Written, filmed, edited, directed, and narrated by Skyler Thomas.
If you enjoyed Great White Lies and would like to offer support to the follow-up documentary, 'Monsters', we would very much appreciate whatever you can give.
"Great White Lies reveals the myths behind the public perception of white sharks, and the menace of the Western Australian shark cull. A hard hitting film about one man's quest to explain the history of our fears and misunderstanding of the oceans top predator.
- David McGuire, Shark Stewards
- David McGuire, Shark Stewards
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Film festivals spot light:
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The film premiere of Great White Lies took place at the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival February 28th, 2015 and is steadily being accepted into more festivals. View images from the SF festival weekend here. And if you would like to schedule your own screening of GWL click here.
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An introduction to shark culling. A few basics to start with:
1. Shark nets and drum lines are not a protective barriers, not are they intended to be. Despite this, many people believe the presence of such shark mitigation inexplicably results in their safety. In reality, the goal of shark nets is to kill (cull) enough of an animal species to actually reduce the chances of ever encountering one of those animals. 2. Shark nets and drum lines don't discriminate. Not only are the wrong sharks killed, but the wrong EVERYTHING is killed. And yes, that even includes humans. 3. There is no evidence that existing shark mitigation saves people from shark bites. Unless someone were to provide video of a human hiding behind a shark net to escape a pursuing shark, the idea of these nets providing protection is just an idea. On the flip side there is ample evidence that killing sharks, even slaughtering them, has not provided a statistical change in safety in locations shark culling exists. 4. If killing sharks doesn't make people safer, why do politicians insist on telling you otherwise? That's where it really gets interesting. |
Director's Note
People say that there are worse things in the world facing sharks than culling programs. That's true. But we are hoping for governments to do the right thing and put an end to shark finning and the illegal trade of protected species. Focusing on the behavior of Western Australia's government is meant to be a wake up call to all of us that we can't sit back and hope and wait for politicians to make the right call or do the right thing. It is a reminder that it is up to each and everyone of us to let our politicians know that we won't tolerate their personal agendas that come at great cost to the rest of us.
Spending time with sharks and most animals for that matter is an insightful and educational experience. I like to think I am fairly knowledgeable regarding sharks, but really that's just in comparison to the larger population who know almost nothing. The truth is that even those of us who make a living studying, filming, or diving with sharks still spend only a tiny fraction of our lives in their world. So, of course we don't understand them. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to fear what we don't understand and since we have the power to eradicate things we fear, death is often our first line of action.
I'm not saying that sharks don't deserve our fear, however they deserve much more than just fear. In fact, after you spend time learning about them if anything you become filled with all and appreciation that a creature so much more superior than ourselves doesn't kill us more often. Regarding fear, as our disconnection from nature continues to grow there won't be much left that we aren't afraid of, therefore killing things on the basis of fear is inherently flawed. We will be left on a planet that consists of nothing more than ourselves, our factory produced food, and our factory produced pets...and that is not a planet I think we really want to be on.
One of the moments in the making of this film that really clicked for me was interviewing pro-cullers in Western Australia who were upset that they had seen one or two white sharks in their lifetime. This led to asking researchers whether or not there were in fact more white sharks. Considering the number of contributing factors that could lead to more sightings of white sharks and not necessarily more actual white sharks it is still hard to say but more importantly is the idea that there are supposed to be more and that the goal of these protection programs was for their numbers to recover. As Dr. Chris Lo pointed out we grew up in a. That was devoid of many animals that had been hunted to the brink of extinction and perhaps now we are only starting to see numbers on the level of what they once were. And if our reaction to recovering populations is to kill those animals doesn't that speak volumes as to whether or not we are willing to share this planet? Now some of us feel that it is our right to do with as this planet as we see fit and we are not required to share it.
But even if you do share that opinion it simply isn't the way it works. We live on a planet that is an intricate system, a beautiful system that is healthiest with the proper mixture of predator and prey. A healthy system benefits us, in fact the collapse of this system could mean our doom or at least an existence that is less than we probably would hope for. The necessity of living sharks has been proven over and over and over again yet this necessity has been traded for the temporary profits of a bowl of soup again and again and again. Or so that resort owners can boast that their beachfront property is "shark free". Or so politicians can leverage their positions based on saving us from a phantom menace.
People say that there are worse things in the world facing sharks than culling programs. That's true. But we are hoping for governments to do the right thing and put an end to shark finning and the illegal trade of protected species. Focusing on the behavior of Western Australia's government is meant to be a wake up call to all of us that we can't sit back and hope and wait for politicians to make the right call or do the right thing. It is a reminder that it is up to each and everyone of us to let our politicians know that we won't tolerate their personal agendas that come at great cost to the rest of us.
Spending time with sharks and most animals for that matter is an insightful and educational experience. I like to think I am fairly knowledgeable regarding sharks, but really that's just in comparison to the larger population who know almost nothing. The truth is that even those of us who make a living studying, filming, or diving with sharks still spend only a tiny fraction of our lives in their world. So, of course we don't understand them. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to fear what we don't understand and since we have the power to eradicate things we fear, death is often our first line of action.
I'm not saying that sharks don't deserve our fear, however they deserve much more than just fear. In fact, after you spend time learning about them if anything you become filled with all and appreciation that a creature so much more superior than ourselves doesn't kill us more often. Regarding fear, as our disconnection from nature continues to grow there won't be much left that we aren't afraid of, therefore killing things on the basis of fear is inherently flawed. We will be left on a planet that consists of nothing more than ourselves, our factory produced food, and our factory produced pets...and that is not a planet I think we really want to be on.
One of the moments in the making of this film that really clicked for me was interviewing pro-cullers in Western Australia who were upset that they had seen one or two white sharks in their lifetime. This led to asking researchers whether or not there were in fact more white sharks. Considering the number of contributing factors that could lead to more sightings of white sharks and not necessarily more actual white sharks it is still hard to say but more importantly is the idea that there are supposed to be more and that the goal of these protection programs was for their numbers to recover. As Dr. Chris Lo pointed out we grew up in a. That was devoid of many animals that had been hunted to the brink of extinction and perhaps now we are only starting to see numbers on the level of what they once were. And if our reaction to recovering populations is to kill those animals doesn't that speak volumes as to whether or not we are willing to share this planet? Now some of us feel that it is our right to do with as this planet as we see fit and we are not required to share it.
But even if you do share that opinion it simply isn't the way it works. We live on a planet that is an intricate system, a beautiful system that is healthiest with the proper mixture of predator and prey. A healthy system benefits us, in fact the collapse of this system could mean our doom or at least an existence that is less than we probably would hope for. The necessity of living sharks has been proven over and over and over again yet this necessity has been traded for the temporary profits of a bowl of soup again and again and again. Or so that resort owners can boast that their beachfront property is "shark free". Or so politicians can leverage their positions based on saving us from a phantom menace.
more clips can be seen below the description
Film Description, Short:
Focusing on the Western Australian Government’s decision in January of 2014 to hunt and kill the white shark, a protected species in Australia, filmmaker Skyler Thomas visits Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand to learn more about the shark culling practices in each of those locations.
Interviewing scientists, politicians, surfers, and activists, Great White Lies thoroughly examines the history of shark culling and ultimately asks the question, “Is this really about human safety or is something else taking place here?”
When science, statistics, and history all tell us that shark-culling is a flawed and ineffective strategy in managing human and shark interactions, we are then forced to ask the next logical question; if it doesn’t work, why is it still happening?
The apparent answer to that question will leave viewers not only rethinking mankind's relationship with sharks, but with the planet in general.
Film Description, Long:
Western Australia isn’t the first place to cull sharks, but in a day and age where we are supposedly making progress in our understanding of sharks, what does it mean outdated practices continue to pop-up rather than disappear? The reputation of sharks is improving in certain circles, but is that being dwarfed by the population who still fear sharks as movie monsters?
When less-lethal and proven alternatives are rejected, not to mention less expensive practices, do those who push for shark culling have political and financial agendas that have nothing to do with public safety?
When countries that have already listed the white shark as a protected species actively hunt that same species, what does that mean about the reality of being a “protected species”?
How did the WA Government get the Federal Minster of the Environment to approve the killing of a protected species? The dirty politics will astound you.
When animal populations recover from decades of over-hunting, and we react by killing those same animals, what does that mean about our willingness to share the planet?
How important of a role does the power of fear on the human psyche play in media manipulation as well as political agendas?
What’s the truth about the success of existing shark culling? And how did shark culling begin in the first place? Both answers may surprise you.
Features footage shot by Skyler Thomas in New Zealand, South Australia, New South Whales, California, Isla de Guadalupe, The Neptune Islands, Western Australia, and South Africa.
Cast:
Scientists:
Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, Dr. Malcom Francis, Dr. Rachel Robins, Dr. Christopher Neff, Prof. Christopher Lowe, Professor Jessica Meeuwig
Shark legends:
Chris Fallows and Michael Rutzen in South Africa and Andrew and Rodney Fox in Australia. David McGuire and Ocean Ramsey in the United States.
Politicians:
Senator Lynn MacLaren and Sen. Rachel Siewert in Western Australia. Councilman Lee Vandervis and Mayor Dave Eggers in New Zealand.
Sea Shepherd:
Jeff Hansen, managing director of Sea Shepherd Australia.
Sharnie Connell, leader of the New South Whales anti-cull movement.
Surfers, divers, and ordinary citizens who fought the cull.
Focusing on the Western Australian Government’s decision in January of 2014 to hunt and kill the white shark, a protected species in Australia, filmmaker Skyler Thomas visits Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand to learn more about the shark culling practices in each of those locations.
Interviewing scientists, politicians, surfers, and activists, Great White Lies thoroughly examines the history of shark culling and ultimately asks the question, “Is this really about human safety or is something else taking place here?”
When science, statistics, and history all tell us that shark-culling is a flawed and ineffective strategy in managing human and shark interactions, we are then forced to ask the next logical question; if it doesn’t work, why is it still happening?
The apparent answer to that question will leave viewers not only rethinking mankind's relationship with sharks, but with the planet in general.
Film Description, Long:
Western Australia isn’t the first place to cull sharks, but in a day and age where we are supposedly making progress in our understanding of sharks, what does it mean outdated practices continue to pop-up rather than disappear? The reputation of sharks is improving in certain circles, but is that being dwarfed by the population who still fear sharks as movie monsters?
When less-lethal and proven alternatives are rejected, not to mention less expensive practices, do those who push for shark culling have political and financial agendas that have nothing to do with public safety?
When countries that have already listed the white shark as a protected species actively hunt that same species, what does that mean about the reality of being a “protected species”?
How did the WA Government get the Federal Minster of the Environment to approve the killing of a protected species? The dirty politics will astound you.
When animal populations recover from decades of over-hunting, and we react by killing those same animals, what does that mean about our willingness to share the planet?
How important of a role does the power of fear on the human psyche play in media manipulation as well as political agendas?
What’s the truth about the success of existing shark culling? And how did shark culling begin in the first place? Both answers may surprise you.
Features footage shot by Skyler Thomas in New Zealand, South Australia, New South Whales, California, Isla de Guadalupe, The Neptune Islands, Western Australia, and South Africa.
Cast:
Scientists:
Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, Dr. Malcom Francis, Dr. Rachel Robins, Dr. Christopher Neff, Prof. Christopher Lowe, Professor Jessica Meeuwig
Shark legends:
Chris Fallows and Michael Rutzen in South Africa and Andrew and Rodney Fox in Australia. David McGuire and Ocean Ramsey in the United States.
Politicians:
Senator Lynn MacLaren and Sen. Rachel Siewert in Western Australia. Councilman Lee Vandervis and Mayor Dave Eggers in New Zealand.
Sea Shepherd:
Jeff Hansen, managing director of Sea Shepherd Australia.
Sharnie Connell, leader of the New South Whales anti-cull movement.
Surfers, divers, and ordinary citizens who fought the cull.
Great White Lies just won a humanitarian award...Why would a shark documentary win in this category? Maybe because the lies we are told about sharks actually increases our risk by decreasing our knowledge base and ability to assess true risk? Maybe because the needless killing of sharks is indirectly killing us through the destruction of ecosystems we depend upon?
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With a PhD in shark politics, Dr. Neff says it as it is
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Credits:
Music by Tyler Newman
Special thanks to Jovin Lim and my volunteer team in Western Australia (Luke, Rohan, and Safia)
Those who volunteered and still volunteer their time to fight culling as well as donating their footage and photos of the cull:
Rohan Sibon, Luke Eller, Safia Maher, Laura and Andy Corbe, Simon Blears, Blair Ranford, Natalie Banks, Adelle Commons, Rae Marie Threnoworth, Jodi Hayes, Sammie Thake, Donna Chapman, Donna Martin, Sharnie Connell, Neil Henderson, Jake Elliot, Andy Duke, Evan Bennet, Liza Dicks, Mike Dicks, Georgie Dicks, Andy Vogt, Tim Waters, Nicole McLachlan
Written, directed, filmed, narrated and edited by Skyler Thomas
Volunteer Interviewees
Dr. Jessica Meeuwig, Dr. Christopher Lowe, Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, Dr. Malcom Francis, Dr. Christopher Neff, Mayor Dave Eggers, Councillor Lee Vandervoss, Senator Rachel Siewert, Senator Lynn MacLaren, Chris Fallows, Michael Rutzen, David McGuire, Rodney Fox, Sharnie Connell, Kent Stannard, Ocean Ramsey
San Francisco helicopter ride donated by Greg Duffy
Dolphin in shark net by Christopher Finch / Pauly Suters
Lodging in Sydney donated by Jovin Lim, Rebecca Ramaley, and Matt Ramaley
Living Shark Footage
Skyler Thomas, Andy Dellios, Jim Abernethy, Sharks 4 Kids (Jillian and Duncan Brake)
Volunteer Camera Operators
Rohan Sibon (Western Australia), Maarten Joseph Billen (South Africa), Tess Brosnan (New Zealand)
Ken Baston Press Conference and Sharon Burden Speech donated by Red Broome
Music and post production sound work by Tyler Newman (Solid Grey Sky Recordings) www.solidgreysky.com
Indiegogo Contributors:
$1,000
Paul Paulsson
$500
Ryan Thomas, Dan Veltri,
$250
Kyle Vogt,
$200
Kyle and Hilary Logan,
$150
Julie Heffelfinger
$100
Mistie Davis, Carol Chang, Alexandra Liss, Tyler Newman, Chee Soon Fong, Andrew Lee, Mel Geen, Chris Fanini, Michael William, Casey Castille, Ryan Huckabey, Matt Brezina, Aamir Virani, Greg Thatcher, Peter Fulks, Charley Curran, Melissa Michaelson, Ryan Gerard, Sabrina Meng, Janice Loh, Michael West,
$50
Karena Schlamann, Valerie Bonn, Sheryl Fuchs, Julie Heffelfinger, Kelly Mulcahy-Libel, Neil Kearns, Thomas Simon, Sara Brenes, Sabey Abraham, Glenn Mar, Shelley Meaney, Anna VanPoucker, Lisa Robles, Joy Breen, Eric Denman, Joshua McCulloch, ocelyn Heaney, Fabienne Rossier, Peter Sisson,
$25
Sierra Pendleton, Ryan Traynor, Larry Zimbelman, Michael Beasley, Jonathan Steiman, Aston Motes, Kristin Bacon, Safia Maher, Captain Chris Wade, Zach Worthington, Michelle Olson, Jill Gilson, Neil Davies, Sean Foster, Alexander Ney, Logan Murray, Sean Martin, Kathryne Neches, Alex Blunk, Sarah Mucha, Andrew Scerbo, Louis Wray,
shark species that appear in this film:
Grey Nurse Shark, Great Hammerhead Shark, Nurse Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark, Lemon Shark, Tiger Shark, White Shark, Seven Gill Shark, Whale Shark, Oceanic White Tip Shark
Special thanks to Jovin Lim and my volunteer team in Western Australia (Luke, Rohan, and Safia)
Those who volunteered and still volunteer their time to fight culling as well as donating their footage and photos of the cull:
Rohan Sibon, Luke Eller, Safia Maher, Laura and Andy Corbe, Simon Blears, Blair Ranford, Natalie Banks, Adelle Commons, Rae Marie Threnoworth, Jodi Hayes, Sammie Thake, Donna Chapman, Donna Martin, Sharnie Connell, Neil Henderson, Jake Elliot, Andy Duke, Evan Bennet, Liza Dicks, Mike Dicks, Georgie Dicks, Andy Vogt, Tim Waters, Nicole McLachlan
Written, directed, filmed, narrated and edited by Skyler Thomas
Volunteer Interviewees
Dr. Jessica Meeuwig, Dr. Christopher Lowe, Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, Dr. Malcom Francis, Dr. Christopher Neff, Mayor Dave Eggers, Councillor Lee Vandervoss, Senator Rachel Siewert, Senator Lynn MacLaren, Chris Fallows, Michael Rutzen, David McGuire, Rodney Fox, Sharnie Connell, Kent Stannard, Ocean Ramsey
San Francisco helicopter ride donated by Greg Duffy
Dolphin in shark net by Christopher Finch / Pauly Suters
Lodging in Sydney donated by Jovin Lim, Rebecca Ramaley, and Matt Ramaley
Living Shark Footage
Skyler Thomas, Andy Dellios, Jim Abernethy, Sharks 4 Kids (Jillian and Duncan Brake)
Volunteer Camera Operators
Rohan Sibon (Western Australia), Maarten Joseph Billen (South Africa), Tess Brosnan (New Zealand)
Ken Baston Press Conference and Sharon Burden Speech donated by Red Broome
Music and post production sound work by Tyler Newman (Solid Grey Sky Recordings) www.solidgreysky.com
Indiegogo Contributors:
$1,000
Paul Paulsson
$500
Ryan Thomas, Dan Veltri,
$250
Kyle Vogt,
$200
Kyle and Hilary Logan,
$150
Julie Heffelfinger
$100
Mistie Davis, Carol Chang, Alexandra Liss, Tyler Newman, Chee Soon Fong, Andrew Lee, Mel Geen, Chris Fanini, Michael William, Casey Castille, Ryan Huckabey, Matt Brezina, Aamir Virani, Greg Thatcher, Peter Fulks, Charley Curran, Melissa Michaelson, Ryan Gerard, Sabrina Meng, Janice Loh, Michael West,
$50
Karena Schlamann, Valerie Bonn, Sheryl Fuchs, Julie Heffelfinger, Kelly Mulcahy-Libel, Neil Kearns, Thomas Simon, Sara Brenes, Sabey Abraham, Glenn Mar, Shelley Meaney, Anna VanPoucker, Lisa Robles, Joy Breen, Eric Denman, Joshua McCulloch, ocelyn Heaney, Fabienne Rossier, Peter Sisson,
$25
Sierra Pendleton, Ryan Traynor, Larry Zimbelman, Michael Beasley, Jonathan Steiman, Aston Motes, Kristin Bacon, Safia Maher, Captain Chris Wade, Zach Worthington, Michelle Olson, Jill Gilson, Neil Davies, Sean Foster, Alexander Ney, Logan Murray, Sean Martin, Kathryne Neches, Alex Blunk, Sarah Mucha, Andrew Scerbo, Louis Wray,
shark species that appear in this film:
Grey Nurse Shark, Great Hammerhead Shark, Nurse Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark, Lemon Shark, Tiger Shark, White Shark, Seven Gill Shark, Whale Shark, Oceanic White Tip Shark
