About Us
We make documentaries and short films about the natural world and the people working to protect it, for cinema, broadcast and digital.
What We Do
Grumpy Turtle Films develops and produces original documentaries and short films, from our first feature, Seahorse School, now in post-production with Media Stockade, to short documentaries for PBS Nature and Atlas Obscura.
Underwater filming is our speciality. With over a decade of experience and broadcast credits across National Geographic, PBS, and ABC, we work on professional cinema camera systems, including RED, Sony, and Canon, both topside and underwater.
We also make films for broadcasters, conservation organisations and brands, from a 30-second social clip to a 20-minute documentary, and can develop your idea or bring an existing concept to life.
Why Grumpy Turtle?
It started with Myrtle, a rescue turtle Harriet worked with at an aquarium. Myrtle always looked grumpy, and who could blame her?
Turtles face climate change, overfishing and plastic pollution. We’re dedicated to telling stories, and working with people and organisations, that make turtles a little less grumpy.
Meet the Team
Harriet Spark
Co-founder · Director & Producer
Harriet Spark is a documentary director, producer, and underwater cinematographer.
With broadcast credits across National Geographic, PBS Nature, ABC, and Disney+, she specialises in conservation and natural history storytelling. An Emerging League Member of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP), Harriet is now in post-production on Seahorse School, a feature documentary about White's seahorse conservation in Sydney Harbour, co-produced with Media Stockade.
Learn more about Harriet: harrietspark.com
Co-founder · Director of Photography
Woody Spark
Woody is an award-winning underwater cinematographer with over a decade of experience in natural history and documentary production.
A multiple ACS Gold Award winner, Woody has worked on productions for National Geographic (Secrets of the Octopus), Netflix (All the Sharks), PBS, and Stan. With a background in electrical engineering and experience in rebreather diving, Woody brings unique technical expertise to underwater filming, shooting on RED, Sony, and Canon cinema systems, both topside and underwater.
Learn more about Woody: woodyspark.com
Our team’s work has appeared with
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