FRONT RUNNER ON THE MOVE – ANDRE REREKURA
We recently chatted to master of the ocean Andre Rerekura about kitting out his Toyota Troopy, remote camping with mates, and filming in harsh ocean environments for the latest series of Shipwreck Hunters Australia, which is currently available on Disney+. This is what he had to say.
Tell us about Terra Australis.
Terra Australis is a Western Australia production company passionate about ocean-based projects, that specialises in everything from underwater to aerial cinematography. We are a small team of 5, plus our Chief Morale Booster, Trippy the dog, who loves sharing the beauty of the oceans and marine environments with the world. You can find our global series Shipwreck Hunters Australia on Disney+, where we explore shipwrecks, aquatic life, and epic survival stories from our coastline.
How did you fall in love with the ocean?
I’ve always been drawn to the ocean and its beauty, and I was lucky enough to grow up next to it. I’ve worked in, on, and around the water for most of my life as a commercial diver and underwater cinematographer. I also lived on my boat on the coast of Western Australia, and the ocean has taught me so much over the years. I would say the sea will always be the master, and I will always be the student.
Tell us about some of the unique challenges when documenting or exploring the ocean.
While working on natural history productions, getting the money shot can be tricky! You need to read the animal's behaviour and often try to predict their actions by being three steps ahead. Sometimes, that’s just not possible, as animals are so intelligent.
Weather also plays a massive role in any production, especially on our coast in Western Australia, where the weather rules. Getting onto many wreck sites where we film is almost impossible because of large swells and wind, and you may only get a few days a year to dive in some locations. Planning for this is always the most challenging part.
Why is Australia so good at protecting marine resources and its coastline?
Most people in Australia have a huge appreciation and love for the ocean and can quite easily connect with it because they live so close to it. We still have a long way to go, though. Even in my hometown, Exmouth in Western Australia, the home of the Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf, two thriving marine environments, we are battling for its protection for the future against industrialization. We have some of the rarest and intricate marine environments and animals in the world, and we’re still fighting to keep these areas wild.
Saltwater wreaks havoc with vehicles and your gear. What precautions do you take?
At home, we constantly battle the salt, sea breeze, and red dirt, and it’s hard to keep anything from becoming a rust bucket. We use our Front Runner Typhoon Bags on the boat to keep our gear dry. Our dog Trippy also loves to do a salty shake over most things on the ship, so these bags are epic! Constantly washing everything in fresh water after any mission is the way to go.
What is your Toyota 78 Troopy used for?
The Troopy is used for everything! Camping, 4WDing, towing the boat, charging gear, and we use it loads on shoots to transport lots of gear and crew for BBC, Disney+, and tourism. We have our camping set-up ready for action so we can pounce on any adventure.
What are your favourite bits of Front Runner gear?
All the gear from the roof rack to the camping chairs is fantastic, super strong, and slick. The Typhoon Bag has been epic for all our gear in the salt and dust, and we’ve been putting it to the test. You can tell it’s been made for the true adventurer.
What about the Slimline II Roof Rack?
Our entire roof rack is bulletproof and has given me so much more real estate for a solar panel and roof top tent. It’s a durable rack that can take some load. I love all the slots and adapters for the accessories, so it's super easy to rig up with anything you need up on the roof.
Has the Spare Tire Mount BBQ seen any action yet?
I took the Spare Tire Mount BBQ camping with my friends Chippa and Brinks on some islands close to home. It's super convenient, lightweight, and compact, and it gets smoking hot super quick.
Where is your favourite place in Australia?
It's tough to pick a favourite spot because I have so many, but they all share a common thread of remoteness and require traveling along dusty desert roads that eventually meet the sea. One of my favourite activities is exploring the reef in a small boat during the day and then gathering to stargaze around a campfire at night.
What has filming Shipwreck Hunters Australia been like?
Our team feels like we've been preparing for this show our whole lives, given our backgrounds in commercial diving and our fascination with sharks and shipwrecks. It took us many years to get a story approved, and we felt incredibly fortunate when Disney chose us. The production of a series like SHA can take up to a year, involving a large team dedicated to researching, writing, scouting locations, shooting, directing, editing, and much more. For the first series, a team of about 20 people worked tirelessly to bring it to fruition.
