By Sarah Lagan
Published Aug 6, 2015 at 8:00 am (Updated Aug 6, 2015 at 12:42 am)

Tall tales: Performing artist and internationally certified free diver Julia Frith becomes a real-life little
mermaid for Treasures of the Triangle, a marketing campaign inspired by the myths and legends that
make Bermuda famous. The project is aiming to promote the Island overseas and will include a film
and a photoshoot featuring Ms Frith and her fins (Photograph by Chris Burville for Rockfire Productions)

Bermuda’s myths and legends are being brought vividly to life thanks to a creative collaboration by Rockfire Productions.

The group’s founder, Adrian Kawaley-Lathan, has launched a multimedia marketing campaign called the Treasures of the Triangle to promote the Island and all it is famous for to an international audience.

The campaign will incorporate film, photography and performance art.

The environment is central to the venture and Rockfire is forging links with organisations including the Bermuda Zoological Society and the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

Mr Kawaley-Lathan said: “Treasures of the Triangle will definitely include a major short film, along with other short films and commercials, photoshoots and, in the future, theatre performances.

“We are aiming to send the films to international festivals and the photoshoots are going to be promoted all around the world.

Dream team: From left, the project’s Chris Burville, Weldon Wade, “mermaid”
Julia Frith and Adrian Kawaley-Lathan (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

“It’s a collaborative piece using all local talent to promote Bermuda. The core concepts are the magic and mystery of the Bermuda triangle.

“I have lived and worked in six continents and countless countries and the one thing that everyone knows is the Bermuda triangle.

“This is how we can market the Island — everyone knows it, so let’s use it. I said, ‘let’s create something that plays upon these myths and legends’. Bermuda is this beautiful magical place.”

For the first Treasures of the Triangle project, Mr Kawaley-Lathan dreamed up a photoshoot and film starring a professionally trained Bermudian “mermaid”.

Splash of magic: Performing artist and internationally certified free diver Julia Frith becomes
a real-life little mermaid for Treasures of the Triangle, a marketing campaign inspired by the
myths and legends that make Bermuda famous. The project is aiming to promote the Island
overseas and will include short films and a photoshoot featuring Ms Frith underwater
(Photograph by Chris Burville for Rockfire Productions)

The team is made up of himself as director and producer, photographer Chris Burville, performing artist Julia Frith as the mermaid, and Weldon Wade, who is in charge of diver safety. Ms Frith is an internationally certified free diver and has been trying to get in the water most days for the past six months to perfect her underwater stroke.

Mr Kawaley-Lathan brought a silicone and neoprene mermaid’s tail that is specifically tailored for Ms Frith and they hope she can perform at public and private events around the Island.

She recently swam among sharks and barracudas in the Northrock Tank at Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo for a birthday party.

Julia Frith (Photograph by Akil Simmons)?

She said: “I have been swimming, training, volunteering with BZS’s Kids on the Reef programme. I got my the free diving certification from Hanli Prinsloo [an 11-time South African free diving record holder]. The Northrock Tank was an interesting experience. I was fine with the sharks but the barracuda, Spike, is very territorial.

“It’s not easy — you have a giant weighted thing to swim around in, no mask and you have to make it look natural and beautiful, open your eyes and smile underwater and not have bubbles streaming out of your nose. There were a couple of moments when I would turn around and Spike would be right there.”

Adrian Kawaley-Latham (Photograph by Akil Simmons)?

Praising his other team-mates, Mr Kawaley-Lathan said: “Weldon Wade founded Ocean Explorers, which is such a brilliant thing — he is coming on to our team but we are also joining his team to promote the underwater beauty of the Island.

“It is so gratifying working with someone like Chris Burville because you have a vision in your mind but then translating that into an image is difficult and he just gets it immediately. And underwater, he works so well.”

Mr Kawaley-Lathan is hoping to raise funds to help to launch the next stages of the project and to ensure that any Bermudian involved going forward will be fully paid.

To donate and learn more about the project, visit bermudamermaids.com and www.rockfire.tv.