Synopsis
Using an anthropomorphic approach, Mothers and Children takes us into the lives of a baby humpback whale and her mother. The pair are shown spending all of their time in close proximity of each other, playing and cuddling and generally displaying behavior humans can relate to in a parental relationship. The happy scene is shattered when the two embark upon a migration route and become entangled in shark nets. Unable to get free, the exhausted baby eventually drowns.
Inspired by diving with humpback whales in Tonga and witnessing the nurturing behavior displayed between mother and calf, then, later, witnessing the horror of victims of shark nets in person, director Skyler Thomas hopes to wake viewers to the fact that statistics are more than numbers; they are living creatures that suffered and fought for life in the presence of their loved ones who watched helplessly.
Using an anthropomorphic approach, Mothers and Children takes us into the lives of a baby humpback whale and her mother. The pair are shown spending all of their time in close proximity of each other, playing and cuddling and generally displaying behavior humans can relate to in a parental relationship. The happy scene is shattered when the two embark upon a migration route and become entangled in shark nets. Unable to get free, the exhausted baby eventually drowns.
Inspired by diving with humpback whales in Tonga and witnessing the nurturing behavior displayed between mother and calf, then, later, witnessing the horror of victims of shark nets in person, director Skyler Thomas hopes to wake viewers to the fact that statistics are more than numbers; they are living creatures that suffered and fought for life in the presence of their loved ones who watched helplessly.
Director Notes:
Filming sharks has taught me a lot about humans. The unwillingness to share the planet with other predators causes many other creatures to become casualties of self-declared war. In this case, the attempt to remove sharks from recreational beaches leads to a myriad of species dying horrific deaths in the mitigation devices. This film hopes to inspire humans to imagine the suffering an animal endures as it fights for life over the course of hours...and the heartache of a whale that carried and raised a baby, only to have it needlessly drown in front of her. Once we stop to imagine what "beach safety" costs, then we can begin the topic of whether the price is worth it.
Filming sharks has taught me a lot about humans. The unwillingness to share the planet with other predators causes many other creatures to become casualties of self-declared war. In this case, the attempt to remove sharks from recreational beaches leads to a myriad of species dying horrific deaths in the mitigation devices. This film hopes to inspire humans to imagine the suffering an animal endures as it fights for life over the course of hours...and the heartache of a whale that carried and raised a baby, only to have it needlessly drown in front of her. Once we stop to imagine what "beach safety" costs, then we can begin the topic of whether the price is worth it.
Credits:
Written and directed by Skyler Thomas
Original score by Matthew LaPoint
Edited by Skyler Thomas
Voice Acting by Sophia Morse
Mother and calf together underwater filmed by Skyler Thomas
Aerial footage of mother and calf humpback whales (opening) courtesy of Blair Ranford (Sharky Aerials)
Aerial footage of mother and calf humpback whales caught in shark nets courtesty of Ricardo Sirchia
Drowned whale on ocean floor courtesy of Humpbacks and Highrises
Entangled whale fighting (underwater shots) courtesy of Sea Shepherd Australia
Written and directed by Skyler Thomas
Original score by Matthew LaPoint
Edited by Skyler Thomas
Voice Acting by Sophia Morse
Mother and calf together underwater filmed by Skyler Thomas
Aerial footage of mother and calf humpback whales (opening) courtesy of Blair Ranford (Sharky Aerials)
Aerial footage of mother and calf humpback whales caught in shark nets courtesty of Ricardo Sirchia
Drowned whale on ocean floor courtesy of Humpbacks and Highrises
Entangled whale fighting (underwater shots) courtesy of Sea Shepherd Australia
Background:
Originally, Mothers and Children was meant to be a four-part short film, introducing us to three different victims of shark nets then ending with a summary of the cost of shark nets. Matthew LaPoint scored each of these four shorts. The format of four shorts, shown over different screening times at film festivals proved too challenging for most festivals to accept.
Now that post-production of the feature-length documentary 'Monsters' is underway, the humpback whale segment was re-edited to act as the opening sequence of the film. It now also acts as a stand-alone short film available for public viewing while post-production on 'Monsters' continues.
Below is the original, four part film.
Originally, Mothers and Children was meant to be a four-part short film, introducing us to three different victims of shark nets then ending with a summary of the cost of shark nets. Matthew LaPoint scored each of these four shorts. The format of four shorts, shown over different screening times at film festivals proved too challenging for most festivals to accept.
Now that post-production of the feature-length documentary 'Monsters' is underway, the humpback whale segment was re-edited to act as the opening sequence of the film. It now also acts as a stand-alone short film available for public viewing while post-production on 'Monsters' continues.
Below is the original, four part film.
