Peter & Nejma Beard Julian Schnabel Calvin Klein

Josh Bernstein Anne Marie Van Dijk Terry McDonell

Lawrence O’Donnell 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 two-

faced Janus—beloved 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, who—unlike any orca in the wild—has 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 orca’s 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 Andrew Jenks Meredith Ostrom

Dan Abrams Albert Hammond Jr. Yigal Azrouel

Charlbi Dean Amanda Ross Leslie O’Kelley

Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea Julie Loomis Kristian Schmidt & DJ Alex Merrell

Oliver Clegg Antoine Verglas Lenay Dunn

Blackfish: Rooting for Killer Whales and Killer Kids in Lost for Life By: Regina Weinreich/Saturday, June 22

nd, 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” By: Mike Vilensky/Friday, June 21

st, 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 filmmakers—all 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 orca—the 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 tours—that'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’ By: Madeline Chambers/Friday, June 21

st, 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 O’Kelley (the latter is a DvF-adored strutter). The film highlighted the corruption of SeaWorld’s 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 Longo’s menu at Circo afterward—ravioli di mamma egi and Tuscan brick-pressed chicken with chard. Z best.

Calvin Klein Gives Kim Kardashian Advice on Post-Baby Fashion By: Jennifer Crawford/Friday, June 21

st, 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 he’s 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 Kardashian‘s post-baby 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. He’s confident that the new mom can style herself just fine! “I never tell anyone what they should wear,” he says. “She knows what’s good for her.”

If the reality star was looking for a fashion hand-out it certainly doesn’t seem like she’s going to get it here! It looks like Kim will just have to figure it out for herself, but at least she’s got Klein’s confidence behind her to fuel her choices.

Although he doesn’t have much to say on post-baby fashion, he did gush about the importance of the film he was on hand to view. “It’s 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 don’t experience it growing up in New York City,” he said.

Are you surprised that Calvin didn’t quickly offer up advice for Kim or do you think it’s really cool that he trusts her to figure it out?

“Blackfish” killer whale documentary screened in NY By: Sonia Lavina/Sunday, June 23

rd, 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 film’s director began investigating and interviewing ex-trainers 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 dolphin’s 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 Night’s Parties By: Yumi Matsuo/Friday, June 21

st, 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 Aren’t Wearing His Designs By: Billy McCuddy/Friday, June 21

st, 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, “they’re 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 didn’t disclose whether supermodels are right or rude, but did say things are no different now than when he was growing up–except for the way we look. “People are more casual about appearance and the rules have changed,” he told us. “But I think it’s 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.” We’re thinking he wouldn’t have designed it any other way. But do they wear his clothes?

CNN Films and Magnolia Pictures’ host special screening of ‘Blackfish’ By: Shaina Moskowitz/Saturday, June 22

nd, 2013

Peter and Nejma Beard, Julian Schnabel, Calvin Klein, Josh Bernstein, Anne Marie Van Dijk, Terry McDonell, Lawrence O’Donnell, 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 D’Orazio, Lenay Dunn, Julia Loomis, Albert Hammond Jr, Andrew Jenks, Albert Maysles, Leslie O’Kelley, 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 Tilikum’s 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 eye-opening 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 Brancheau’s 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.

It’s 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 didn’t 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 they’re intelligent and all that. But their brains, the killer whale brains, have something in their brains that we don’t have. They have something else. We don’t even know what that something else is. There is just an entire portion of their brain that we cannot identify because we don’t 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 don’t know. But that still just makes my jaw drop to the floor - there’s 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. We’re well-meaning in general, in that we wanted to reach across and give information. But even just that,

given what we know- the trainers aren’t safe, and the whales aren’t happy - we know the experiment didn’t work. And I think that’s something we have to come to terms with and shift and evolve to move on.

When you heard of Dawn’s 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 didn’t.’ Then you heard of the ponytail theory. What you’ll find out in the film is that’s 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 there’s so much that I could tell you in this film and that I just didn’t 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: what’s 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 don’t know what goes on behind stages, they don’t 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 that’s why I decided to sign on and help out with her anyway I could.

JH: For me, it’s a way to continue to care for these whales. It’s 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. She’s put together an amazing film and I don’t know where she got all the footage, but she’s amassed a really superb group of

people and so I think she was really challenged to put it all together. It’s 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 you’re 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: That’s exactly right because sometimes I would still have flashes of anxiety speaking out and I calm down as I say, ‘All I’m 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 don’t want Seaworld to go away, we want it to be successful. We’re 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 doesn’t 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, there’s 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 whale’s 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 By: Regina Weinreich/Saturday, June 22

nd, 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.