"The Cove" wins best documentary Academy Award

Photographer Louie Psihoyos wins the Oscar for the documentary he directed on the slaughtering of Dolphins in Japan. At the Academy Awards he was interrupted in his ability to give thanks to all the people that helped him make the film (the speech was cut off early by the network). Luckily backstage he got a few extra seconds to pay heed to a few of the key friends, family and co-workers who contributed to the film.

Here's an excerpt of the speech we were not able to see:

"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, 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 for yourselves! Domo Arigato!"

"The Cove" for Academy Award

Louie Psihoyo's - a good friend and mentor is nominated for an Academy Award this year for best Documentary Feature -- it's Louie's first feature length film as a director and a very passionate project for him. It's quite a huge effort and the team around him of both friends and cohorts is truly an exceptional group of people. A few years ago I shot this image of Louie after rising up from a dive in the Tahitian Islands. A calm and peaceful moment as we waited together to be plucked from the ocean after our last dive of the trip... Good luck this Sunday Louie -- you are inspiration to us all.

The Cove - Premiers at Sundance

The Cove is a film directed by Louie Psihoyos - the acclaimed former National Geographic photographer. Over the past few years my girlfriend and I have been very fortunate to be on a few trips with Louie and his team as they gathered footage for this documentary. It premiers this week at the Sundance film festival. Knowing the group of creatives (such as genius composer J Ralph) involved in the project (and the hard work it's taken to shape this film) I am sure it's going to be an exciting and appealing cinematic endeavor. Check out the Sundance Channel site for more information about the film. All the best to Viki, Simon, Jim, Kristy, Michael and rest of the talented OPS team!