Peter & Nejma Beard Julian Schnabel Calvin Klein

Josh Bernstein Anne Marie Van Dijk Terry McDonell

Lawrence ODonnell Martha Stewart Richard David Story
invite you and a guest to join
filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite
and former SeaWorld trainers featured in the film
at a special screening of
CNN Films Magnolia Pictures

BLACKFISH
A film by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Produced by Manny Oteyza Judy Bart Erica Kahn

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

7:30pm - Screening
MoMA
Celeste Bartos
4 West 54th Street

9:00pm Dinner
Circo
120 W 55th Street
Many of us have experienced the excitement and awe of watching 8,000-pound orcas, or killer
whales, soar out of the water and fly through the air at sea parks, as if in perfect harmony with
their trainers. Yet, in our contemporary lore this mighty black-and-white mammal is like a twofaced Janusbeloved as a majestic, friendly giant yet infamous for its capacity to kill viciously.
Blackfish unravels the complexities of this dichotomy, employing the story of notorious performing
whale Tilikum, whounlike any orca in the wildhas taken the lives of several people while in
captivity. So what exactly went wrong?
Shocking, never-before-seen footage and riveting interviews with trainers and experts manifest
the orcas extraordinary nature, the species cruel treatment in captivity over the last four
decades, and the growing disillusionment of workers who were misled and endangered by the
highly profitable sea-park industry. This emotionally wrenching, tautly structured story challenges
us to consider our relationship to nature and reveals how little we humans have learned from
these highly intelligent and enormously sentient fellow mammals.

Gabriela Cowperthwaite

John Jett

John Hargrove

Samantha Berg

Carol Ray

Peter, Nejma & Zara Beard

Calvin Klein

Anne Marie Van Dijk

Albert Maysles

Jodi Applegate

Dan Abrams

Charlbi Dean

Andrew Jenks

Albert Hammond Jr.

Amanda Ross

Meredith Ostrom

Yigal Azrouel

Leslie OKelley

Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea

Julie Loomis

Oliver Clegg

Antoine Verglas

Kristian Schmidt & DJ Alex Merrell

Lenay Dunn

Blackfish: Rooting for Killer Whales and Killer Kids in Lost

for Life
nd
By: Regina Weinreich/Saturday, June 22 , 2013

It's not likely you'll want to take your kids to SeaWorld after seeing Blackfish, a riveting
documentary expose starring former trainers of orca whales, taken from the wild. It is
hard to get warm and fuzzy over fish that weigh a few thousand pounds each, no matter
how many times they leap to the ball or roll over on command, but once you see the
pups separated from their mothers, or hear the sound they make when they grieve, this
movie has you by the heartstrings.
At a dinner at Circo on Wednesday night, filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite explained
how she got interested in this subject: a mom who took her kids to SeaWorld, she
thought, this is fun for the kids, but what is wrong with this picture? And then in 2010,
when a trainer was killed by one of the whales in captivity, an attack that was covered
up, the victim, a seasoned and beloved trainer blamed for wearing a ponytail, she
decided to investigate this world where highly evolved animals are kidnapped from their
natural habitat and forced into the entertainment industry where they are penned in tight
surroundings with other whales in sometimes nasty relationships.
Samantha Berg, now an acupuncturist in Alaska, is one of several former trainers in the
film; after realizing the indefensible immorality of this business, she suggested a rehab
process for the whales, that is, returning them to the oceans. They would never survive
in their present condition transformed by drugs, and horrific experiences, but could
survive gradually.
Present at the screening and dinner, a state-of-the-art Peggy Siegal event, Peter and
Nejma Beard, Calvin Klein, Albert Maysles. Documentary filmmaker Kate Davis, whose
documentary on the Cheshire Murders will air on HBO later this summer, pointed out
that we are so willing to take a compassionate view when it comes to animals, even
when they kill. We are less giving toward children of deplorable childhoods who commit
heinous acts.
A debate ensued that resonates for yet another new documentary, Lost for Life, directed
by Josh Rofe, and produced by Ted Leonsis, Rick Allen, Mark Jonathan Harris and
Peter Landesman, about young people who committed murders as juveniles who are
now serving life sentences without parole. You hear both sides, that is, about
childhoods that are near Dickensian, defined by sexual and other forms of abuse. You
hear from families of victims who want justice. Those interviewed behind bars seem to
have transformed their lives, and you may want to consider, as the filmmakers seem to
suggest, their sentences be reviewed. The film is featured at AFI this weekend, and
next week's Nantucket Film Festival.

Blackfish Makes It Latest Stop on Tour That Began at

Sundance
st
By: Mike Vilensky/Friday, June 21 , 2013

The director of Blackfish, Gabriela Cowperthwaite

A party for the controversial film "Blackfish" on Thursday evening contained a few odd
juxtapositions: There were fashion models and whale trainers; an MTV personality,
Lenay Dunn, and investigative documentary filmmakersall at a swanky Manhattan
restaurant, Circo, with scallops and salmon on the menu that was playing host to a
discussion about orcas in captivity.
"Blackfish" screened earlier Thursday evening at the Museum of Modern Art, the latest
stop on a buzz tour that began at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Picked up for release by Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films, the film focuses on the
majestic orcathe enormous, black-and-white mammal called "the killer whale"and
the alleged dangers of keeping it in captivity at theme parks and other places.
A documentary that may sound niche, "Blackfish" has been garnering praise from
publications such as Variety, which called it "a mesmerizing psychological thriller," and
the Hollywood Reporter, which called it "emotionally powerful."
In an interview at the event, director Gabriela Cowperthwaite said she took her children
to animal amusement parks and "always felt a little strange about it, but could never put
my finger on why. How could something that makes so many people happy be a bad
thing?" Following the death of a trainer at SeaWorld at the hands of a whale, Ms.
Cowperthwaite began investigating and interviewing numerous ex-trainers, many of
whom turned up at the premiere Thursday. She said she expected SeaWorld's
participation in the film, but it declined. SeaWorld did not respond to requests for
comment.

Is there any type of animal tourism Ms. Cowperthwaite would advocate? "Look, I know
it's on every family's bucket list," she said. "There are whale-watching toursthat's
educational. I personally go to the Wild Animal Park in San Diego; we're in the trams in
a confined space circling what at least feels like a natural habitat."
Serious and polarizing as the subject matter may be, this was still a party, and it came
with the requisite celebrity appearances, plates of ravioli and glasses of Champagne,
animal activism notwithstanding.
Peggy Siegal, the high-powered film publicist, greeted us at the door. Chocolate
mousse and mini-cookies were arranged on a table. Photographers Peter Beard and
Antoine Verglas, models Charlbi Dean and Anne-Marie Van Dijk, and filmmaker Albert
Maysles turned up to celebrate.
"I'm honored people have rallied for this," Ms. Cowperthwaite said.

Whale Woes, Revealed at

Blackfish
st
By: Madeline Chambers/Friday, June 21 , 2013

(NEW YORK) Last night, CNN Films and Magnolia Pictures hosted a screening of
Blackfish, which had a chic set piling into the MoMA Celeste Bartos Theater for the
occasion. The evening kicked off with a tapis rouge showing that included Calvin
Klein, Yigal Azrouel, Grey Gardens director Albert Maysles, and models aplenty,
including Anne Marie Van Dijk and Leslie OKelley (the latter is a DvF-adored
strutter). The film highlighted the corruption of SeaWorlds Orca whale facilities; as the
credits rolled, the audience remained in a state of shock that translated to a silent
theater. Not the typical post-screening vibe...Only after everyone was able to swallow
the knots in their throats did the applause start, topping the night off as a very humbling
experience for filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite.
Following the movie, the cast and guests headed to Circo NYC to reflect on the
documentary and its message while clinking drinks with orca whale trainers. Also on the
after party to do list: enjoying delectable food, including a classic chicken dish and
ricotta-filled ravioli, plus at least half a dozen desserts (nothing from the spread being
from the sea, of course!). The event marks not only the premiere of an emotionally
stimulating movie on animal captivity, but also the start of a campaign against such
improper treatment of animals of the Orca whale variety and beyond.

Dispatch: Z Craziest Ride of Summer

By: Jeffrey Slonim/Thursday, June, 27, 2013

Same night, new documentary Blackfish, on the subject of the predatory instinct of killer whales at sea
parks was fascinating, but no lighter. Nonetheless, there was some comfort in Italian chef Alfio Longos
menu at Circo afterwardravioli di mamma egi and Tuscan brick-pressed chicken with chard. Z best.

Calvin Klein Gives Kim Kardashian Advice on Post-Baby

Fashion
st
By: Jennifer Crawford/Friday, June 21 , 2013

We got to catch up with the fashion mogul and we were surprised to hear what he
had to say about the new mom!
Calvin Klein, 70, knows what looks good on people but hes not going to tell them!
We caught up with the designer at a screening for Blackfish on June 20 in NYC at the
MoMA, where we asked the designer for his advice on what Kim Kardashians postbaby style should look like. While we expected him to rattle off fantastic style tips his
answer actually caught us by surprise!
Calvin Klein Kim Kardashian Advice:
Calvin actually has no opinion at all on what Kim should wear. Hes confident that the
new mom can style herself just fine! I never tell anyone what they should wear, he
says. She knows whats good for her.

If the reality star was looking for a fashion hand-out it certainly doesnt seem like shes
going to get it here! It looks like Kim will just have to figure it out for herself, but at least
shes got Kleins confidence behind her to fuel her choices.
Although he doesnt have much to say on post-baby fashion, he did gush about the
importance of the film he was on hand to view. Its important because my friends are all
involved with this event. The Beards [Peter & Nejma Beard], David Siegel, I mean
everyone. As I was saying earlier, I care about wildlife. I was just sharing about my trip
to Africa. You get to respect nature, and in a way that you just dont experience it
growing up in New York City, he said.
Are you surprised that Calvin didnt quickly offer up advice for Kim or do you think its
really cool that he trusts her to figure it out?

Blackfish killer whale

documentary screened in NY
rd
By: Sonia Lavina/Sunday, June 23 , 2013

"Blackfish", the new documentary about killer whales in captivity, was screened at the
Museum of Modern Art in New York reported the Wall Street Journal on June 21.
This was the latest stop on a promotional tour that premiered at the Sundance Film
Festival in January. The grand opening of the film will be in New York in July.
Picked up for wider release by Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films, the film focuses on
the captivity of the killer whale Tilikum, who was responsible for the deaths of three
individuals, and the consequences of keeping such large and intelligent animals in
captivity.
"Blackfish" has been gathering praise from publications such as Twitch Film and The
Hollywood Reporter with both review sites arguing that the film gave "a persuasive case
against keeping the species and by extension any wild animal in captivity for the
purposes of human entertainment".
Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the films director began investigating and interviewing extrainers after the death of Tilikum's trainer Dawn Brancheau and claims that the whale
had targeted her due to her wearing her hair in a ponytail. Cowperthwaite argued that
this claim had been a speculation.
The coverage of Tilikum begins with his capture in 1983 off of Iceland and shows how
he was harassed by fellow captive whales and left in dark tanks for hours, which
Cowperthwaite argues contributed to the whale's aggression.

The Humane Society of the United States noted that orcas are injuring each other and
humans in a way rarely or never observed in the wild.
Some orca populations are considered threatened or endangered due to prey depletion,
habitat loss, pollution, capture for marine mammal parks, and conflicts with fisheries. In
2005, the "southern resident" population of killer whales that inhabits British Columbia
and Washington state waters were placed on the U.S. Endangered Species list.
As of June 2013, 46 orcas are held captive at facilities in North and South America,
Europe and Japan, providing entertainment for theme park visitors.
Live captures peaked in the early 1970s, but due to injuries and deaths, they have
become infrequent as the marine parks have maintained populations through captive
breeding and artificial insemination.
Captive breeding promises to reduce incentives to capture wild orcas; however the
Miami Seaquarium stated that captive orcas are dying faster than they are being born,
and that the business of exhibiting captive orcas may eventually disappear.
Captivity severely compromises a whale or dolphins quality of life stated the
international group Avaaz, who organized an anti-captivity petition which thousands
have signed.
Other anti-captivity petitions call for support from animal lovers, environmentalists and
individuals to protect dolphins and killer whales across the globe.

Last Nights Partiesst

By: Yumi Matsuo/Friday, June 21 , 2013

[Peggy Siegal, Calvin Klein] [Charlbi Dean] [Zara Beard, Peter Beard, Nejma Beard]

Where: The Museum of Modern Art

Who was there: Guests included Peter Beard, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Calvin Klein,
Charlbi Dean, Anne-Marie Van Dijk, Peggy Siegal, Yigal Azrouel, Antoine Verglas, Sofia
Sanchez Barrenechea, Julia Loomis, Albert Hammond Jr., Kristian Schmidt, Alex
Merrell, Albert Mayslesk, Zara Beard, Nejma Beard, Leslie O'Kelley, and Jodi
Applegate.

[Calvin Klein]

Exclusive: Calvin Klein Right To Admirers Even If They

Arent Wearing His Designs
st
By: Billy McCuddy/Friday, June 21 , 2013

Nothing gets between Calvin Klein and his fans. People will see me in a restaurant, he
admitted, and tell me what a fan they are or ask for an autograph. The iconic 70 year
old says that behavior annoys some designers and celebrities, but not him. But he did
tell us, with a laugh, theyre never wearing (my) clothes! RightOrRude caught up with
the jean and cologne titan at a private MOMA screening for the killer whale doc
Blackfish Thursday night. He says most people are polite and added if they just want
to chat a bit, so what? He didnt disclose whether supermodels are right or rude, but did
say things are no different now than when he was growing upexcept for the way we
look. People are more casual about appearance and the rules have changed, he told
us. But I think its still appropriate to look at someone when they speak to you, he said
(as we stared intently back) adding and shake their hand. His daughter, television
producer Marci Klein must also be doing something right with her two young children.
My grandchildren are very well brought up, he beamed. They have manners at a very
young age. Were thinking he wouldnt have designed it any other way. But do they
wear his clothes?

CNN Films and Magnolia Pictures host special screening of

Blackfish
nd
By: Shaina Moskowitz/Saturday, June 22 , 2013

Peter and Nejma Beard, Julian Schnabel, Calvin Klein, Josh Bernstein, Anne Marie Van
Dijk, Terry McDonell, Lawrence ODonnell, Martha Stewart and Richard David Story
hosted the a special screening of the CNN Films and Magnolia Pictures' documentary
"Blackfish" at the MoMA on Thursday evening. Filmmakers: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
(director), Manny Oteyza (producer), Judy Bart (producer), Erica Kahn (producer) were
in attendance in addition to former Sea World trainers: John Hargrove, John Jett, Carol
Ray, Jeffrey Ventre, Samantha Berg. Additional Guests who walked the red carpet
included Dan Abrams, Jodi Applegate, Yigal Azrouel, Oliver Clegg, Sofia Sanchez
Barrenechea, Charlbi Dean, Sante DOrazio, Lenay Dunn, Julia Loomis, Albert
Hammond Jr, Andrew Jenks, Albert Maysles, Leslie OKelley, Meredith Ostrom,
Amanda Ross, Antoine Verglas, and Michael Zegen. The screening was followed by
dinner at Circo.
Despite what their name suggests, Killer Whales are one of the friendliest wild animals
in the world. Key word there being wild animal. But what happens when you capture
them, take them away from their families and use them as entertainment?
"Blackfish" wonderfully answers that question. Coming out July 19, the 83 minute
documentary features the story of Tilikum, a special killer whale that did live up to its
name and killed three people. The film follows Tilikums life story - following his capture

and temporary stay at the Sealand of the Pacific where he killed his first victim. He was
later transferred to the Seaworld of Orlando where he killed another two people,
including Dawn Brancheau, a young female trainer at the Seaworld resort.
The film is a must see for all people, since not only does it feature the gruesome truths
of how the killer whales are actually treated, the film shows how Seaworld tried to cover
up the death, as well as the other incidences of death by human error. It really is eyeopening and does lead you to question how humans can actually blindsightedly accept
the fact we are using the whales for entertainment.
The documentary helps get underneath the story Seaworld put out of Brancheaus
death - how the possibility of it being human error is quite impossible and all the
controversy surrounding the event. Directed by Gabriella Cowperthwaite, the film
features various Seaworld trainers including John Jett and John Hargrove, who
witnessed the death of Brancheau. You can read their interviews below:
Director Gabriela Cowperthawaite
Tell me about the film.
Its about the story of Tilikum, the killer whale who was responsible for the death of
Dawn Brancheau. In search of kind of my quest to understand what he was thinking on
that day and what made him do what he did. I thought they were happy there and I
thought killer whales loved their trainers and bonded with human beings. When I heard
about the killing of Dawn Brancheau, it was such a terrible, horrific incident. It was
protracted and it didnt square up with what I knew about killer whales. So I essentially
tried to follow him and tried to go back 40 years to just understand how he got into the
park in the first place and how the whales have come to be in parks.
What surprised you most about your research of killer whales?
Not even the size of their brain, but really the physiology of their brain. They have an
enormous brain and we always hear that theyre intelligent and all that. But their brains,
the killer whale brains, have something in their brains that we dont have. They have
something else. We dont even know what that something else is. There is just an entire
portion of their brain that we cannot identify because we dont have it and we have
never seen it before. So whether that suggests that they are potentially more intelligent
or have the possibility of extra profound emotional strength - we dont know. But that still
just makes my jaw drop to the floor - theres an animal that could potentially do more,
think more, feel more than we could have ever imagined.
What is the message that you want to portray to the people?
I think that this is a 40 year experiment, putting highly intelligent mammals in captivity,
and I think we did this experiment since we were curious. Were well-meaning in
general, in that we wanted to reach across and give information. But even just that,

given what we know- the trainers arent safe, and the whales arent happy - we know
the experiment didnt work. And I think thats something we have to come to terms with
and shift and evolve to move on.
When you heard of Dawns death, you stated there had to be more to this story. What
do you think about her death by Tilikum?
I heard about the story from just the general media. I felt there had to be more to this
and part of the reason why I felt that was because everything I read conflicted with
something else I read. So the first thing you would hear is that she slipped and fell, then
that went away because people were there and said, No, she didnt. Then you heard of
the ponytail theory. What youll find out in the film is thats a negligible theory as well so
I thought to myself, If I had all these questions so will everybody else.
What were the challenges of making the film?
Not shoe-horning in every fact that I could possibly shoe-horn in. I think self discipline in
story-telling was incredibly hard just because theres so much that I could tell you in this
film and that I just didnt want to be manipulative; I just wanted to stick to the story and
let people decide for themselves.
Former Seaworld Trainers John Hargrove and John Jett:
What was your inspiration for getting involved with the film?
JJ: Well, my inspiration has been to tell the truth about the marine park industry and
share the plight the captive orcas who were there for a long time. And so when
Gabriella approached me, I asked some very simple questions: whats your objective?
What are you hoping to get out of this? And her answers were right on - they were very
consistent with how I see the world and she wanted to tell the truth. She wanted to give
the public a glimpse behind the curtain. It has been until now, a complete closed and
almost cult -ike society. People dont know what goes on behind stages, they dont
know what happens to the captive orcas on a day to day basis. So Gabriella seemed to
be in the right place for me and thats why I decided to sign on and help out with her
anyway I could.
JH: For me, its a way to continue to care for these whales. Its so hard to leave them
behind and to abandon those animals. I was there probably a lot longer than maybe I
should have been. So I see this as a situation where I can still make a difference
hopefully and even get them bigger and better pools, better enrichment and breeding
program so the killer whales are not kept in captivity until the end of time.
What were the challenges in making the film?
JJ: The best person to ask would be Gabriella. Shes put together an amazing film and I
dont know where she got all the footage, but shes amassed a really superb group of

people and so I think she was really challenged to put it all together. Its not challenging
to tell the truth, all of us have just been honest and told the truth. As long as you tell the
truth, your life is pretty easy. Whether youre at home or doing movies or films, or even
in a classroom or talking to your child; telling the truth is really easy so I think in that
prospective, its really simple for me.
JH: Thats exactly right because sometimes I would still have flashes of anxiety
speaking out and I calm down as I say, All Im doing is speaking the truth. Anything
about my experiences as a killer whale trainer at Seaworld and also being a voice for
those animals; it immediately brings me back to being calm.
And what is the message you want to portray to the public?
JH: The message to the public is that your perspective of Seaworld, is, in some sense,
radically different from reality.
JJ: What these whales go through on a day to day basis and in their lifetimes in
concrete pools that are acoustically dead, babies taken from their moms, forced to do
stupid tricks for paying customers over and over, is ridiculous. The public needs to be
educated before they decide to spend their money at places like these. We dont want
Seaworld to go away, we want it to be successful. Were very interested in seeing
Seaworld change their business model. They need to do away with the captive breeding
programs and they need to slowly do away with the captive killer whale enterprise. It
just doesnt work out for the animals and my message to the public would be to really try
to become educated about these shows.
JH: The shows are so outdated. When you go to a killer whale show, theres really no
dignity in that show for the whales or the trainers. And they deserve better and I just
want people to come away and say what right do we have to take away this whales life
for profit and entertainment. I want people to really question that when they see the film.

Blackfish: Rooting for Killer Whales and Killer Kids in Lost

for Life
nd
By: Regina Weinreich/Saturday, June 22 , 2013

Its not likely youll want to take your kids to SeaWorld after seeing Blackfish, a riveting
documentary expose starring former trainers of orca whales, taken from the wild. It is
hard to get warm and fuzzy over fish that weigh a few thousand pounds each, no matter
how many times they leap to the ball or roll over on command, but once you see the
pups separated from their mothers, or hear the sound they make when they grieve, this
movie has you by the heartstrings.
At a dinner at Circo on Wednesday night, filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite explained
how she got interested in this subject: a mom who took her kids to SeaWorld, she
thought, this is fun for the kids, but what is wrong with this picture? And then in 2010,
when a trainer was killed by one of the whales in captivity, an attack that was covered
up, the victim, a seasoned and beloved trainer blamed for wearing a ponytail, she
decided to investigate this world where highly evolved animals are kidnapped from their
natural habitat and forced into the entertainment industry where they are penned in tight
surroundings with other whales in sometimes nasty relationships.

Samantha Berg, now an acupuncturist in Alaska, is one of several former trainers in the
film; after realizing the indefensible immorality of this business, she suggested a rehab
process for the whales, that is, returning them to the oceans. They would never survive
in their present condition transformed by drugs, and horrific experiences, but could
survive gradually.
Present at the screening and dinner, a state-of-the-art Peggy Siegal event, Peter and
Nejma Beard, Calvin Klein, Albert Maysles. Documentary filmmaker Kate Davis, whose
documentary on the Cheshire Murders will air on HBO later this summer, pointed out
that we are so willing to take a compassionate view when it comes to animals, even
when they kill. We are less giving toward children of deplorable childhoods who commit
heinous acts.
A debate ensued that resonates for yet another new documentary, Lost for Life, directed
by Josh Rofe, and produced by Ted Leonsis, Rick Allen, Mark Jonathan Harris and
Peter Landesman, about young people who committed murders as juveniles who are
now serving life sentences without parole. You hear both sides, that is, about
childhoods that are near Dickensian, defined by sexual and other forms of abuse. You
hear from families of victims who want justice. Those interviewed behind bars seem to
have transformed their lives, and you may want to consider, as the filmmakers seem to
suggest, their sentences be reviewed. The film is featured at AFI this weekend, and
next weeks Nantucket Film Festival.