Thursday, May 7, 2009

The Cove - Why documentaries are made

www.thecovemovie.com

I fell madly in love last night while driving along the 400 hwy towards Toronto.

I was listening to an interview on the CBC radio program "Q" last night with Louie Psihoyos the director of the documentary "The Cove". He absolutely reminded me why I have sacrificed so much to go into the documentary film biz and why I have this burning desire to uncover what has been hidden from us.

"The Cove" had just won the Sundance Audience Award but at this years Hot Docs premiere the audience gave this documentary, described as a "devastating thriller" a standing ovation. The film follows Richard O'Barry, world authority on dolphin training and the man who trained "Flipper"in the 60's, on a covert mission to a hidden cove in Japan.

In James Bond meets Jacques Cousteau like fashion the director Louie Psihoyos (former still photographer for National Geographic Magazine) his diving friend Jim Clark (creator of Netscape), O'Barry and a host of courageous others uncover the underwater horrors of the multi-billion dollar dolphin business. Not only the massive slaughter but facts like the ZANTAC the dolphins are on for us to touch and play with them, and the Japanese people unknowingly been fed dolphin meat with sky high mercury and toxic levels need to be exposed!

Louie and Jim Clark started the Oceanic Preservation Society about 4 years ago to make documentary films and still projects about vanishing ocean life. Listening to him last night as I drove in the night time rain I heard confidence "I know how to construct a story", conviction and sensitivity. But the topper was when he stated emphatically that when it comes to raising financing if you are on the right path the money will appear. I so needed to hear that even though I believe it and move through my life with a quantum perspective being the whole crew on my own projects while looking for financing can really test your reserve. He gave me such a boost.

This is from my Spiritual Elder Venerable Pa'Ris'Ha when I asked for clarity on the true purpose of Dolphins here on earth:

"They are above us on food chain due to purity and intelligence. They are Ancients who would not stay on the land as Man became more harmful. They are the pure innocence’s we once had and will return to. The Dolphins are powerful healers and have such love of Mankind and understand the frequencies that bind us in Oneness, their voice is a sound that moves the Universe's song, and with them the Whales.

Oceans are Ama-Mothers Water, where all life came from, and we are of it all and are to learn to hold the sacredness they hold until we come full circle again. The stories of sailors and ships who have survived many dangerous times on the seas show the love that was given them by the Dolphins. And the playfulness of being relations.

When in areas where the Albino Dolphin comes to us while we do our Ceremonies near the Sea she has a haunting song and it takes our minds to a time before time and she assures us of the return we will make. So in these times of change and fear people are given peace by the Dolphins and great Whales. They have lasted much longer than us on land. All are inter-related and love is the principal they give us."

So I thought ok not only do I have to find out more about this doc but I had to find out more about him. This man is not only an enlightened, sensitive, intelligent, dolphin saving, documentary filmmaker with real inner balls, who also works with his wife (my dream man) but he is absolutely gorgeous! You can listen to the CBC podcast here and/or check out this video from Sundance.