My Experience with Blackfish

I am probably one of the few people left who still hasn’t seen Blackfish – I know, its surprising. Honestly, I did not want to watch the film at first because I thought it was going to be too sad and graphic. However, after hearing all of the press surrounding the film and observing the slow downfall of Sea World, I knew it was time to give this notorious documentary a chance.

As I suspected, the film opens up with an ominous 911-phone call placed over footage of trainers at Sea World. Personally, I was on edge for the entire opening sequence – I was really expecting them to show me an orca attack right at the beginning for impact. Luckily, the filmmakers were kind to me and kept the graphic footage for later in the documentary. So far, the hype surrounding Blackfish is being supported – the eerie phone calls and training footage have effectively drawn me in to this documentary and leave me wanting to learn more. The filmmakers almost set the documentary up like a horror film or a TV cop drama; by giving you sneak peak into the tragedy to come.

Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the director of Blackfish, skillfully tells a story complete with aggressive villains, unsuspecting victims, an ongoing conflict, and a shocking climax. Blackfish doesn’t just have one villain, but two – a large international corporation and a wild creature. Coweperthwaite chooses to start at the beginning of Tilikum’s story, the 12,000-pound bull orca that has been responsible for three separate deaths at Sea World. Tilikum is Sea World’s oldest, most fertile, and unfortunately angriest orca, who brutally killed senior trainer Dawn Brancheau in Orlando. However just like any drama, there seems to be a reason for the villain’s actions. Ex-whale hunter John Crowe shares a haunting memory of capturing whale calves while their mothers moaned in the distance. This story paired with disturbing details of the captured animals’ living arrangements provides the audience with reasons to redeem the “evil villain.”

Cowperthwaite uses testimonies like Crowe’s throughout the entire film to successfully add raw emotion into the story. Ex-trainers and whale experts add credibility to the footage, 911-phone calls, press releases, and news stories. Their personal stories made me realize that these deaths and injuries were completely preventable, which then proved to me that Sea World needs an ethics refresher.

While I don’t foresee myself creating or starring in a documentary anytime soon, I know that these story-telling principles can help me win over an audience the next time I design a presentation. First, I will start off strong by stating the problem and possible solution in the very beginning – therefore leaving the audience curious about what’s to come. Next, I plan to incorporate testimonials and detailed research to support my arguments. Finally, I will use as few words as possible, and stick to impactful images and video in the slide deck. This way the attention will be on me – the storyteller.