Large illuminated posters lined the mall of San Antonio’s famed River Walk this past Friday, advertising the premiere of Living Waters: Intelligent Design in the Oceans of the Earth, Illustra Media’s third documentary in the Design of Life series. The new release highlights examples of spectacular design in sea creatures, with detailed looks at four particular species.

The popular River Walk location, crowded with visitors from around the world for a convention, caught the attention of many tourists. Quite a few people from other countries were in the audience of about 1700. The crowd began gathering in the lobby an hour before the show, scooping up DVDs before and after and resulting in sellouts of some Illustra titles. In addition, the new international versions of Flight: The Genius of Birds (second film in the trilogy) played continuously in a nearby location.

Producer Lad Allen says this was the biggest and best venue ever for an Illustra film premiere. Three twenty-foot screens and an awesome sound system gave the film a powerful first impression. After the 69-minute production, the audience broke into a hearty and gratifying round of applause.

Many stayed for the Q&A after the film. Discovery Institute philosopher of biology Paul Nelson had flown in from Chicago; he and biologist Tim Standish (who both appear in the film), along with Lad Allen, gave comments and answered questions. Lad says the response was excellent. Tim and Paul were elated to be there; they and Lad, along with editor Jerry Harned, were thrilled with the response from viewers who sought them out to share their comments. The response “couldn’t have been more positive,” Lad says.

For Lad and Jerry especially, this was an emotionally gratifying capstone event. Five years ago, they began the Design of Life project with Metamorphosis: The Beauty and Design of Butterflies — with plans for at least two more films on design in the animal kingdom.

What they started required five years of almost nonstop work filming, editing, and animating the wonders of diverse animals in the air and the sea. Paul Nelson was also involved from the start of the series; Tim Standish appears in the last two. Biologic Institute evolutionary biologist Richard Sternberg, who had appeared in Illustra’s production Darwin’s Dilemma, is also featured in Living Waters. Filmmakers and scientists alike feel that wonderful sense of fulfillment at the completion of this monstrous project.

In the audience was a special guest: James Adams, one of the original founding fathers of Illustra Media, accompanied by his wife Janet. Jim, honored as “President Emeritus” in the credits, told Lad he thought this was “the best film they ever made.”

Here’s the official trailer:

The next regional premiere takes place on Friday, August 7, here in Seattle. For more information on that one, and to register, go here. We hope to see you then!