Our human experience is filled with well-told stories of potential, possible, connection with animals. One such story is that of a fisherman, who helped to free a female humpback whale from fishing nets off the coast of San Francisco, and seems to receive a look of thanks from her in return. These stories are repeated over and over to the point of becoming legends, because we will never know for sure. The mystery is what drives the yearning. This experimental film takes on this story by ‘performing’ it in a public park, on a large wall, and inviting the passing community to retell the story in their own words. This project was supported by the 4Culture organization in Seattle, USA, and has screened in venues around the world.
Watch the timelapse here: vimeo.com/32413369
Directed and Animated by:
Tess Martin
Additional Animators:
Webster Crowell, Stefan Gruber, Britta Johnson, Amanda Moore
Actor:
DK Pan
Music & Audio:
Spencer Thun
Interviewees:
Jenny Asarnow, Alec Deason, Emily Eagle, Marc Hobbs, Ilana Holmes, Britt Madsen, Tristan Parker, Anthony Sonnenberg
Volunteers:
Katie Durant-Storey, Alma Khasawnih, Shannon MacIntyre, Britt Madsen, Doug Mora, Houria Rollosson, Venus Volante
This story was originally heard in the Radiolab podcast 'Animal Minds' and was animated primarily over one weekend in Seattle's Cal Andersen Park
Made Possible by:
Sound Transit, 4Culture
San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival, San Francisco, CA, March 8, 2014 – WINNER, Short Film Award
l’Alternativa 2012 – 19th Barcelona Independent Film Festival, Barcelona, Spain, November 20-25, 2012 – WINNER, Hall Screen Lomography Prize
Couch Fest Films, worldwide, November 10, 2012 – WINNER, Best Rescue Story Award