Kyline Stephens<\/p>\n
Cowperthwaite, Gabriela. “Filmmaker: Why I Made ‘Blackfish'” CNN. Cable News Network, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.<\/p>\n
The controversy I am researching is whether or not SeaWorld is a safe environment for its captive animals. This secondary source relates to SeaWorld\u2019s open letter that I used as my first because it is the opinion of Gabriela Cowperthwaite, director of Blackfish<\/i>, the documentary that began the backlash against SeaWorld.<\/p>\n
I believe that this article is credible because CNN is a reliable news source that has been around since 1980. This CNN special features Gabriela Cowperthwaite\u2019s first-hand opinion as to why she chose to create the documentary that stirred up so much controversy. She has been making television documentaries for 15 years, which also makes her credible and knowledgeable in her field. Blackfish<\/i> was the first of her documentaries to be distributed theatrically. It is apparent that Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the author of this article, is trustworthy and thoroughly researched the topic of killer whales in captivity prior to creating her film. The article is very informative and she presents herself in a way that allows us to understand her motives behind wanting answers to the many questions she had regarding captive marine animals. Cowperthwaite mentions her research through autopsy reports, interviews, and correspondence with SeaWorld. Her argument is formed very responsibly and ties in all her well-developed research.<\/p>\n
Gabriela Cowperthwaite begins her article by referring to SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau\u2019s killing. She claims that this is how her questioning began. The information did not add up, in her opinion, and Cowperthwaite did not understand why an animal as intelligent as a killer whale would bite the hand that feeds it. \u201cWhy would America’s lovable Shamu turn against us? How could our entire collective childhood memories of this delightful water park be so morbidly wrong?\u201d These were the questions that motivated Cowperthwaites to \u201cset out to understand this incident, not as an animal activist,\u201d she insists, \u201cbut as a mother\u2026 and of course as a documentary filmmaker who unfortunately can’t let sleeping dogs lie.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gabriela Cowperthwaite claims to have wanted SeaWorld\u2019s voice as part of her film all along. After many back-and-forth e-mails, however, they declined. Cowperthwaite explained that \u201cthis was [not] an easy film to make. There were nightmares, too many autopsy reports, sobbing interviewees and unhappy animals.\u201d There was also the fear of being squashed by the $2 billion a year entity named SeaWorld, who would do anything in their power to protect their beloved Shamu. \u201cBut as I moved forward I knew that in telling this story in an honest and fact-driven way, I was telling the truth,\u201d Cowperthwaite states, \u201cIt sounds clich\u00e9 but it’s really that simple. At some point you’re simply compelled, in spite of yourself, to tell a story that needs to be told no matter how scared\u2026\u201d Because of all her research, she now claims to know that killer whales are not suitable for captivity. The effect producing Blackfish<\/i> had on herself and on her crew is \u201cimpossible to shake.\u201d She is now \u201cdedicated to spreading the word\u201d of what happens behind closed-doors to the animals in captivity at SeaWorld. She hopes that her film can be used as momentum to \u201chelp evolve us out of using animals for entertainment.\u201d She urges that the killer whales that are in captivity be retired to \u201csea sanctuaries\u201d where a large ocean cove is divided with a net. With the whales in these sea sanctuaries, \u201cwe could monitor their health, even feed them if need be where they can live out the rest of their lives in a dignified, sustainable manner.\u201d Cowperthwaite closes by saying that her purpose behind Blackfish<\/i> was simply to tell the real story. \u201cOnce audiences are armed with the truth, they will make the best decisions by themselves and their families,\u201d she states.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kyline Stephens Cowperthwaite, Gabriela. “Filmmaker: Why I Made ‘Blackfish’” CNN. Cable News Network, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 03 Aug. 2015. The controversy I am researching is whether or not SeaWorld is a safe environment for its captive animals. This secondary … Continue reading