#SAVESMOOSHI

Nathalie:  I met him when I was a kid!  We were never in the same social groups growing up, but he’s been a good friend of my brother’s since kindergarten. We’re both francophones from a small town in the rust belt of Ontario. I left the region when I was 17 years old and crossed paths with Phil only a couple of times over the next 20 plus years until I approached him about my documentary.

Nathalie:  I had been watching the paradigm shift on captivity unfurl in the media for years, and I knew that in Canada, that debate was centred in the two places that had whales and dolphins in captivity: Vancouver and Niagara Falls, which was so close to home. Animal rights issues, boldly led by activists, have swelled into the mainstream in recent years, and I sensed this was the right time for a film like this. I had also been reading about Phil’s fight from a distance for so long, and frankly, my questions on the big picture grew loud enough that I didn’t have a choice anymore. I had to take the leap and make it my first feature film.

Nathalie:  It has taken just over 2 years to make this film, and I am still working on an episode of The Nature of Things on the same subject, but from a different vantage point.  I wouldn’t say that Phil’s struggles were mine as well. We are coming at this from different places. What made me stay with it was an unwavering conviction that the story needed to be told. Phil’s relationship with Marineland, and the ongoing public debate on captivity as a whole in Canada, has been active in the public eye for 8 years now, and no one had ever looked at it through this lens in a long-form documentary. In those times of challenge (and believe me, they were intense!), I was driven by a conviction that an artful visual treatment and a nuanced approach could bring home the human struggle inherent in this story. As a filmmaker, I am motivated by what’s in-between those harsh battle lines we often paint when we’re embroiled in a fight. And I held onto the belief that I could pierce through all that and get at the heart of something greater.

Nathalie:  My greatest challenge was trying to communicate with Marineland in a way that could make them understand I have been genuine in my many attempts to get their point of view, directly from them. This kind of documentary might have allowed them to meet the public and their critics in a meaningful way after all these years of polarization.  I had hoped they would allow me to interview a representative, and perhaps follow them as they navigate the new societal waters they find themselves in, but they haven’t agreed, as of yet. I have, however, made sure their voice is heard in the film and I hope that offers something of value to the audience. And if they decide they want to participate in The Nature of Things, I would be happy to talk to them about that.

Nathalie:  That’s so hard to answer! I approached this story like a blank slate and shaped it as it went along. I had notions of what I wanted to say about the evolving animal rights issues, the human desire to be heard, and the courage it takes to speak out. But I let myself be guided by events, narrative lines of interest and the conversations I was having, and didn’t want to lock myself into any preconceived or fixed ideas. I was also fortunate to have two films to make with this story, which means I could create companion narratives that complement each other. While the film and the episode of The Nature of Things are on the same subject, they are creative exercises that will offer different perspectives and I’m so excited about that.

Nathalie:  Blackfish was certainly on my radar before and during the production, and I spoke to many people associated with the film, but I would not say it influenced me. It’s a powerful film that went a long way in triggering a paradigm shift on marine mammal captivity, but I always knew I had things to say that were beyond the scope of that film. The character-driven approach, the human story and the legislative battle for change in The Walrus and the Whistleblower make it quite different, in my opinion, while existing in the same space and building on the broader conversation 7 years later.

Nathalie:  Ha!! How much time do you have?  He gave me generous access to his story, which is a gift for a filmmaker. When someone allows you into their world, you have a great responsibility to listen carefully and interpret their story with care. Phil Demers is a warrior with a sharp edge. He’s witty, impulsive, courageous yet vulnerable behind all that bravado, difficult but self-aware, the most compelling and fascinating of all the characters I have ever followed, and a giant pain in the ass.