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Jesus Montes
Professor Hamalian
English 115
19 October 2014
Hybrid Essay
Because the most important lesson we learned from seeing killer whales in captivity is
that they dont belong in captivity, Gabriella Cowperthwaite on why she made Blackfish
(Cowperthwaite). In the documentary, Blackfish, director-producer Gabriela Cowperthwaite
compiles horrifying footage and emotional interviews to explore the nature of orcas and the
species cruel treatment in captivity. In addition, the film uses many first-hand experiences and
visual elements to try to effect change and alter the publics view on SeaWorlds practices and
treatment of the orcas under their control. From the actual telephone conversation from the day
of Dawn Brancheaus death to video of a trainer being pulled under water by an orca, Blackfish
and its producers want their viewers to see the truth behind SeaWorld. Their goal is that they can
use visual an aural elements to try and speak for the orcas who cant speak for themselves, to let
everyone know that something must be done to save these majestic creatures from the cruel
treatment the killer whales face in captivity. An example of this is when the director explains
how SeaWorld separated orca mothers from their newborn calves. Dawn Brancheaus
unfortunate death, and trainer Ken Peters near death experience, after being dragged underwater
by an orca for a few minutes at a time, further help create an emotional connection with the
viewer to effect change. Gabriella Cowperthwaite uses emotional interviews juxtaposed with
horrifying footage to show the bad condition the majestic orcas face. The director of this

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documentary uses horrifying footage and real first-hand accounts of witnesses to help change the
publics view on SeaWorld and save the orca whales.
Firstly, from the beginning of the film it is evident that the directors plan is to use actual
footage and interviews to help change the publics image of SeaWorld. In the very opening scene
we are introduced to some ominous music playing, from the movies exceptional soundtrack,
which immediately lets the viewer know that something terrible is about to happen. The film
shows a telephone conversation from the incident involving Dawn Brancheaus death at a
SeaWorld park in Florida on February 24, 2010 by an orca named Tilikum. The man who made
the nine one one call explains to the operator that, a whale has eaten one of the trainers
(Blackfish). These horrific explanations almost implant a scene into anyones mind how
gruesome her death was. The phone call helps draw the audience into convincing the audience
that these animals are too dangerous to be kept in captivity and it helps establish pathos, which is
an appeal to emotion. The tone does a complete 180 to a more joyous one in order to introduce
John Hargrove and Samantha Berg, both former SeaWorld trainers. We transition into an
introduction of various former employees telling us where they came from and how their first
experiences with SeaWorld had an enormous impact on them. Their interviews help us learn that,
somebodys looking back you form a very personal relationship with your animal, being a
trainer is not only about caring for these animals but in turn you form a very close bond with
them (Hargrove). These former employees recollect their relationships with Dawn Brancheau
and explain how, what happened to [her] couldve happened to anyone (Berg, Blackfish).
These emotional recollections of their experiences with Dawn perfectly show how the producers
believe if nothing is done about SeaWorlds practices, that it is bound to happen again. Detective
Revere explains in a courtroom, where OSHA is suing SeaWorld of Florida, how the orca that

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killed Dawn, didnt let go of her armhe swallowed it (Revere, Blackfish). Many of the
sequences help prove the producers point of how amazing these orcas are but they should not be
held in captivity because they are extremely dangerous. The producers effectively use interviews
from former employees to explain that SeaWorlds practices with the orcas are not safe for the
trainers. They also wants to shed some light on the true practices of SeaWorld and in turn their
hopes are that if something is not done this will inevitably happen again. The combination of
connecting with emotion and footage from the incident helps convince the audience keeping
orcas in captivity is wrong by creating an emotional response.
Furthermore, this film has the potential to effect change because it uses actual video
where it shows Ken Peters, a trainer at a SeaWorld park getting pulled under the water by an
orca named Kasatka. The attack occurred during the final show of the evening on November 29,
2006 where, Ken Peters prepares for a rocket hop with Kasatkaseconds after diving in,
Kasatka seizes Kens foot (Blackfish). An aerial shot of the scene shows the very moment when
the orca grabs ahold of Kens foot and begins to hold him at the bottom of the pool. Kasatka let
him go, picked him up and dragged him to the bottom again. The duration of time in which Ken
Peters was held underwater varied from a minute to almost being long enough to killing him.
Fortunately, for Mr. Peters he had scuba diving experience so he knew not to panic, this
knowledge probably contributed to him surviving the attack. Even after Kasatka let go of his leg
and as Ken was trying to escape it appears the orca was trying to grab him again. This scene is
especially eerie because Duffus commentates and relives the scene happens, and he even states
how, I would have been scared sh*tless if he were in Kens unfortunate position (Duffus,
Blackfish). After the attack many questions were asked, what had caused this attack? Many
professionals in the field of marine biology accredited this to the actual orcas being in captivity.

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Because of the stress involved in being deprived of everything that is natural and important to
orcas in captivity (SeaWorld of Hurt). Further research shows that, Captive orcas have poor
dental health compared to wild whales, which may be another factor in their susceptibility to
fatal infections... Orcas in captivity are more aggressive toward each other than in the wild
(States New Service). The orcas arent attacking humans because they want to they are simply
lashing out because they have been living in a bathtub their entire lives. Another is when, the
film demonstrates how baby killer whales were separated from their mothers and were captured
through deception. A man who was involved in this event describe how the mothers stayed in the
area, refusing to swim on as their babies were being seized, hauled onto ships and carried
away(Cowperthwaite). These two separate but similar cases help the producers get their point
across that these animals have no place being locked up for their entire lives. The producers use
live footage from the incident in addition to commentary and facts from scientists which helps
establish the case that these creatures should not be kept in captivity. These attacks can easily be
preventable in the future if we all just open our eyes and stop SeaWorld from keeping these
creatures in captivity.
After Blackfish was released, there was a heated debate on whether or not orcas should be
kept in captivity. On SeaWorlds side of the argument they claimed that the orcas were in better
care if they were captive. But the producers claims were in a quick disagreement they made
various claims of how the bent dorsal film only occurred in captivity and how SeaWorld cruelly
separated calves from their pods. When this film was release SeaWorld quickly responded by
releasing 69 reasons why you shouldnt believe Blackfish. SeaWorld claimed that the film used
different pieces of footage from shows and training sessions that are jumbled together to
mislead the audience into believing that they are viewing footage from the fatal accident between

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Dawn Brancheau and Tilikum (69 reasons). SeaWorld says the directors wanted their audience
to believe they were watching actual footage of the attack but this opening scene consisted of no
actual footage from the event. Furthermore, this film introduces many ex-employees of
SeaWorld but many have not worked at the SeaWorld Park in Florida, where this incident
occurred. Many of the former employees that were introduced actually had never any
interactions with killer whales, therefore their opinions cannot be held as truthful. When the film
introduces Ms. Ashdown, she suggests that the only qualifications to become a killer whale
trainer is to be good at swimming and have a good personality, when in truth the path to
becoming a killer whale trainer is lengthy and demanding. With all this being put in place the
film dramatically changes its purpose, the film can now be seen as a bunch of gibberish put
together to try and ruin SeaWorlds image. This documentary gives the impression that this is a
frequent daily occurrence when in reality it is the opposite. In reality the directors use isolated
incidents to try to thwart SeaWorlds good image. On a regular day in a SeaWorld park the
animal's wellbeing is the number one concern. SeaWorld response to the film was immediate and
an interesting one but it is difficult whose allegations are truthful and whose are not.
Gabriela Cowperthwaite compiles horrifying footage and emotional interviews to explore
the nature of orcas and the species cruel treatment in captivity. She rallies against SeaWorlds
treatment of these majestic creatures and uses various strategies to try and effect change in the
publics eye. In truth I believe the film was a little misleading but both sides of the argument
make good and bad points. The film made me wonder if there was any way I could help these
poor creatures who are being exploited so SeaWorld can make money. If we all rally to stop the
captivity of orcas maybe one day we can save other animals that are in the same dire situation.

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Works Cited

Cowperthwaite, Gabriela, Manuel V. Oteyza, Eli Despres, Jonathan Ingalls, Christopher

Towey, and Jeff Beal. Blackfish. , 2013.

"CAPTIVITY IS DANGEROUS TO KILLER WHALES AND THEIR KEEPERS, REPORT

SHOWS." States News Service 19 Sept. 2011. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

"8 Reasons Orcas Don't Belong at SeaWorld - SeaWorld of Hurt." SeaWorld of Hurt. N.p., n.d.
Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/24/blackfish-director-killer-whales-don-tbelong-in-captivity.html