Diving, TV Production & Technology
"In the beginning there was water. And from the water came man in the image of his brothers the fishes. And those of us who are drawn into the see do so in a breathless impatience as we reenter the womb of our own creation"
Patxi Pastor - 1972
Computers and Music
Sponsored by the Roland Music Corporation and Ovation Instruments, Patxi developed
a digital guitar synthesizer that reproduced the vocalizations of whales, dolphins,
and a variety of ocean and environmental sounds. He has led several expeditions
to the Grand Bahama bank where he utilized these state-of-the-art digital sampling
techniques with project scientists to study wild dolphins and humpback whales.
Patxi has used these soundtracks over the years for many of his television productions
and live public performances.
Technological
Innovation & Integration
Throughout the late 80's and early 90's, Patxi Pastor worked closely with the
SONY Corporation to promote the creative use and application of a variety of
state-of-the-art technologies within the electronic imaging, scientific, production
and educational communities. Following Sony's introduction in 1991, Patxi became
an owner and executive of HB Communications, Inc., a eighty-million dollar
corporation specializing in advanced digital communications which represented
over 230 leading manufactures including Apple Computer, Nikon, Kodak, Silicon
Graphics, JVC, Panasonic and Pioneer. While at HB he developed and headed the
"Advanced Technologies Group" which he quickly grew into a multimillion
dollar division of the company, producing record growth and profit margins.
The division was selected by Avid Technology, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, to
serve as a New England distributor and integrator for their professional nonlinear
editing and interactive multimedia workstations. Despite their late entry into
the market, Patxi's division quickly became Avid's leading distributor in New
England and as a result was awarded their "Dealer of the Year Award"
at the 1994 National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Technology
Patxi
has been responsible for the design and development of a variety of computer
based electronic imaging systems utilizing high-definition television and optical
disc technology. Working closely with leading technological manufacturers such
as SONY, Nikon, Kodak and Apple Computer, he has designed numerous state-of-the-art
electronic production, archiving and publishing systems for the broadcast, scientific
and electronic publishing industries.
Television
Production
As a sponsored SONY underwater cameraman and spokesperson, Patxis expeditions
took him throughout the world filming a variety of natural history specials
and video documentaries. He was the Executive Producer and host of CBS Television
affiliate WCAX-TVs top rated monthly underwater specials, as well as the
creator and Executive Producer of the ECO-LINK interactive educationally
based environmental series.
Patxi's footage continues to be utilized in numerous
nationally televised programs, including E! Television,
Extra, Access Hollywood, the Earth Day special
hosted by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, "Year
of the Dolphin" hosted by George C. Scott and the
"Children and the Sea" adventure series pilot
hosted by Supermodel Niki Taylor. His commitment to
promoting interest in science amongst young people continued
through his work with the National Undersea Research
Center, a division of NOAA, The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, to document and gain public
awareness for their student High School Aquanaut
Program. His programs have featured a diverse group of scientists,
archaeologists and diving professionals and focused
on a variety of sensitive environmental, maritime and
marine animal issues.
Advanced
Diving & Educational Certification
Patxi is a certified NAUI (National Association of
Underwater Instructors) Instructor, Rescue Diver, and
Divemaster. He additionally has been trained and certified
by NOAA, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
in the use of NITROX mixed gas diving and
was awarded a NOAA Scientific Diver recognition. He
has served as a member of the NAUI Instructor Training
Staff at UNEXSO, The Underwater Explorers Society, on
Grand Bahama Island, and has been an instructor for
the American Red Cross. He developed a series of first-of-their-kind
academically and athletically accredited educational
SCUBA certification programs which were conducted at
leading preparatory schools, such as Choate Rosemary
Hall, Kent, Kingswood-Oxford and Miss Porters, as well
as Central Connecticut State University.
Educational Marine Science Programs
Through the support of a federally funded Christa McAuliffe
Fellowship grant, Patxi produced and directed a series
of childrens marine science videos featuring talented
and gifted students, entitled Underwater Exploration.
The programs, which received an additional grant from
the Torrington Foundation for Public Giving, expanded
to include unique live interactive broadcasts into ten
school systems, and was accompanied by a Teacher's Guide
and Curriculum that Patxi personally wrote and developed.
The first phase of the project focused on The
Wonderful World of the Dolphin and featured a
variety of guests including a live interview with the
Starkist Seafood Companys World Headquarters.
Patxi also designed and directed the Coral Reef
Studies Programs which were conducted throughout
the Caribbean for high school students and teachers
throughout the late 80's.
Shipwrecks:
Time Capsules of History
Patxi filmed shipwrecks throughout the Caribbean and
on an expedition with the Cousteau Society, explored
and documented many of the shipwrecks of the Anagada
Reef system throughout the British Virgin Islands. As
the Executive Producer and the underwater cameraman
for the state of Vermonts Department for Historic
Preservation, he completed the first video survey of
the historically sensitive "O.J. Walker" 100
year old shipwreck in Lake Champlain. The project entailed
the use of state-of-the-art underwater exploratory technologies
including side-scan sonar and ROVs (Remotely Operated
Vehicles) similar to the ones used on the Titanic. Patxis
work during these expeditions was featured in both news
and entertainment programs on CBS and PBS television
networks.
Exhibits and Exhibitions
In 1990, Patxi served as the producer for the Maritime
Center at Norwalk's, "Underwater Exploration Exhibition".
The exhibition was sponsored by The SONY Corporation
and included exhibitory contributed by NASA, The Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, National Geographic
and the U.S. Navy. Display items featured diving equipment
highlighting several hundred years of the technological
advancements which led to SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater
Breathing Apparatus). Patxi made television broadcast
history when he conducted the first live underwater
interview via satellite with CBS television affiliate's
news reporter Gail King while swimming among over 20
sharks in the facilities giant shark tank. He additionally
developed several of the exhibition's exhibits which
included The Connecticut Fund for the Environments
Environmental Exhibit, hosted by United
States Senator Joseph Lieberman and the National Undersea
Research Centers High School Aquanaut Program
Exhibit.
Aquariums: Feeding Sharks and Aquatic Animals
In 1986, Patxi began serving as the diver for the Science
Museum of Connecticut and regularly made dives to collect
specimens for the aquariums exhibits and to feed
the sharks, eels, and assorted Caribbean fish in the
facilitys 10,000 gallon giant coral reef tank.
On several occasions he filmed in New England Aquariums
Giant Ocean Tank as well as the Shark
Tanks at Marineland in Southern California and
the Maritime Center at Norwalk, Connecticut.
Whales,
Dolphins and Porpoises
Patxi served as a member of the Board of Directors
for the Cetacean Society International whose work was
responsible for creating international moratoriums on
whaling for the International Whaling Commission and
enforcing the Marine Mammal Protection Act developed
by the United Nations. His unique filming expeditions
have included filming underwater sequences of pods of
several hundred dolphins shot in the Sea of Cortez,
humpback whale mothers and calfs off of the Dominican
Republic's Silver Bank, rare encounters with sperm whales
off of Abaco Island, wild spotted dolphins off of the
Grand Bahama Bank and scientists studying humpback whales
off of Stelwagon Bank on Cape Cod.
Specialized Group Dive Travel Programs
Patxi developed a series of SONY sponsored underwater video seminars which
were held at top diving destinations throughout the world. Working in affiliation
with See & Sea Travel Services, which supported the worlds largest
staff of dive/travel professionals, his diving services provided year round
booking availability aboard the industrys top dive vessels. Patxi personally
developed specialized diving, educational and instructional vacation programs
for corporations, families, diving professionals, and educational organizations
which were conducted throughout the world.
For more information about Patxi's entertainment marketing servies Click Here or to learn more about his work as a professional musician Click Here.
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