Plot Summary of The Blackfish Documentary

Introduction

In the opening scene of Blackfish, the audience witnesses an array of conventions which positions SeaWorld’s use of captive orcas as inhumane and psychologically damaging for these emotionally intelligent creatures. The director has emphasized this message through techniques like ominous music and the use of a 911 call. These devices are used perfectly together as they complement each other in many ways propelling the dark and ominous scene the director is trying to convey.

Before middle

In the developing scenes, the audience witnesses an array of conventions which positions the orcas to be majestic and beautiful and the trainers to be good people making SeaWorld the bad guy through process of elimination. The director continues to use ominous music when telling the audience about people dying, he also uses advertisments in SeaWorld adds making it look like the animals are having fun and they are safe, this compliments the message of the scene being SeaWorld covering up their mistakes.

Middle

In the developing scenes, the audience witnesses an array of conventions which positions SeaWorld as a company that covers everything up. They do extensive research to prove that they will cover anything up if it does not a good look for them. The director compliments this with more SeaWorld adds as they try to say the orcas are happy and treated well with the use of happy and exciting music in the adds. The director also uses figures of authority by stating their name and occupation to help convey the message of the scene being exposing SeaWorld.

After middle

In the developing scenes, the audience witnesses an array of conventions which positions SeaWorld and other seaparks as irresponsible as SeaWorld sells a dangerous animal with a record of being aggressive to trainers and the other seaparks not being responsible enough to pay attention to the records. The director added in the place and date of when the orca with a horrible track record attacked their best trainer, this is very affective as whenever somebody sees the place and time written down, they will automatically assume that something bad has happened. These all help to convey the message of the scene of SeaWorld and seaparks being irresponsible.

Ending

In the last scenes, the audience witnesses an array of conventions which positions SeaWorld’s conditions inhumane as the director takes the people of high authority being interviewed throughout the film going on a boat out to see all the orcas with non-flopped dorsal fins. The film uses subtle use of a call to action by having the people say how beautiful it was about there being healthy orcas in the wild. The interviewees used emotive language to appeal to the audience to make a change, this is very affective as it implies that the conditions are truly that bad if it almost brought them to tears and makes them look like everybody should be trying to make a change. These all help convey the message of the film by telling people what they can do about it.