CASE STUDY: THE TUNA TRUTH
A presenter-led feature documentary (1 x 52, Factual Entertainment)
CREATIVE APPROACH & PROCESS
The International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) commissioned Sunline Films to produce The Tuna Truth with Serena Appleby. The aim was to expose the devastating impact of industrial overfishing on tuna stocks while highlighting a hopeful, solutions-driven narrative that could cut through the doom and gloom. Our creative approach focused on making an otherwise difficult subject engaging and accessible. By bringing in a fun, charismatic host and exploring the story through the lens of food and cooking, we created a feature documentary grounded in hard-hitting facts while ultimately leaving viewers with a sense of optimism and hope.
2 Months
Research & Funding
Development of storyboard and list of potential contributors, talent short-list and interviews, and exploration of various filming locations (e.g. Azores vs. Maldives). Scope of project required additional funding, so Sunline helped bring on sponsors (additional £20K+), including Blue Marine Foundation & Sustainable Communities & Fisheries Trust.
3 Months
Pre-Production: Scheduling & Logistics
Development of production shoot schedules and risk assessments. Crew and studio hire, location permissions (across 10+ locations), and scripting.
4 Months
Production
Production management across 10+ shoots in the UK and a two-week shoot in the Azores, Portugal, involving a 7-person crew and 9+ contributors. Coordination and filming of logistics-heavy activities including a supper club in a restaurant with 20+ guests and extras, cooking sequences in a commercial kitchen, a tuna fishing expedition, a remotely directed shoot in Washington, DC, and studio filming.
5 Months
Post-Production: Editing
Post-production management across a 12-person post-production crew from edit through final delivery, including managing workflows, schedules, feedback rounds, asset delivery, graphics/ animation integration, colour grading, sound mix, and bespoke music composition.
DELIVERABLES
Feature Documentary (1x52)
A cinematic, presenter-led documentary exposing industrial overfishing while highlighting sustainable fishing solutions, designed to engage audiences who care about what they eat.
Trailer
Development and delivery of a short, cinematic trailer completed midway through production following an opportunity to premiere at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice. Used to build awareness even before production finished and attract additional backing for the film.
Publicity Images
Production of stills and campaign imagery for festivals, press, digital, and NGO use to support outreach, advocacy, and audience engagement.
IMPACT
When IPNLF approached Sunline to develop this film, the goal was to deliver hard-hitting advocacy that didn’t evoke doom and gloom. This core impact goal was at the centre of our storytelling process, bringing humour and entertainment to an often-difficult narrative. IPNLF wanted to highlight hopeful solutions, featuring the stories of local, artisanal fishers that use sustainable practices to fish. The film’s trailer officially premiered at the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, and a full-scale impact campaign will be launched alongside the film’s release, including two screenings in Bristol and London in July 2026. To learn more about the impact campaign, visit www.tunatruth.com.
