The S.B. Questionnaire: Mimi DeGruy
Talking About Mike DeGruy with His Widow, Mimi DeGruy, Who’s Making a Film About His Love for Oceans
When Mike DeGruy died in February 2012, it seemed like the world stopped for many us. He was one of the most irrepressibly passionate people I’ve ever met whose joie de vivre about all things, but in particular the sea, inspired many. DeGruy filmed the oceans for more than three decades, becoming as famous for his on-camera storytelling as for his glorious, intimate visions of the sea and the creatures who live in it.
His widow, Mimi Armstrong DeGruy, is now carrying on with Mike’s message by directing, writing, and producing a documentary about him called Diving Deep. She’s in the middle of Kickstarter campaign to help cover the costs of finalizing the film, which includes composing the soundtrack, licensing footage, and sound editing, amongst other tasks. I’ve seen part of the film, which is full of breathtaking footage shot by Mike and in-depth interviews with Sir David Attenborough, James Cameron, and Sylvia Earle, among many other DeGruy collaborators.
A documentary filmmaker in her own right, Mimi worked with Mike producing numerous hours of award-winning television for the National Geographic Channel, the BBC, and other broadcasters. Prior to working with Mike, she worked for CNN, on Turner Broadcasting’s “Portrait of America” series, and on the PBS series “The Infinite Voyage.”
