Ex-SeaWorld trainers dispute 'Blackfish,' say phase out whale show

Bridgette Pirtle, who was employed at SeaWorld San Antonio from 2001 to '11, holds a picture of herself at work. She says “Blackfish” was produced to make money and push an agenda. Bridgette Pirtle, who was employed at SeaWorld San Antonio from 2001 to '11, holds a picture of herself at work. She says “Blackfish” was produced to make money and push an agenda. Photo: Robin Jerstad / For The Express-News Photo: Robin Jerstad / For The Express-News Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Ex-SeaWorld trainers dispute 'Blackfish,' say phase out whale show 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Two former SeaWorld trainers involved in the controversial documentary “Blackfish” say the film is deceiving and includes speculation from inexperienced trainers who were not involved in the incidents they discussed.

The film, released last year, questions treatment of whales in captivity and the danger to trainers who perform with the whales.

Since it debuted, the park has endured public backlash. Eight performers, including Texas singer Willie Nelson, have canceled appearances, citing concerns about abuses depicted in the movie. Attendance, it seems, has not been affected.

Mark Simmons, a former senior trainer at SeaWorld Orlando who appears in the film, said the movie pushes a narrow viewpoint without providing balancing perspectives from more experienced trainers and sensationalized events to play to viewers' emotions.

“I was physically present during many of the events that (the trainers) talked about in the movie, and I can tell you firsthand they completely misrepresented, provided disinformation and in many cases blatantly lied about those events,” said Simmons, who founded a marine mammal research and conservation organization in Orlando after working at SeaWorld from 1987 to '96.

Bridgette Pirtle, who worked at SeaWorld San Antonio from 2001 to '11, said the film was produced to make money, gain an audience and push an agenda to release all killer whales and shut down SeaWorld.

“It's not a fact-based movie,” said Pirtle, who left SeaWorld in 2011 after the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in Orlando, which is the central focus of the film.

“Yes, I'm still against animals as a form of entertainment, yes, I still believe that the breeding program should be ended,” said Pirtle, 31. “But the goal of this film shouldn't have been to shut down SeaWorld, it was supposed to be an opportunity to improve the lives of the whales I dedicated my life to.”

The film focuses on a killer whale named Tilikum, who killed Brancheau in 2010.

The documentary features in-depth interviews from four former trainers who provide perspective on the incident and operations at the waterpark.

Magnolia Pictures, the production company behind “Blackfish,” declined multiple requests for comment. CNN, which produced the film and aired it nationally in October 2013, did not return multiple requests for comment.

SeaWorld said this week that it has had the best-ever attendance for the last quarter of 2013 and expects to report record full-year revenue of about $1.46 billion when the newly public company officially reports its fourth-quarter results in March, according to the Associated Press.

David Kirby, who authored “Death at SeaWorld,” said the movie is accurate.

“I believe these allegations against the film are unfounded, and I don't know why they are being made but it certainly must be making SeaWorld very happy,” said Kirby, whose research for his book was used in the movie.

Pirtle said she does not agree with SeaWorld that whales should be in captivity for entertainment purposes but that conservation, research and knowledge that stems from a limited number of animals in captivity is vital.

Simmons added that the social awareness that SeaWorld animals provide to visitors is important and leads to positive activism and education.

Pirtle, who's now a dance instructor in San Antonio, said she also is at odds with SeaWorld on the amount of money they invest in the whales' care, particularly because the orcas are the biggest money-maker for the theme park.

SeaWorld is one of the largest research and conservation organization for killer whales and other marine mammals.

Simmons said the director intentionally skirted details about that side of the industry to slant the movie.

There was no title or clear direction for the film when Simmons agreed to do an interview, he said.

Of the more than three hours of interview footage Simmons provided for the documentary, less than three minutes were used, even though he was the only trainer in the film who regularly worked with Tilikum.

Simmons said he asked for an advanced copy but the director, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, declined.

“When you watch the movie, I think it gives you the impression that this is a vastly dangerous environment to work in,” said Simmons, 45. “My wife and I worked for a combined 18 years at SeaWorld, I've had thousands of interactions in the water with the whales, and neither one of us had a single injury caused by a whale.”

Simmons said he had plenty of injuries during his tenure performing with the whales, from stitches to knee surgery, but none involved a whale. Simmons said his injuries came from slipping on the wet stage, ear infections from being in the water and back problems from carrying 40-pound buckets.

Pirtle, who did not appear in the film but was involved in its production, said the trainers featured in the film were inexperienced, have not worked at SeaWorld in more than a decade and have chips on their shoulders.

“My experience wasn't congruent with the direction of the film, which is now: 'Free the animals, SeaWorld is horrible, put the whales in a sea pen,'” Pirtle said, adding that the movie exploited Brancheau's death to make a profit.

For example, a 911 call at the beginning of the movie that features a first responder saying Tilikum swallowed Brancheau's arm, which is untrue, Simmons said. He said audio of whales feeding were portrayed to be the audio of young whales being separated from their mother.

Simmons and Pirtle, who spoke to the blog MiceChat last week, denied any communication with SeaWorld regarding their comments on the movie. Simmons said his zoological research company, Ocean Embassy, recently submitted a bid to SeaWorld for a zoological research database for the theme park but was denied.

Fred Jacobs, vice president of communications at SeaWorld, said the theme park has not been in communication with the trainers and confirmed the denied bid.

“We don't have any business association with Ocean Embassy,” Jacobs said. “As Mark noted, another firm got the bid.”

Pirtle said she hopes the film will encourage people to do their own research and to put energy into prevention of poaching and the collection of animals for entertainment.

“I think we are at a turning point right now where we can phase out using animals for entertainment. The whales that are there right now need to stay there. It is in the best interest of the animals, and it would be cruel to attempt to reintegrate them into the wild,” said Pirtle. “But steps to perpetuate the cycle of having these animals in captivity need to stop. With the animals we do have in captivity, we need to switch gears, stop exploiting them for entertainment and use them for conservation, research and education.”

kparker@express-news.net