All Too Clear – Exploring Invasive Species Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes
Lights, camera, action — an invasive species changing the Great Lakes ecosystem is stealing the spotlight, and filmmakers Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick were there to film it all. "All Too Clear" uses cutting-edge underwater drones to explore how quadrillions of tiny invasive quagga mussels are re-engineering the ecosystem of the Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers. Part scientific exploration, part natural history adventure – the film shines a spotlight on freshwater wildlife and environments like never before. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the robot
that Drebert and Melnick used in filming.
Quagga mussels, native to European waters, deplete food for native species and alter the entire food web. They were brought to the Great Lakes, like their cousins the zebra mussels, by trans-oceanic cargo ships. The mussels also contribute to harmful algae blooms, which have become a problem at Lake Erie for the past several years.
Drebert and Melnick are award-winning filmmakers, fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and the co-founders of Inspired Planet Productions. This husband-and-wife team have produced more than 40 hours of nationally broadcast documentary content, spotlighting North America's natural wonders and cultural heritage. In their latest project, the hit documentary series "All Too Clear" — a 2025 Canadian Screen Awards nominee — Drebert and Melnick turned their cameras underwater, using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to capture unique footage of life beneath the Great Lakes. Their groundbreaking work has led to the discovery of a historic shipwreck, captured extraordinary wildlife behaviors, and contributed directly to our scientific understanding of freshwater ecosystems.
Date/Time: Friday, November 7, 2025 7:00-8:30PM
Location: Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St, Erie, PA 16508
Admission:
- General Admission (Early Bird Pricing) $25
- Preferred Seating (Early Bird Pricing) $50 (Closest Section Near the Stage)
- Additional Fees: Amusement Tax, Processing Fee
Parking: TBD
Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick are award-winning filmmakers, Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and the co-founders of Inspired Planet Productions. This husband-and-wife team have produced more than 40 hours of nationally broadcast documentary content, spotlighting North America's natural wonders and cultural heritage. In their latest project, the hit documentary series All Too Clear—a 2025 Canadian Screen Awards nominee—Drebert and Melnick turned their cameras underwater, using cutting-edge remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to capture never-before-seen footage of life beneath the Great Lakes. Their groundbreaking work has led to the discovery of an historic shipwreck, captured extraordinary wildlife behaviors, and contributed directly to our scientific understanding of freshwater ecosystems. Their footage is being used in active research and has led to peer-reviewed publications on Great Lakes fish. They invite you to join them on their journey to reveal the hidden beauty and urgent stories of the freshwater ecosystems we all depend on—but rarely see.
