Best laid plans of mice and men. Man’s arrogance to conquer the sea has given us many disaster tales, but the most famous is that of the Titanic, and later, Titan, the submersible. What really happened to the OceanGate vessel, Titan, on June 18, 2023?
Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster
This documentary about the events leading to the implosion was written by Pamela Gordon and Natalie Dubois and directed by Pamela Gordon. There are many expert witnesses, including members of the United States Coast Guard. As in every disaster, we must look at the clues, beginning with the face of OceanGate, which was Stockton Rush. Born into a wealthy family and a descendant of two signers of the Declaration of Independence (Richard Stockton and Benjamin Rush), Stockton Rush became obsessed with the Titanic and with founding his own submersible that would open the market for underwater ocean tourism.
Titan was built using a carbon fibre hull and titanium end caps. The plans sounded good on paper, but the ocean has proven time and time again that pride goes before the fall, and in the case of this specific disaster…Rush ignored the warnings of his experts. Rush cut corners, fought regulations, and ignored the warning signs concerning the carbon fibres while diving on Titan. Did his actions cause his own tragic death along with four other souls: Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood and Suleman Dawood, who was only 19 at the time of the event?
And now, an interview with director Pamela Gordon.
Gilbert: Why did you decide to do a documentary on the Titan disaster?
Pamela Gordon: As a freelance director who has been making films for 30 years, I luckily get approached with film ideas. But when the Titan proposal came through, I didn’t hesitate. It was a story that had captured the world, and it felt as though there was a lot still to discover. The idea also came with unprecedented access to the USCG investigation, which gave me confidence in being able to tell a compelling story. And of course, the whole disaster has that connection to the Titanic, which as a filmmaker I immediately found creatively inspiring. Very early on, one of the first things I thought of trying to film was the lighthouse at Cape Race, Newfoundland, which was the first to pick up the Titanic distress signals. In fact, we did eventually film it, and as I had imagined, it became an atmospheric visual at the end of the film.
Gilbert: Did you run into any interference in obtaining the material needed for this documentary?
Pamela Gordon: OceanGate did restrict and delete some material and archive it as soon as the disaster happened, and so some material was difficult to get hold of, especially photographs of Stockton Rush. And with so many varied sensitivities involved, it was difficult to reach some people. Many people have decided not to speak out for legal reasons, and some are naturally too upset to share their experiences. But after the Public Hearings and connecting with some key people, I was confident of being able to make a comprehensive documentary.
Gilbert: Do you feel that this documentary will bring some type of closure to the families and the people who worked with Titan, aka the divers, experts.
Pamela Gordon: I do think that taking part in a responsibly made documentary made with the right level of care and duty of care can be a part of coming to terms with what has happened. Telling your story to an interviewer who has empathy and expertise can be cathartic for some people. But I think this has to be accompanied by a trust and connection to the director. “Closure” from a disaster like this is not something that is going to happen easily and is going to be different for every individual involved. The film might be part of a process for some, and I very much hope it is. Making the film was a big responsibility and I am still in touch with most of the people involved and expect to be so for some time to come.
Gilbert: Did you ever have a chance to ride on a submersible, and would you if it meant you would get a better story?
Pamela Gordon: I don’t think riding on a submersible would have meant I would have “got a better story”. Usually, I am making a film about things which, at the outset, I know little about. It really is by listening to people and empathizing with them, whatever their point of view, that I get to the heart of the film. I’m making films about other people’s stories, not my own.
Gilbert: What are you working on now?
Pamela Gordon: Nothing yet! Very open to ideas.
Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster starts streaming on CBC Gem and The Nature of Things YouTube Channel Friday, June 6. Its broadcast premiere on CBC is June 18 (on the anniversary of the explosion) on The Nature of Things.
