Tide and Table: A Story Emerging from Alaska
In the breathtaking landscape of Southeast Alaska, there is a story waiting to be told. Not simply about the wildlife or rugged mountains, but about connection, resilience, and a deep reverence for the environment. A place that has sustained both body and soul for generations.
Tide and Table, a new documentary from our team at Two Doors Down Productions, captures this intricate relationship between land, sea, and community. It is not a story of spectacle, but of rhythm. The tide recedes. The table is set. Generations pass down knowledge, and each meal becomes both sustenance and story.
Through the eyes and meals of Chef Alisa Jestel, and in partnership with Dauntless Charters, our crew immersed itself in the rhythms of Petersburg, Alaska. Over the course of our first shoot, what unfolded was a portrait of a community where every ingredient carries its own history, every shared meal strengthens the fabric of belonging, and every person’s reverence for their land and sea is as enduring as the mountains that surround them.
Immersed in a Living Story
From the moment we arrived in Petersburg, Alaska, a fishing town tucked between mountains and water, we knew this was not going to be a straightforward production. This was not a story that could be scripted. Instead, it revealed itself slowly, in small gestures and quiet moments: the nod of a fisherman hauling his nets, the laughter of a family gathered around a fire, and the stillness of mist rolling across the harbor at dawn.
Our floating base for the week was the Dauntless, a fishing boat turned mobile studio. From its deck, we filmed sweeping aerials of Petersburg’s harbor at sunrise. Bald eagles swooped overhead, their calls echoing across the water, while boats creaked against their lines like instruments tuning up for the day. Each morning began not with a call sheet, but with the tide.
Totem Bay and the Heart of Community
Every shoot has a turning point, the moment when you realize the story has shifted from your vision to something much larger. For us, that moment came in Totem Bay. Against a backdrop of towering totem poles and ancient rock formations, we filmed bald eagles tracing the sky, a black bear grazing quietly at the tree line, and the glint of king salmon just beneath the water’s surface. The camera captured abundance, but abundance alone was not the story.
The heart of that day was not wildlife, it was people. We were invited to a bush barbecue along the shoreline, where locals grilled fish pulled straight from the water. What began as lunch quickly became a gathering. There was no script, no setup, just fire, food, and storytelling. Our crew filmed laughter rising into the crisp air, the sound of knives scraping against cutting boards, and the unspoken pride of a community thriving in one of the most remote corners on the map.
That moment changed the direction of the film. It was not just about documenting food, but about capturing a way of life. One rooted in respect, humility, and connection.
Foraging with Chef Alisa
One of the most intimate days of filming came when Chef Alisa led us into the dense green of Alaska’s forests. With every step, she pointed out wild herbs, edible greens, and berries, teaching us how to see the land not as scenery but as a pantry. Our cameras tightened in on her hands, fingers brushing leaves, plucking stems, arranging what she called “nature’s salad.”
These scenes revealed a critical layer of the story: food here is not simply prepared, it is discovered. Every ingredient carries a lineage, every recipe a heritage. Foraging was not just about sourcing ingredients, it was about honoring the land and its gifts.
Everyday Portraits
Documentaries are often defined not by their grand visuals, but by their smallest details. That truth came alive in our street-level portraits of Petersburg. We filmed weathered storefronts, dockside conversations, and children skipping stones into the tide. We caught glimpses of fishermen repairing nets, neighbors trading stories on sidewalks, and quiet gestures of everyday life.
These moments became the connective tissue of Tide and Table. They grounded the story, reminding us that while the mountains and oceans provide the setting, it is people who bring it to life.
And then there was Glo, the town’s beloved “Harbor Mother.” Standing at the docks, she gave us a line that became the heartbeat of the entire film:
“When the tide goes out, the table is set.”
Simple. Poetic. True. Those words captured everything we were there to document.
Sharing the Journey
Throughout the first shoot, we shared daily updates on the Two Doors Down Productions LinkedIn page, pulling back the curtain for our audience. These posts offered not just polished images, but raw glimpses of our crew hauling gear across docks, trekking into forests, and learning just as much as we were filming.
After returning home, we dropped the official trailer for Tide and Table.
The trailer opens with sweeping aerials of Petersburg harbor before drawing viewers into the intimacy of the kitchen with Chef Alisa. Crab pots rise from the water. Wild greens are foraged in shadowed forests. Salmon shimmer in the tide. And locals gather around a beach fire, telling stories that feel as old as the land itself. Interwoven throughout is the voice of Glo, grounding the images in a single truth: the tide sets the rhythm of life.
We also released a behind-the-scenes video that captured the grit and joy of our process. Cameras balanced on fishing boats, drones carving across the sky, and laughter breaking out in between takes.
Together, the behind-the-scenes video and trailer built excitement for what is to come, giving audiences not just a preview, but a sense of being part of the journey.
Looking Ahead
This is just the beginning. From September 18th to the 25th, we will return to Alaska to film the final chapter. This leg will dive deeper into Chef Alisa’s culinary process, capturing the transformation from raw abundance to unforgettable meals. It will be the closing act of a story that began long before our cameras arrived, and one that will continue long after.
Tide and Table will premiere in late November, with our goal to launch it right where it belongs, in Petersburg, Alaska.
For our team at Two Doors Down Productions, this project represents more than just a documentary. It is a reminder of why we do what we do: tell stories that open doors, honor communities, and connect people to something larger than themselves.
The tide will return, and with it, the next course of the story.
Follow the Journey
We will be posting daily updates from the field during our return shoot in Alaska from September 18–25. Follow along on the Two Doors Down Productions Instagram and LinkedIn pages to see behind-the-scenes footage, crew stories, and the moments that will shape the final chapter of Tide and Table.