This undated publicity photo released by courtesy of Magnolia Pictures shows the whale Tilikum in a scene from “Blackfish,” a Magnolia Pictures release.What the Oscar-winning 2009 documentary “The Cove” did for dolphin slaughter in Japan, “Blackfish” may do for killer whales living in captivity while performing at marine parks.
“Blackfish,” explores what may have caused Tilikum, a 12,000-pound orca, to kill three people, including veteran SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010.
News of Brancheau’s death during a show at SeaWorld in Orlando inspired director Gabriela Cowperthwaite to explore what happened. SeaWorld first claimed that the trainer had slipped and fallen; later, it said Tilikum had been spooked by Brancheau’s ponytail.
The director, who has made documentaries for ESPN, National Geographic, Animal Planet, and the Discovery and History channels, said it took two years to make the film. She procured footage from local and national newscasts, people’s personal archives, and through the Freedom of Information Act.
“It was just perseverance when it came to getting footage,” she said in an interview. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Once you see that, you can’t unsee it. In my mind. that gave me my directive. Now that I know the truth, I have to tell the truth. I didn’t imagine that I was going to be making this film. I thought I was gonna be making a completely different film about relationships with our animal counterparts. So it was really learning through interviews and stuff and seeing footage.”