Description:

The ocean is a provider for humanity and home to the vast majority of planet Earth’s animal species, yet it’s at breaking point. This could change if people knew the ocean’s greatest secrets.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, world champion sailors and founders of Live Ocean are joined by global ocean advocates as they step forward to speak about what they're calling “the greatest cover up in history” for World Ocean Day, 8 June 2023.

The satirical video exposé, and content on Vice and realwatergate.com, highlights the vital role of a healthy ocean as our greatest ally in the fight against climate change.

The Real Watergate features a stellar cast of ocean and sporting legends from New Zealand and around the world. International marine biologist Dr Diva Amon, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean Ambassador Peter Thomson, youngest solo round-the-world sailor Jessica Watson, swimmer and UN Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh, and pro surfer Ace Buchan are among the international voices in The Real Watergate.

Among the line-up from New Zealand, whale scientist Professor Rochelle Constantine, champion free diver William Trubridge, Tohunga Waka Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr and pro surfer Ella Williams feature in the tongue-in-cheek video.

Central to the campaign is the website, which is built around the Vice exposé. It offers an immersive experience that draws users into the unfolding narrative. Users begin their journey from a bird's-eye view of the ocean, then dive below the surface.

The underwater environment and ocean waves are rendered entirely in code using Three.js, shaders, and particle systems. This approach allows for dynamic control of camera and lighting positions between scenes, responding to user inputs such as cursor movement and scrolling. Extensive optimization efforts ensured high performance across various devices.

Thirty-two meticulously hand-crafted pieces of physical evidence were digitally scanned and backed by concrete statistics to reinforce the campaign's central message. As users scroll deeper into the virtual sea, they uncover these pieces, guided by helpful UI elements that indicate their depth and offer the option to resurface.

Audio plays a crucial role in the experience, with bespoke mixing and composition, layered tracks of music and ambient sounds to fully immerse users in the underwater world. Each UI element also features custom-crafted sounds for hover interactions on desktop, further enhancing the immersion.

The design direction, inspired by classified information leaks, top-secret documents, and independent journalism, employs redaction marks, strikethroughs, and handwritten typography. A mix of serif and sans-serif fonts adds an editorial feel to every layer of the experience.