Keep Your Eyes Open For Great New Global Whale Watching Movie

By Robbins Barstow

Mick McIntyre and his buoyant wife Kate Clere, from Melbourne, Australia, have been heavily involved in film, travel, and whales for more than a decade, during which time they have closely associated themselves with the Cetacean Society International (CSI). They have been volunteer representatives for CSI in Australia, they have partnered with us as Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) lobbyists at International Whaling Commission meetings, they have visited us on our home grounds in Connecticut, and they have included CSI activities in their filmmaking.

Mick McIntyre, Kate Clere, Robbins Barstow, and Meg Barstow.
Photo by William Rossiter

Having established their own, Australia-based film company, "Second Nature Films," in 1988, Mick and Kate have since then devoted themselves to developing, with the support of the prestigious, worldwide International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), headquartered in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, a feature documentary film about global whale watching. For more than four years, they have travelled around the world to sites in such countries as Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, and the USA to secure dramatic footage and to conduct in-depth interviews.

Entitled "What To Do About Whales?", their hour-long film is now completed. It was given its American premiere at a special showing in Dennis, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, on Sunday, July 13, 2003. The affair at the famous Cape Cinema was attended by many enthusiasts and whale conservation dignitaries, including CSI President Bill Rossiter, CSI Scientific Advisor Dr. Carole Carlson, and CSI Director Emeritus Robbins Barstow and his wife Meg. Several segments of the film contain comments by Dr. Barstow, filmed at the Barstow home in Wethersfield, Connecticut.

Host for the exciting afternoon in Dennis was the dynamic President of IFAW, Fred O'Regan, who had extended a special invitation for the octogenarian activist Barstows to attend by providing limousine transportation!

The "What To Do About Whales?" film dramatically analyzes the choices the nations of the world are now making on how best to utilize whales in the future - counterposing the options of whale killing and whale watching.

The filmmakers balance presentations by whaling supporters in Iceland and Japan with the experiences of whale watching advocates in New Zealand and the United States. The extraordinary film invites viewers to observe all sides of the story and become part of the international debate over the future of whales.

Efforts are being made to have this "Second Nature" film broadcast over network television in coming months and to eventually make copies available on VHS and DVD video. It may also be shown in some local theaters. CSI will keep members posted on when and how they can see this outstanding production.