Heartbeat of the River

An intimate portrayal of the dramatic journey that Pacific Salmon take from the time they are hatched to their return to the spawning grounds. Join these amazing fish in their underwater realm as they fight to survive, evading all kinds of predators, with a single purpose. They have just one chance to spawn and complete the cycle of life.
This movie will immerse the viewer into the salmon world and it does not portray human influence or use of salmon as a resource. The intent is simply to show the wonderful world of salmon for the sake of the salmon.

  • Eiko Jones
    Director
  • Gloria Pancrazi and Eiko Jones
    Writer
  • Eiko Jones
    Producer
  • Eiko Jones
    Cinematography
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    nature, documentary, wildlife
  • Runtime:
    40 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 4, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital full frame
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Eiko Jones

Eiko has been a professional underwater and topside photographer for many years. He has now moved into film making. The methods and personal choices in Eiko's photography/ filming endeavors has always been to highlight the beauty of nature as it is and create art that represents the various scenes as he sees them. In this first film, and many more, he hopes to move the viewer emotionally, thereby motivating them to think about their own personal actions.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

At times I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the world around us. I am passionate about sharing this Pacific Northwest environment with everyone. Through artistic and dramatic imagery, I endeavor to offer people a glance of that world, whether they live in a big city condo, or have no ability to experience the world below or out in nature. My work is all about drawing attention to the entire environment and watersheds, from the mountaintops all the way down, and into our vast, but fragile oceans.

Because of my work with wild salmon, I see firsthand the importance of a healthy, sustainable environment. Vibrant, wild salmon runs are one of the first things to diminish as encroachment and pollution affect a river.

I believe the tide is turning for the benefit of our wilderness and our future generations. By people becoming aware of the need to protect our precious waterways, the salmon and associated wildlife are being helped. I look to the resilience of wild salmon as a great example of the forces of life itself. By making needed changes in our actions towards the environment, nature will achieve a balance and be restored to its once abundant state.