Lets face facts, it exposes a great deal of what society is doing with animals a captive 32year old orca named tilikum, to be exact. Blackfish is a 20 american documentary film directed by gabriela cowperthwaite. Oct 07, 20 in cnn films blackfish, filmmaker gabriela cowperthwaite explores the truth about orcas in captivity. There would be times during certain seasons that tilikum would be covered head to toe with rakes. Blackfish unravels the complexities of this dichotomy, employing the story of the notorious performing whale tilikum, who unlike any orca in the wild has taken the lives of several people while in captivity. The whales are never withheld food, never forced to do anything, and have incredible relationships with their trainers. Through stock footage and video mismatched to the narrative, the film implies that seaworld collects killer whales from the wild and separates mothers and calves. Heres how the truth about blackfish concludes, describing marinos assessments. But seaworld and some of its former killer whale trainers say the documentary offers a misleading portrayal of the marine parks practices to help you get up to speed, i dove into some of the movie s key claims and asked seaworld to respond. All of the falsehoods and misleading techniques in blackfish are employed in the service of the films obvious bias, one that is best revealed near the end of blackfish by a neuroscientist with no. Documentary film blackfish, the truth behind seaworld. If you scroll around the truth about blackfish and seaworlds website, youll find a page full of videos featuring employees talking about the parks animal conservation and rescue efforts, as well as its care for its animals and how interactions with them inspire visitors. Tilikum was taken from his family and home around the age of 2 and brought to sea world to perform.
Blackfish is a simple story that tells the tale of tilikum a 4 year old orca who was taken from icelandic waters in 1983. Tilikums fame stems from a deadly attack on a trainer at orlando seaworld february 24th 2010. Blackfish tells the tragic story of a seaworld trainer killed by a 12,000 pound orca in 2010. This argument conflicts with the films overarching claim about captivity triggering aggression in whales. A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales. Jul 20, 20 blackfish is the newest example of subgenre of documentaries that could be the 21st century animal rights version of abolitionist pamphlets. Blackfish 20, a documentary that stands tall and still mangles heartstrings three years after its release, provides an in depth look into the miserable lives captive orcas live. Once inside, the company has placed unusually high prices on food and. Tilikum died in january 2017 though his legacy lives on. Please feel free to call the restaurant if you would like to hear what our current menu features. Recently i came across a documentary called blackfish.
Parents need to know that blackfish is a documentary about captive whales that perform at theme parks and sometimes attack and kill humans. The menu at blackfish changes daily, depending on what is in season and available. Blackfish is a documentary film, directed by gabriela cowperthwaite, that tells the story of tilikum. According to the organization, chinook salmon orcas main food. What blackfish documentary left on the cutting room. Oct 16, 2011 if you are not fishing for blackfish, you certainly should be at the fish market buying them, because it is one of the few fish that can rival winter flounder for taste and the striped bass for a c. Blackfish, seaworld and the backlash against killer whale.
It concerns tilikum, an orca held by seaworld and the controversy over. A disturbing truth the film portrayed was the trainers paucity of education. Another deceptive claim on the website is one of its most prominent. Killer whales are beloved, majestic, friendly giants, yet infamous for their capacity to kill viciously. The filmmakers of blackfish carry out their argument throughout the movie with the warrant that the general public is unaware of the happenings behind the scenes of seaworlds shows, with regards to the treatment of the orcas. Directed and produced by gabriela cowperthwaite, the film follows the story of tilikum, a baby orca captured in the open north atlantic ocean in 1983. There are many examples of crafted activism in psuedodocumentaries. Millions go to seaworld to learn more about sea life and get closer to killer whales. Blackfish documentary exposes negligence, corruption in. The controversial blackfish documentary makes its tv debut on cnn, revealing the truth behind the seaworld tragedy. The iconic super size me is a premiere example of this covered in skeptoid episode 88. Prior to production for blackfish, he produced wayne quinton. The movie claims seaworld has made tilikum its top breeder.
To many whove seen it, blackfish is a damning indictment of seaworld and its decision to hold killer whales captive. How blackfish has changed our perceptions of whales and. Blackfish is less balanced investigation than fullon takedown of a broken system. Orca documentary lacks scope, but delivers strong message. John hargrove, for example, discusses the separation of young calves from mothers, and an incident in which splash and orkid pull a trainer into the pool and nearly drown her. Documentary film blackfish, the truth behind seaworld by jennie richards published march 17, 2016 updated april, 2019 the documentary film blackfish takes a critical and condemning look at what has really happened behind the walls of seaworlds parkstold through the personal stories of former seaworld employees and trainers. Deprive of food to keep them hungry, this caused a lot of frustration with the larger animal that in establish animal and would in turn get frustrated with tilikum and with rake him with his. The 21 craziest documentaries on netflix, from blackfish to. Through stock footage and video mismatched to the narrative, the film implies that seaworld collects killer whales. Jan, 2014 they have access to a world class vet staff, plenty of food, and are cared for by passionate and talented trainers. Nov 09, 2015 blackfish wouldnt be the first documentary to inspire change.
Oct 22, 20 blackfish tells the tragic story of a seaworld trainer killed by a 12,000 pound orca in 2010. The movie makes a strong case against the captivity of killer whales under subcircus conditions, but the stance is made even more horrifying because so little has changed in the history of the organization. Blackfish wouldnt be the first documentary to inspire change. But fewer go now because the documentary blackfish exposed what one reporter called the darker side of. The website in question is truth about blackfish, if anyone wants to find. The truth about the truth about blackfish the dodo. It was nominated for the bafta award for best documentary. In cnn films blackfish, filmmaker gabriela cowperthwaite explores the truth about orcas in captivity. There is one essential truth emphasized by every former killer whale trainer. Sharkwater, about the organized butchery of sharks, the cove, about the mistreatment of dolphins, and gabriela cowperthwaites new film about orcas arent subtle, but they arent trying to be. Sep 19, 2018 when the 20 film blackfish highlighted the story of tilikum, a captive orca that killed a trainer, it spurred widespread anger over the confinement of the whales by companies like seaworld. Lets face facts, it exposes a great deal of what society is doing with animals a captive 32year old orca named tilikum, to be exact tilikum was taken from his family and home around the age of 2 and brought to sea world to perform. The film premiered at the 20 sundance film festival on january 19, 20, and was picked up by magnolia pictures and cnn films for wider release.
The documentary blackfish explores the nature of orcas in captivity and the risks posed to their trainers, leading to public debate between the films creators and seaworld. Blackfish the truth about seaworld and animal cruelty. So, when a movie states or implies trainers are interacting with the whales contrary to how i interacted with the. Apr 23, 2014 the film is compelling and disturbing. The website in question is truth about blackfish, if anyone wants to find information on what seaworld has to say. The truth about the truth about blackfish crooks and liars.
Blackfish, a new documentary about the wellknown theme park, finally might prove them right. Blackfish is the newest example of subgenre of documentaries that could be the 21st century animal rights version of abolitionist pamphlets. I have made tv documentaries for 12 years but blackfish is my second feature length documentary and one that i call my labor of tough love. Seaworld analyzes the blackfish film and breaks it down to the second, showing its. A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer. Blackfish is an intense look at orcas in captivity oped. Blackfish, a native american term for the orca or killer whale actually a member of the dolphin family, began with an innocuous premise.
The movie completely convinced me that sea world had poorly trained staff that was ignorant of the danger. The movie blackfish exposes the truth of sea world. It concerns tilikum, an orca held by seaworld and the controversy over captive killer whales. Orlando seaworld dolphin caught on tape good morning america abc news.
Since blackfish came out seaworlds attendance has plummeted. Aug 03, 20 blackfish utilizes rare footage from former trainers and footage taken from tourist cameras to paint a complete picture of the dangers of interacting with captive whales that could treat their trainers as toys. The movie claims that whales in the wild are generally peaceful, intelligent, and emotional creatures and that their treatment at the hands of corporate theme parks possibly created anxiety and frustration that led to the attacks. However, the film does more than to tap into those free willy urges from childhood. Nov 02, 20 deprive of food to keep them hungry, this caused a lot of frustration with the larger animal that in establish animal and would in turn get frustrated with tilikum and with rake him with his teeth. Addressing some criticism of blackfish the earthist. Their thick lips make them easy to recognize, but they dont hide their protruding teeth that they use to pick mussels off a rock. Skeptically watching the film, i found some of the conclusions weak, especially about the behavior of the animal. But for decades animal activists have been arguing that this is blood money. Dec 03, 2015 a rhetorical evaluation of the documentary making waves.
Dec 11, 20 blackfish, a native american term for the orca or killer whale actually a member of the dolphin family, began with an innocuous premise. They have access to a world class vet staff, plenty of food, and are cared for by passionate and talented trainers. Whale carries woman on back for a long time and when she understood why she was shocked duration. Blackfish accused of faking scenes of mother whale crying when its calf was taken away and distorting truth about seaworld. It utilizes interviews with extrainers, and a very powerful interview by john crowe, a man who previously caught. A rhetorical evaluation of the documentary making waves. Hopefully the more minds blackfish changes, the less chance seaworld has of having a future. This kind of nonsensical distortion and afactuality pervades the truth about blackfish. With tilikum, dave duffus, samantha berg, dean gomersall. I worked at a seaworld park for a summer, and while i did. In fact, among resident fisheating killer whales, both and female. A study of seaworlds reputation showed that 32 percent of people who were aware of blackfish had lower opinions of seaworld, even if they had not seen the movie, the s. Gabriela cowperthwaite, the director, wanted to examine. What blackfish documentary left on the cutting room floor cnn.
For two years we were bombarded with terrifying facts, autopsy reports, sobbing interviewees, and unhappy animals a place diametrically opposite to its. Seaworld issues statement on blackfish killer whale. It is directed by gabriela cowperthwaite, and it had a severe impact on not only seaworlds attendance, but their support as well. Feb 09, 2014 marilee menard says the documentary blackfish ignores marine parks and aquariums dedication to research, education and rescue of stranded marine mammals. It was an astounding 32 pages of misleading information that even broke it down to the second of the 1.
Killer whales, seaworld, and the truth beyond blackfish. The whales are never withheld food, never forced to do anything, and have. They reveal blackfish not as an objective documentary, but as propaganda. Blackfish may be the scariest movie around blackfish is billed as a documentary, but instead of a fair and balanced treatment of a complex subject, the film is inaccurate and. But blackfish also suggests aggressiveness can be passed on to a whales offspring. When some resident orcas preferred food, chinook, is scarce, the orcas upbringing are.
Whether you believe it is a revolutionary conservation documentary or, like. Jul 26, 20 the documentary blackfish explores the nature of orcas in captivity and the risks posed to their trainers, leading to public debate between the films creators and seaworld. Seaworld documentary blackfish faked scenes of mother. The cove, which shed light on dolphin hunting on japans. Jun 19, 2017 a documentary was released in 20 titled blackfish. I worked with the same whales being discussed in blackfish. Marilee menard says the documentary blackfish ignores marine parks and aquariums dedication to research, education and rescue of stranded marine mammals.
He made headlines in 2010 when he caused the death of senior seaworld trainer dawn brancheau. Films like blackfish are important to raise awareness of cruelty to cetaceans and to influence people to make the right decisions. Here are five others that made their mark beyond the bigscreen. Blackfish and 5 other documentaries that changed the world. The film blackfish tells the story of a young orca whale named tilikum who is stolen from his family in a shameless act of stratagem in 1983 and follows the 30year history of tilikums captivity and mistreatment at seaworld. The film blackfish takes a critical and condemning look at what really. Blackfish also opens up seaworlds blatant lying at its parks that it deems educational.