Making The Film

Director's Statement - Victor Morán Shaugh

I had never been close to a cruise ship until the day I stepped onboard as a new crewmember. But I knew I was on the precipice of a life-changing journey.

With its soaring highs—travel to exotic locations, meeting people from all over the world, financial opportunities—‘ship life’ can provide incredible wealth. But there are also plummeting lows—gruelling work, lack of freedom, tough living conditions. It is a world of extremes, rich yet unforgiving, where sacrifice and adaptation are demanded in the pursuit of growth—which isn’t guaranteed.

Beyond the personal journeys, the onboard communities are microcosms of the human race. People from around sixty nationalities live and work together. Cultures mix and blend as relationships are forged. In a world that is more fragmented and polarised by the day, these communities—though far from perfect—are flesh-and-blood examples of an alternative approach. Differences are embraced, and in the face of hardship and adversity, people adapt and thrive together under a shared humanity.

Pieces of this story are scattered here and there. The system is set up so that crewmembers do not have a voice. This is the first time crewmembers have told our story through a film of this scope. I had wanted to tell it since that very first day, but it would take a few years at sea and meeting my close friend and producer, Nita, for it to manifest. Over a rollercoaster contract sailing around the Med, we became instant friends, and upon sharing my dream of the film, her support and knowledge would catalyse it into reality. Two people who had just met a couple months prior, with little to no gear, crew or budget—we lived the story—and against the odds, created Ship Life. We hope it serves as a voice to help crewmembers share their own story.

My time on ships changed my life. I wish for this film to do the same for others, by showing what is possible through alternative ways of approaching life and humankind.