 of the journey at the '40 Steps' of Newport's famed Cliff Walk
An incredible festival. They made up a new award for our film: Special Mention Ocean Healing! Thank you!
The rock is home! With my cousin Andrew Leys who came out more days than anyone and was there for our big final push before a hurricane hit the next day.
From Block Island, RI to Los Angeles, we got in the ocean at every film festival. This is a kelp bed in Laguna Beach. A family of dolphins swam out to greet us 15 minutes after this photo.
We were honored to show our film and earn recognition at these incredible film festivals around the world.
Filmed and directed by Kelly L. Riley, who apparently found breathing while filming too easy and held his breath for every underwater scene.
Awards: Grand Jury Prize Winner Documentary Short: Mystic Film Festival, Winner Best Documentary Short: Block Island Film Festival, Winner Best Documentary Short SEA International Film Festival, Remy Platinum Award: Houston Independent Film Festival, Special Mention 'Ocean Healing': The Endless Summer & Dana Point Film Festival, Semi-Finalist Flickers Rhode Island Film Festival, Honorable Mention at the Australian Flotsam Surf Film Festival, Audience Award Creative Excellence: The Adventurers, Wanderers & Explorers Film Festival,
Official Selections: Independent Film Festival Boston, Montreal Independent Film Festival, Mystic Film Festival, the San Diego Undersea Film Festival, 9 Central Film Festival and the World Water Film Festival.
If something in this film moved you, that's usually worth paying attention to.
The work I do with people - coaching, breathwork, rewilding experiences - comes from the same place this film does.
If you're curious, let's talk.