There's a high probability that you've seen Blackfish mentioned at least once on your Facebook feed.
There's a high probability that you've seen Blackfish mentioned at least once on your Facebook feed. This documentary, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, has become a hot topic of debate after it's premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, early last year. This self-described psychological thriller focuses on a killer whale named Tilikum, who was housed at SeaWorld, and shows the world what happens when nature is pushed to its limits.
SeaWorld later claimed the film was inaccurate, saying to CNN, "Blackfish ... is inaccurate and misleading and, regrettably, exploits a tragedy.... [T]he film paints a distorted picture that withholds... key facts about SeaWorld – among them... that SeaWorld rescues, rehabilitates and returns to the wild hundreds of wild animals every year, and that SeaWorld commits millions of dollars annually to conservation and scientific research."
Others, like fellow Knight Ana Zuñiga, disagree: "I understand that Blackfish is considered biased by some, but people are missing the main message. It's not about bashing SeaWorld or disgracing Dawn (the trainer), it's about the fact that people pay for that as a form of entertainment. Essentially, animals belong in the wild. No matter how many animals SeaWorld rescues and nurses back to health, some do not go back to the wild and are cashed on.
As an animal rights activist, I think Blackfish portrayed what life is like on the otherside of the aquarium glass." Another student, Antonio Whitehead, shared his thoughts on the matter. "I thought it was a straightforward, but very effective film. I'm sort of sick of "message" documentaries, but Blackfish manages to provide persuasive arguments while wrapping it around a gripping narrative. Most of the complaints about it have said that it's a biased movie, and it is, but only to the extent that every other documentary about a certain cause is. Plus, for every moment where the film directly says "SeaWorld is bad!" there are two scenes of straightforward reportage that allow you to extrapolate your own feelings. If SeaWorld didn't want this film to offer what they feel to be a one-sided opinion, maybe they should've responded to the director's emails.".
Regardless of your view on the matter, it's impossible to deny the negtive effect this attention has had on SeaWorld. Willie Nelson, Martina McBride and, now, Trace Adkins have all dropped out of SeaWorld’s Bands, Blues and BBQ show. While the documentary initially only touched animal activists, it spilled over into the Hollywood-sphere soon after CNN’s broadcast of the documentary in October, nine months after it's premiere.
Here are two examples: Say no to #orcas in captivity & yes to @Blackfishmovie. See this amazing film-in theaters across the US! #blackfish http://t.co/9EHMX9hVrw.
Hayden Panettiere (@haydenpanettier) July 25, 2013. Blackfish is such a well made doc, and so powerful. Rent it on iTunes. And let's all boycott Seaworld together. Shame on them. #Blackfish.
Olivia Wilde (@oliviawilde) November 17, 2013 Kyle Kittleson, a former killer whale trainer at SeaWorld, responded to the film on his YouTube channel (http://youtu.be/VX4GRC6L07w) claiming that these animals are, "in the best of hands. There is no harm being done to them. There is only the best possible care being provied for them."
Have you seen the film? What are your thoughts? Has this documentary changed your opinion about SeaWorld?
