Insight from Luca Martinez

By Brie Goodly ‘26, Head Editor-in-Chief; Edited by Quinn Martindale ‘27, Editor-in-Chief

As part of the esteemed Crawford Gordon ’56 Speaker Series, Ridley had the honour of welcoming Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and conservationist Luca Martinez to the Mandeville Theatre stage. At only 20 years old, Martinez has already made a significant impact within his community and the world. Whether he’s sharing his film work with millions of online viewers or getting the attention of his state’s governor, Martinez has shown much determination toward sharing his work and activism with a wide audience.

Before Martinez shared his insight and expertise during his speech to the greater Ridley community, I, along with a few Ridley faculty members, had the pleasure of conducting an informative and personal interview with Luca Martinez while representing the Gordon Crawford ’56 Speaker Series Student Committee. This interview allowed for greater discussion regarding Martinez’s accomplishments, and it gave us the amazing opportunity to learn more about his goals, passions, and sources of inspiration.

Here are some memorable highlights from this interview:

Interviewer: My first question is: what first sparked your passion for conservation and filmmaking? Was there a defining moment that changed everything for you?

Martinez: I grew up in Miami, and my weekends were spent diving the Florida reefs with my grandpa. One reef in particular, Pickles Reef off Key Largo, was our go-to. After a couple of years where we didn’t go out as much, we returned to Pickles Reef. I remember thinking we had the wrong coordinates because the reef was gone. It was flattened, white, lifeless. The fish, the sharks, the lobsters—everything had disappeared. That moment hit me hard. I had a GoPro, and I loved filming underwater. I decided to use it to memorialize the beauty that was left. That was the beginning of my journey.

Interviewer: Why do you think it’s important for young people to get involved in global issues like conservation?

Martinez: It’s only important if they feel inclined to. If a young person doesn’t feel connected to a story, then it’s not meaningful. You have to feel something.

In this interview, Luca emphasized the value of passion, offering a unique form of advice to Ridley students. He mentioned that great passion can be formed from experiences filled with ‘awe’ and that these authentic passions can lead to great impacts, connecting to his deep passion for filmmaking and nature.

Luca Martinez did an effective job of inspiring both Ridley students and the greater Ridley community alike, showing us how feelings of ‘awe’ can influence impactful actions. We are so incredibly thankful for his time at Ridley, and we hope that the Ridley community felt inspired and rejuvenated by his efforts.