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I will never understand why people do the things they do. On Sunday night, everyone I know was sitting and waiting to see if The Cove would win the Academy Award. I wanted it to win so that the message of the film would be heard around the world to the millions who were watching the show.
When the time came and the announcement was made that The Cove was the winner of Best Documentary, I was on cloud 9. I was so happy for the team that had made the film and brought the events of the Cove into the light of the world.
But then, the worst thing happened. Just as the director, Louis Psihoyos, was about to speak, Ric O'Barry held up a sign. Signs are against the rules of the Academy Awards and consequently, the cameras turned away from the podium and the microphones were shut off. Louis did not get his chance to speak. My heart sank for him. He spent countless hours going over what he was going to say so that it fit into the time constraint, and he never got his opportunity.
This is what he was going to say:
"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!"
I only hope Louis will get another chance in the future to be heard.
Comments (3)
Thanks for posting his intended remarks.
I think the other thing that was going on was each winner was limited to 35 seconds to say "thank you." IMHO, this is ridiculous. The night is filled with fluff, but the people being honored aren't given time to make a decent acceptance speech.
Ric O'Barry is an incredible man but that kinda made me want to knock him one. It was a chance to inform millions of the precarious perch we're standing on and he wrecked it in one foul swoop.
I will never understand why he did that. If he had waited until Louie finished speaking, they could have gotten the word out to millions, and people would still have seen the sign.
What do you think?
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