Empire of the Atlantic is a breathtaking taste of what everyone loves about the magic of the waters off the East End, specifically Montauk. Jeff Ragovin, Founder and CEO of Ragovin Ventures, is the executive producer through Bounty Uncharted Productions and assembled a team to bring the project to fruition.
This 15-minute documentary (available on YouTube) is currently one of the hottest East End must-sees. Being able to watch the various whales, giant bluefin tuna, marlins, hammerhead sharks, and so many other fish feeding off Montauk in phenomenal drone-captured color footage is spellbinding.
Jeff Ragovin sat down with Hamptons.com to share his insights on how this masterpiece captures ocean life in a way that standing offshore simply cannot. The footage provided by cinematographer Michael Cuomo, along with Thomas Blake Ramsey’s efforts, makes this a must-watch. Once you see Empire of the Atlantic, you’ll be sharing it with your Montauk ocean-loving friends.
What was the genesis of the project?
Empire of the Atlantic grew out of both a local observation and a broader storytelling mission of Bounty Uncharted, a cinematic series filmed in the Hamptons. I wanted to highlight Michael Cuomo, who is our lead drone cinematographer throughout the series. As most people are unaware, off the coast of Montauk, a rare ecological convergence has been unfolding as the warming Gulf Stream pushes farther north, shifting migratory patterns in real time and drawing humpback, minke whales, bluefin tuna, striped bass, bluefish, and cownose rays together in remarkable abundance. We wanted to document this extraordinary moment not only as a natural spectacle, but as a living portrait of environmental transformation that is living a stone’s throw from our backyard.
At the same time, the film is a supplement of Bounty Uncharted, a series born from a simple belief: behind every breakthrough is a story worth telling. Throughout my career, I’ve had a front-row seat to how ideas take shape, how people navigate uncertainty, and how innovation is often forged in moments of discomfort and bravery. With this project, I set out to capture one of those moments in nature, revealing the ocean as deeply interconnected.
What new things did you learn?
The experience reinforced just how dynamic and responsive the ocean is. Seeing these species gather in such numbers made clear how closely marine life follows environmental shifts, and how quickly ecosystems can change. Filming from the boat and the air transformed the perspective on storytelling. From above, patterns of movement, scale, and interaction emerge that are impossible to see from the surface. It deepened our respect for natural systems and strengthened our belief that documenting these moments can inspire both awe and greater stewardship.
Who helped make it all happen?
This film was a true collaboration. I served as executive producer through Bounty Uncharted Productions, working closely with cinematographer Michael Cuomo, whose aerial expertise and visual instincts were essential to capturing the ocean’s scale and energy, and editor Thomas Blake Ramsey, who helped shape the footage into a cohesive and emotionally resonant story, and Andrea Mitchell, who also served as Director.
