Get the latest gossip

David E. Kelley Finds ‘Hope In The Water’ In His First Documentary Project, Pairing Him With Shailene Woodley, Martha Stewart & More


David E. Kelley finds 'Hope In The Water' in his first doc project, an oceans-sustainability series with Shailene Woodley, Martha Stewart and more.

But when the creator of shows like The Practice, Big Little Lies and Ally McBeal made his foray into documentary filmmaking – with the ocean sustainability-themed Hope in the Water — the Trojan Horse method of educating was no longer applicable. Hope in the Water, a three-part series from PBS, takes a far less salacious approach to the problems we face in terms of depleting our planet’s resources; instead, it connects viewers with fishers, aqua farmers and scientists attempting to sustainably harvest the oceans for a growing global population. Deadline spoke to Kelley about taking a solutions-based approach to a series about a global crisis, involving celebrity environmental enthusiasts Martha Stewart, chef-humanitarian José Andrés, writer-comedian Baratunde Thurston and Big Little Lies collaborator Shailene Woodley and how to best engage an audience by entertaining rather than alarming.

Get the Android app

Or read this on Deadline

Read more on:

Photo of martha stewart &

martha stewart &

Photo of david e. kelley

david e. kelley

Related news:

News photo

David E. Kelley Shares Updates on 'Nine Perfect Strangers' and 'Big Little Lies' (Exclusive)

News photo

‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ Series From Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning, David E. Kelley Lands at Apple

News photo

Hot Series Package ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ Lands At Apple; Elle Fanning To Star With Nicole Kidman, Pair Will Produce With David E. Kelley, Dakota Fanning & A24