Our planet’s greatest freshwater ecosystem, like you’ve never seen it before
TVO Original, All Too Clear uses cutting-edge underwater drones to explore how quadrillions of tiny invasive mussels, known as quaggas, are re-engineering the ecosystem of the Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers. To capture this epic change, the husband-and-wife filmmaking team of Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert spent more than 150 days filming underwater, making it the most ambitious underwater film ever made about the Great Lakes. Part scientific exploration, part natural history adventure – the film showcases freshwater wildlife and environments like never before.
Stream the Complete Series FREE Canada!
The entire 3-part series is NOW available to stream across the country for FREE on TVO.org, TVO Docs YouTube channel, Smart TV apps. You don’t need to live in Ontario – anyone in Canada can watch the show.
We are working hard to lock down a broadcast for our American friends. As soon as we have the info., we’ll post it here and in our socials.
Join us at these upcoming screenings of All Too Clear
- April 4, 2025, 6:30-8:30pm. Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast Film Festival – Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Get your FREE tickets here!
- April 10, 2025, 6:00pm, The Platform – 102 Moore Hall. Central Michigan International Film Festival, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Ticket Sales Start Friday, March 21st.
- May 8, 2025, 7:00pm. Earth Film Festival, in support of the Grey Sauble Conservation Foundation. Get your tickets here!
- May 29, 2025, 7:00pm. Aldo Leopold Festival – Les Cheneaux Islands, Michigan. Registration opens April 1st.
- June 9, 2025, 7:30pm. Traverse City Opera House – Traverse City, Michigan. Get your FREE tickets here!
- November, 2025. Green Bay Film Festival, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Sanctuary Selections Film Competition Winners
In front of a packed house at the Thunder Bay International Film Festival in Alpena, Michigan, All Too Clear took home top prize in the Sanctuary Selections Competition! Supported by the Sunset Project, this competition was fierce —five incredible films were in the running. But All Too Clear rose to the top, and we’re honored!
This film wouldn’t exist without the unwavering support of fishers, fisheries professionals, scientists, family members, and everyone around the Lakes who have championed this journey. We’re feeling incredibly grateful and loved—thank you for being part of this adventure with us! Read more about the event here.
Chatting with Lawrence Gunther on Bluefish Radio
We had an awesome chat with Lawrence Gunther on the Bluefish Radio podcast. Lawrence is a wealth of knowledge, bringing incredible insights into all things fish. Grab your headphones and give it a listen. Check it out here!
Want to learn more about All Too Clear? Download the press release for the project.
While filming All Too Clear, we found a shipwreck. Read about it on Canadian Geographic, and watch the video below.
Although numerous divers were filmed for the TVO Original All Too Clear, none were actually used to capture the underwater footage in the series. Instead, filmmakers Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick relied on an advanced underwater drone, or Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), to explore beneath the surface of the Great Lakes. In this video, they share insights into the technology behind the ROV and its role in the production, with a surprise cameo by a curious beaver.
