‘The Little Things’ by Lucas Lengagne

The Little Things Lucas Lengagne, with permission

In 2022, Lucas Lengagne was working as Head of Design for tech company, spending his free time exploring the depths as a scuba diver. Inspired by the things he saw, he decided to quit his job to dedicate more of his time to capturing the beauty he witnessed on the dives. The Little Things, Lucas’ third film, is a beautifully poetic tribute to the small things in life which we often overlook.

The Little Things came about somewhat serendipitously. “I lived in the Philippines for a year,” Lucas told MY HERO, “And I went to this little island called Camiguin on the recommendation of a friend and fellow filmmaker.” Camiguin, known as the ‘Island Born of Fire’ owing to its seven volcanoes, is a little island off the northern coast of Mindanao. During Lucas’ visit to the island, a typhoon hit leaving him stranded there for almost two months. “There,” he explained, “I saw the most amazing micro stuff I’ve seen. I'm not even talking about little organisms. I'm talking about corals and sponges. You have a complete forest underwater.”

Lucas Lengagne, with permissionStill from 'The Little Things'

What was interesting to Lucas was how little attention some of his fellow divers paid to the little things beneath the surface. “They were not looking at this; they were searching for other stuff, bigger and shinier stuff like the fishes or sharks,” he explained. It was when editing the footage together that it struck Lucas just how many of us and how often we tend to miss the quietly poignant things in life. “You can find happiness in the most trivial things; the smell of your coffee or tea in the morning, a new leaf appearing on your plant… you just have to look,” said Lucas.

Lucas’ deep appreciation for the ocean is blatantly apparent in his work. Conservation issues, especially as a scuba diver, are particularly close to his heart. He shared with MY HERO

Over tourism is an incredibly complex but important issue. In the Philippines, for instance, I have witnessed drastic changes under the water over the last ten years. There needs to be a balance between the economy for the local population and ocean conservation, and I think that can be found with the implementation of diving regulations.

It's not just diving that has fostered Lucas’ care for the ocean but filming too. “You’re at the mercy of the ocean, and you need to be careful,” he shared, “I will go dive one day and suddenly I have the perfect ray of sun, the visibility is perfect, and there is no current. It’s amazing and I’m thinking, ‘Thank you, nature. Thank you for allowing me to film that today.’”

On one of the days Lucas spent filming, with the typhoon creeping in, the waves looked utterly chaotic from the shore. “I looked out and I thought, ‘Do I really want to do this today?’” he explained, “but underwater, it was complete calm. No current, no surge, nothing it all.” That day, he caught one of the most breathtaking shots featured in the film, a tiny purple and white coral reminiscent of a Japanese cherry blossom tree.

Lucas Lengagne, with permissionLucas Lengagne on a shoot day

On having been selected as a finalist for the Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award, Lucas shared

For me to be selected in festival that spotlights things that I care about, such as ocean conservation, makes me really happy because I know the audience is going to be touched.

Why do we do what we do? The only reason why I do what I do is because I want people to feel something. I want people to be touched by something. If I can make you feel something, even for two seconds, one second, one half of a second with my short film, I don't need anything else.

Lucas Lengagne, with permissionStill from 'The Little Things'

The Little Things serves not only as a tribute to the little things in our own lives, but an imperative reminder that we owe it to the oceans to protect them. The little things on our planet, like the corals or sponges less than a centimeter wide, cannot protect themselves; we need to help them. Lucas himself said it best:

Protect the little things. The precious, invisible things. Because before you realize it, one day, they might be gone.

Watch The Little Things here.

Follow Lucas on social media, @lucaslengagne, here. 

Explore Lucas' YouTube channel here. 

Support Lucas' work here. 

About the Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award

MacGillivray-Freeman Films Educational Foundation’s One World One Ocean Campaign sponsors the ‘Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award’ annually at the MY HERO International Film Festival. One World One Ocean is a global non-profit campaign designed to connect people emotionally to the world's ocean. Their mission is to raise awareness of ocean degradation, to inspire audiences through cinematography and to spark a global movement to protect our seas.

Sylvia Earle is a world-renowned oceanographer, explorer, author, lecturer, leader, and research scientist who has led more than 70 expeditions, logging more than 6,500 hours underwater. Formally chief scientist of NOAA and now a National Geographic explorer-in-residence, she was awarded the 2009 TED Prize for her proposal to establish a global network of marine protected areas, called “hope spots.”

Said Greg MacGillivray, Chairman of MacGillivray Freeman Films, “Sylvia Earle is our ocean hero, and we hope this award inspires aspiring filmmakers to shine a spotlight on other dedicated people from all walks of life who are working tirelessly on behalf of our oceans."

Read more about the award, and its sponsors, here.

To see previous winners of the MY HERO Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award, or enter for 2027, go to: myhero.com/sylvia-earle-ocean-conservation-award

About the MY HERO International Film Festival: 

The My Hero Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to showcasing films that celebrate the power of the human spirit. Hosted by Eva Haller, a prominent philanthropist and advocate for social change, the festival provides a platform for filmmakers to share inspirational stories of everyday heroes. Thanks to generous sponsors, prizes are awarded to elementary, middle school, high school, college and professionals in a variety of categories including documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more.

The festival aims to inspire audiences to recognize the heroism in their own lives and encourage positive actions in their communities. Learn more.