Jassa stars alongside Martin Sheen in feature length drama The Whale this Christmas on BBC One. The 90 minute film tells the true story of nautical survival following the sinking of the whaleship Essex, the event that inspired Herman Merville's classic Moby-Dick.
Martin Sheen stars as Old Thomas Nickerson, who tells a story of his life as a cabin boy on the ill-fated voyage. Jassa plays young Nickerson's colleague and unlikely friend Owen Coffin, nephew of the ship's captain.
Alrick Riley directs a cast led by Martin Sheen as the elder Nickerson, along with Jonas Armstrong (Robin Hood, The Edge of Tomorrow) as First Mate Owen Chase, Adam Rayner (Tyrant, The Hunted) as Captain Pollard, Paul Kaye (Game Of Thrones, It's All Gone Pete Tong) as Joy, David Gyasi (Cloud Atlas, Interstellar) as Peterson, Jolyon Coy (The Hollow Crown) as Lawrence, John Boyega (Attack the Block) as Bond and Ferdinand Kingsley (Dracula Untold) as Hendricks, and introducing Charles Furness as the young Tom Nickerson.
The action-packed narrative follows Nickerson as, against all odds, he comes through the worst that nature throws at him, growing up fast in the process. He faces the destructive force of sea storms, the power of whales, the brutal desolation of the sun and sea after the shipwreck, and finally, the grim realities of dark deeds as his only means of survival.
With breathtaking underwater shots and specialist equipment used to create storm scenes, The Whale beautifully captures the Essex caught in the treacherous sea storm.
Made by BBC Factual Productions with Animal Planet, The Whale is BBC executive produced by Eamon Hardy and Ruth Caleb. Mike Dormer is the producer. For Animal Planet, The Whale is executive produced by Mick Kaczorowski.
The Whale will air on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday 22nd December.
On location with Alrick Riley (left) and Sundance award winning cinematographer David Raedeker (centre)
Martin Sheen as Old Tom Nickerson and Jonas Armstrong as First Mate Chase
Jassa as Owen Coffin fights for his life as the storm thrashes the Essex