Now You See Me is a five-part conservation film series created by SARAH & SEBASTIAN in collaboration with Creative Director Sarah Gittoes and filmmaker Alice Wesley-Smith. Traversing Australia’s vast coastline, the series followed Sarah and Alice to some of the country’s most remote and extraordinary marine ecosystems — from the sea lion colonies of Baird Bay on the Eyre Peninsula to the wild coastline of Ningaloo in Western Australia.
Five films. One ocean.
Produced through The Xanthe Project, the series raises awareness of the urgent challenges facing Australia’s oceans and the species that depend on them, using storytelling and creativity to deepen our connection to the marine world. The completed series spans five short films: Australian Sea Lions, The Reef, Sharks & Rays, Great Southern Reef and Ningaloo’s Nursery, capturing the beauty, fragility and resilience of Australia’s underwater landscapes.
The Complete Collection
Watch all five films from the Now You See Me series and explore the stories behind their creation through our journal — featuring behind-the-scenes moments, field notes and reflections from Sarah and Alice as they journeyed across Australia’s coastline documenting some of the country’s most extraordinary marine ecosystems.
The Last Wild Place
The fifth and final film in the Now You See Me series, Ningaloo’s Nursery journeys to the remote northwest coast of Western Australia, exploring the interconnected ecosystems of Cape Range, Ningaloo Reef, and Exmouth Gulf. Filmed during a period of mass coral bleaching, the documentary captures both the wonder and fragility of a region home to whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, and countless other marine species. Through Sarah and Alice’s experience on the ground, the film reflects on the emotional reality of witnessing environmental change firsthand, while celebrating the extraordinary life that still exists within one of Australia’s most important marine sanctuaries.
The Ocean That Raised Us
The fourth film in the Now You See Me series, The Great Southern Reef traces Sarah and Alice’s journey along Australia’s southern coastline, exploring their personal connection to one of the world’s most biodiverse — and least known — marine ecosystems. Captured by the duo over a number of ocean dives, with narration from Alice, the film brings awareness to some of the reef’s most vulnerable enclaves and inhabitants. Taking a more personal turn than previous chapters in the series, it’s an ode to their childhoods spent swimming through kelp reefs searching for sea treasures — an adventurous upbringing that later inspired a shared dedication to ocean conservation.
Sharks, Rays & Valerie Taylor
The third film in the Now You See Me series, Sharks and Rays explores the vital role sharks and rays play in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems through the eyes of legendary conservationist Valerie Taylor.
Filmed along Australia’s east coast, the cinematic short captures the grace, power, and misunderstood nature of these ancient creatures, while drawing attention to the pressures they face from overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change. Through immersive underwater storytelling, the film invites a deeper understanding of the species that keep our oceans alive.
A Love Letter to the Reef
The sophomore film in the Now You See Me series, The Reef was born from Sarah and Alice’s journey to the Great Barrier Reef, where they experienced firsthand both the breathtaking beauty and increasing fragility of one of the world’s most important ecosystems. Filmed beneath the surface of the Coral Sea, the cinematic short captures moments of wonder alongside the visible effects of coral bleaching and rising ocean temperatures. Through immersive storytelling and underwater imagery, the film is a call to protect the extraordinary life that exists below the surface before it disappears.
The Film that Started it All
The film that launched the Now You See Me series, Save Our Sea Lions shines a light on one of Australia’s most endangered marine species. Directed by Alice Wesley-Smith and filmed in the remote waters of South Australia, the short film captures the beauty and vulnerability of Australian sea lions while raising awareness of the urgent threats they face, from climate change to commercial fishing. Through intimate storytelling and breathtaking underwater imagery, the film is a call to protect these magnificent creatures and the fragile ecosystems they call home.