He was called on to comment on international issues on network news. Watson was on shows seen by 40-50 million people. Watson is much like Donald Trump it’s all about the deal. What I don’t see in the present day organization is a real passion to end anything. I agree that more money means more action, which is especially good for TV. Do you think it has been an overall gain for the cause to do the show Whale Wars and to push for so much media coverage? With so much more money and awareness of the organization, I imagine there have been some upsides too. In the film, you talk nostalgically about the early years when Sea Shepherd could get away with nearly anything, because they were “protected by poverty,” without much to lose. Peter Jay Brown in front of the Steve Irwin, one of Sea Shepherd’s anti-whaling vessels. I wanted the film to start a dialogue about actually doing something about the issues facing us all, without padding someone’s pocket. My opinion is this: passion always wins out over money. The film ended with a question: “Will Sea Shepherd ever be as effective as it was when it didn’t have a pot to piss in?” My answer is no, but I left the question for the audience to answer. I used Sea Shepherd as my subject matter because for so many years, I was a big part of it. I made this film as a film about tactics. In 2019 it seems to me that Sea Shepherd has lost its way, and I feel that as the organization’s longest-serving volunteer, I should say something. We attracted animal rights advocates and vegans, as we were the only game in town, a sort of the Earth First! of the seas. Peter Jay Brown: Sea Shepherd was originally an ocean conservation organization. Why did you want to make this film, too? What else did you think needed to be said? In an interview with Peter, we discussed the new film, his misgivings about Sea Shepherd’s post- Whale Wars trajectory, and the value of passion as a guiding principle.ĭylan Forest: Sea Shepherd has had an unusual amount of media coverage for an animal protection organization. The film, which began screening in the United States on October 1st, was directed and produced by Peter Jay Brown, Sea Shepherd’s longest-serving crew member and former first mate to Paul Watson. This alternative perspective is exactly what we get from the new documentary, Eco-Terrorist: The Battle for Our Planet. It’s a nice change of pace, though, when so much coverage is focused on Watson’s particular perspective and personality, to hear about Sea Shepherd from someone else. Love it or hate it, this strategy has definitely meant more attention and more funding for the organization. Watson has pursued as much media attention as possible since founding of the organization, and has a hero/rock star status among many animal activists.
Most of what the public sees about Sea Shepherd is filtered through their founder, Paul Watson.
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