“The Cove” wins Oscar – Louie Psihoyos doesn’t get to talk dolphins

Last month, I got to speak with director Louie Psihoyos about his Oscar-nominated documentary “The Cove.” When asked about the possibility of winning an Academy Award, here’s what Psihoyos had to say:

“A billion people will see the Academy Awards,” said Psihoyos in a telephone interview. “That’s why I’d like to win. Because for 45 seconds you can talk directly to all the key people who are involved in these policies.”

Unfortunately, Producer Fisher Stevens – missing the point and a huge opportunity – gave the acceptance speech and never actually said the word “Dolphin.”

If you’re interested in helping to stop the horrifying murder of dolphins in Japan, here are some helpful links:

• What can you do to help?
• “The Cove” Official Web Site
• The Oceanic Preservation Society
• Save Japan Dolphins

Update: Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, here is what Psihoyos had planned on saying:

The Long version of the world’s Shortest Oscar acceptance speech

By Louie Psihoyos, director of The Cove

- We made this film to give the oceans a voice.

- We told the story of The Cove because we witnessed a crime. Not just a
crime against nature, but a crime against humanity.

- We made this movie because through plundering, pollution and acidification from burning fossil fuels, ALL ocean life is in peril, from the great whales to plankton which, incidentally, is responsible for half the oxygen in this theater.

- Thank you, Black OPS Team for risking your lives in Japan — and thank you Academy for shining the brightest lights in the world on THE COVE……

- Japan, please see this movie! Domo Aragato!

–WKW

Avatar – The 3-Word Review

I’ve seen you.

–WKW

Louie Psihoyos: Oscar for ‘The Cove’ could save lives of dolphins

Louie Psihoyos wants to win an Academy Award. For the Director of the Oscar-nominated documentary “The Cove,” being nominated is great, but when the envelope is opened, he wants to hear his film called out. Mind you, Psihoyos doesn’t much care about the award itself (“I’d probably give it to the crew,” he said.), but he wants what he sees as the biggest benefit an Oscar offers – a massive audience.

“A billion people will see the Academy Awards,” said Psihoyos in a telephone interview. “That’s why I’d like to win. Because for 45 seconds you can talk directly to all the key people who are involved in these policies.”

What Psihoyos wants to talk about is the subject of his highly praised documentary – the wholesale slaughter of Dolphins in Taiji, Japan. But should “The Cove” not win the Oscar for Best Documentary, Psihoyos has already gotten the word out to millions about the formerly secret slaughter. And just this week, it was announced that the film will now be in front of people he knows can make the biggest difference – the people of Japan.

On Feb. 8, The Works International announced that “The Cove” had been acquired by Japanese distributor Medallion Media which is planning a tentative release date of April 2010 in Japan. Carl Clifton, Managing Director of The Works International, applauded Medallion for taking the film directly to the people of Japan.

“Many distributors screened the film and most decided it was simply too hot to handle even if they all felt it must be seen by the Japanese people,” said Clifton in a press release. “Medallion Media has shown real courage in acquiring ‘The Cove’ for Japan and we look forward to working with them on it.”

“The Cove” – which currently has an almost-unheard of 8.5 rating at The Internet Movie Database – highlights the annual, six-month slaughter of dolphins in Taiji. The dolphins are rounded up by fisherman, who use sonar and bang on long poles to frighten and herd the dolphins into a cove. After highly sought-after “show dolphins” – dolphins which will be taken captive and trained at Ocean parks like Sea World – are selected, the dolphins are then herded into a once-secret cove, where they are slaughtered. Each year, more than 20,000 dolphins are killed.

The actual cove where the dolphins are being slaughtered was a long-held secret by the Taiji and Japanese governments. But Psihoyos (“I probably watched too many James Bond movies as a kid,” he laughs”) put together his own “Ocean’s 11″ squad of filmmakers, divers and activists to penetrate the cove under the cover of darkness, hiding cameras and sound equipment throughout the area. The end result was video that is at once educating and blood-curdling.

But despite the video and the film, the killing continues.

“At the beginning of the year they stopped killing bottle-nose dolphins, but they have started the killing again,” said Psihoyos, who started the non-profit Oceanic Preservation Society in 2005.

The film follows former dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry, who trained the dolphins in the hit 1960s TV show “Flipper.” O’Barry has long felt a responsibility for the popularity of performing dolphins that took off following the TV Show, and sees his own fingerprints on the slaughter. Now the most prominent and tireless defender of dolphins, “The Cove” highlights his fight to free and save the intelligent mammals.

Aside from being a documentation of atrocities against dolphins, O’Barry’s fight for redemption, and the cloak-and-dagger operation, “The Cove” also showcases a problem for mankind – the massive elevation of mercury in the systems of sea mammals like dolphins and whales. The problem is showcased in Taiji, where the dolphins have been used as a food source, and where authorities attempted to get dolphin meat into schools across the nation.

“The whole town was mandated for being tested for mercury because of this movie,” said Psihoyos, 52. “They found that the males had 20 times more mercury in their blood and the women 10 times more than other Japanese people.”

Psihoyos said that thus far, even with the film, the Japanese government has been of no help to either the dolphins, or their own people.

“They are still in denial. They are still trying to hide behind the old tired excuses that it’s a tradition,” said Psihoyos, who resides in Boulder, Colo. “Well, this ‘tradition’ started in the 1930s. And their tradition is poisoning their own people.”

Which is why getting the movie in front of Japanese audiences is such a coup for the filmmaker. In a time when their government is experiencing the same economic crisis as the rest of the planet, the Japanese government is actually using tax payer money to keep the needless killing of dolphins going.

“If they just enforced their own laws, this problem would end,” said Psihoyos. “The Japanese people need to know they are subsidizing these people.”

Having already scaled the heights with his first film, Psihoyos is now working on what he calls a companion piece for “The Cove,” which will look at the degradation of the world’s ocean by humankind.

“To me we’re it’s like we’re living in a science-fiction nightmare we’re only beginning to understand,” said Psihoyos. “The oceans are getting increasingly acidic, and by the end of this century it will be impossible for coral reefs to even exist.”

But despite the harrowing subject matter, Psihoyos takes to his burgeoning film making and activism career with optimism. He can see things turning around with a new generation of Americans.

“I have an extreme amount of hope with the kids. They can read through the BS and see we’re destroying the environment,” said Psihoyos. “We’ve signed up nearly 1 million people already to help with this. I know people are getting engaged by this movie.”

So come Oscar night, Psihoyos will be in the audience, hoping to receive the Oscar for Best Documentary. But that won’t be the true prize he’s after.

“We’ve won a lot of awards. But I didn’t get in the business of making films to win awards. The real awards are to solve these problems,” said Psihoyos.

More on “The Cove”

• After learning the massive carbon footprint that making a film creates, Psihoyos made the second half of the film using only solar energy, including solar-powered vehicles.
• Psihoyos said the film has already drawn attention from the Japanese media. A recent trip to Taiji by O’Barry was covered by by a large contingent of Japanese media. “He was like a rock star,” said Psihoyos. At a Japanese film festival, Psihoyos said “We got more media coverage than “Avatar.”

Additional Reading

• What can you do to help?
• “The Cove” Official Web Site
• The Oceanic Preservation Society
• Save Japan Dolphins
• Louie Psihoyos Photography

–WKW

2012 and the Mayans – Apocalypse Now, please

With the film “2012″ opening soon, many of the world’s great thinkers have accepted the movie’s premise as fact. The world as we know it will come to a grinding halt in the year 2012, they believe, because the Mayans said so.

Such logic is impossible to refute. When ancient civilizations predict something, it generally happens. The history of the planet has been foretold long ago by civilizations that – while blessed with incredible foresight and predictive powers – were unfortunately unable to see their own demise staring them in the face. Thus, the end of the world is a virtual certainty.

While this is considered a radical and “moronic” opinion in some circles, history has shown us that if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s ancient societies correctly predicting future events:

The Hittites foretold of a U.S. President named “Baraq Kissinger Obawma” who would create or save nearly 734 million jobs but receive little credit for it due to being President at the time of the apocalypse.

Philosophers of the Lost Island of Atlantis accurately predicted the invention of scuba gear, though were off base in their predictions that humans would grow gills. Many researchers have claimed the Atlanteans were guilty of what scientists have called “Wishful Thinking.”

In ancient Greece, the famed philosopher Socrates reportedly predicted a future where “Ignorance and mediocrity will hold sway,” an obvious reference to Glenn Beck and the Tea Bagger movement.

In South America, the Incas predicted the arrival of a young man that would glamor millions despite having no discernible talent aside from “creepy mouth gestures” – clearly referring to “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson’s overly entitled smug poutiness.

The Vikings – known more for their warrior spirit – made perhaps the most accurate prediction of all, when archeologists recently discovered scrolls that stated “Whomever shall thrust Jon & Kate Gosselin upon a society shalt be disemboweled with a rusty spoon.”

That the world is soon to end is no reason for panic, mind you. The Apocalypse will bring with it a plethora of positives.

Global problems like the economic crisis, swine flu, climate change, disrespectful teenagers, Glenn Beck and erectile function will all vanish immediately into the void of space. The New York Yankees will never win another World Series. No one with the last name “Bush” will ever again be in a position of power. Your herpes will cease being a social issue. The U.S. can declare victory in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran (Nostradomus predicted the U.S. would put Iran on a steady diet of tactical nuclear weapons starting in 2011).

So remember, the end of the world isn’t the end of the world or anything. It’s just one of those things. And there is the possibility that the Mayan prediction has been misinterpreted and humanity still has another 5,000 years or so left. But given the situation with the world today, we’d probably all be better off if it happens in 2012, if not sooner. So keep your fingers crossed, it’s really all for the best.

–WKW

Official Footloose Live-Twitter Open Thread

Hey folks, I’ll be updating this post over the next couple hours with my Tweets from the Footloose Live-Twitter Extravaganza. I’ll also be posting Videos and photos here to add to the experience. Find out more about how to follow along at Twitter here and here.

Here are my Tweets from ““Twootloose: A Live Twitter Examination of the Social, Political and Moral Implications of Footloose”

I now present: “Twootloose: A Live Twitter Examination of the Social, Political and Moral Implications of Footloose” – Hit play

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Thursday, 3 p.m. EST on Twitter – “Twootloose: A Live Twitter Examination of the Social, Political and Moral Implications of Footloose”

Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, tomorrow, Thursday, at 3 p.m. EST, I will be Live-Twittering the famed Kevin Bacon film, “Footloose.”

The event is entitled: “Twootloose: A Live Twitter Examination of the Social, Political and Moral Implications of Footloose”

Basically, it will be 1 hour and 48 minutes of fun, frivolity, and me Twittering my ass off while watching Footloose. This project is being undertaken for three big reasons:

1) Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the release of Footloose;

2) Celebrating the upcoming remake of Footloose, and;

3) Just to have some fun.

How to be involved: If you are on Twitter, or join, follow me at @wolfrum or, you can keep up with me using the search term and hash #footloose

Anyone is free to be involved, just put the hash #footloose after any Tweet you would like to add to Twootloose. In a perfect world, followers could pop a DVD of Footloose into their computer and follow along real time. But being that that is likely a longshot for most, just following along will be more fun that you can shake a stick at. That is, if stick-shaking is how you rate your fun. Also, when it’s over, I will post all my #footloose Tweets in order on this blog, so you can follow along if and when you choose to watch the movie.

Question? If you have any, ask them in comments and I’ll get back to you. It may sound more complicated than it is. It’ll be a piece of cake, and a good time will be had by all. I hope you join me @wolfrum on Twitter, tomorrow. The film and Tweet commentary will begin at 3 p.m. sharp.

Update: If you don’t have Footloose available on DVD or Avi, you can also follow along via the screenplay, which you can find here: Footloose Screenplay

–WKW

Today’s interesting fact about William K. Wolfrum

Back when I was a truck driver in Southern California, I made a delivery to the set of “Spaceballs.” It’s a fact.

–WKW

With three months off, Michael Phelps can search for the ultimate Golden Ticket

Michael Phelps, the American swimmer who let down all of humanity by being photographed with a bong, was suspended from swimming for three months by the American Continental Association of People Who Swim Fast Competitively (or whatever). As it turns out, this was the best thing that could happen to him. Now he has time to search for the “Golden Ticket,” to be given away by producers of the movie “The Wackness.”

WIN A TRIP TO AMSTERDAM
AND A BAG OF MARIJUANA!

Yes, you heard us correctly! We’re offering the chance for you to win a fabulous weekend break for 2 to the city of smoke itself, the beautiful Amsterdam. But that’s not all… the lucky winner will also be able to pick up a complimentary bag of skunk from legendary Amsterdam café, Hill Street Blues.

Hidden within one of the first 1,000 DVDs of The Wackness is a Golden Ticket. Find the Golden Ticket and you win!* It’s that simple.

As an aside, I just wanted to note that today is my birthday. If anyone wanted to surprise me with a present, I can think of a DVD I’d like.

–WKW

Quick DVD Review: An American Carol

One of the final scenes of “An American Carol” involves a bunch of sick children falling off a Navy vessel to their deaths. And it wasn’t done as social commentary of George W. Bush’s veto of expanding SChip. It was done to tickle conservatives.

“An American Carol” is a terrible, terrible movie. And not in the way that “Con Air” and “Red Dawn” are terrible. It’s terrible in the way a snuff film is terrible. If Charles Dickens knew that his classic “A Christmas Carol” would have been used in such a way, he would have become a house painter.

At the very least, “An American Carol” gives the initiated a view into the humorless, stupid, history-revising radical conservative mindset. It’s a mindset that finds killing sick children funny. “An American Carol” is the perfect final chapter for the Bush years. It’s sloppy, unfunny, based on lies and killing people and something we can only hope this planet never has to endure again.

–WKW

Con Air. OMG Con Air

Ok, why didn’t anyone demand that I watch Con-Air? I finally stumbled across it last night, and not only did it change my opinions of John Malkovich, Jon Cusack, Steve Buscemi, and the rest of the cast, but it also helped lower my opinion on humanity. My opinion on Nicolas Cage, however, remains exactly the same.

It was so bad, it was actually pretty good; Was that what they were after? If so, bravo. But I just can’t shake the idea that the script was written by one monkey at one typewriter (the other 999 monkeys were on a coffee break, I’d imagine.)

An amazing cast, a terrible movie. Just what the doctor ordered following a 30-hour travel adventure from Los Angeles to Brazil. But seriously, folks, you have to work with me here. As a bad-film aficionado, there just is no excuse for me to go 12 years without seeing a movie like this. Let me know if there are any other classically horrible movies I’ve overlooked (and yes, I saw Madonna’s “Swept Away.” Tres Magnicrap.)

–WKW

Red Dawn: We shall never forget

Less than a quarter-century ago, Americans of all persuasions would nervously gaze to the sky wondering if the end of the world was about to rain down on them. Nuclear holocaust always seemed moments away.

Of course, the Cold War ended and 9/11 happened, meaning Americans now were forced to gaze everywhere to try to catch a terrorist bent on destroying them.

But now the prodigal enemy has returned as Russia begins to flex its impressive geo-political muscles. But as the U.S. attempts a “Freeze or we’ll say Freeze again” diplomatic tactic, the general public – perhaps overloaded by the complexities of living in a post-9/11 world – seem unconcerned at the possibility of a new Cold War and the possibility of nuclear destruction.

As mere words and facts seem to make no dent in the psyche of the impervious, there is but one way to snap everyone back to a reality where nuclear devastation is always moments away – We must look back to 1984 and the film “Red Dawn*”

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