An Apology to Elephants is a 2013 documentary that explores abuse and brutal treatment of elephants. It showcases elephant training and the psychological trauma and physical damage done by living conditions in some zoos and circuses. It was premiered on HBO on April 22, 2013, also celebrated as an Earth Day.[1] The documentary includes interviews with environmental activists and biologists, including Performing Animal Welfare Society co-founders Ed Stewart and Pat Derby. The film was dedicated to Derby, also known as an "elephant lady", who died on February 15, 2013.[2]
Narrator Lily Tomlin campaigned on the subject for several years, in the course of which she met Pat Derby. Later, she suggested that HBO make a movie about elephant captivity.[3] HBO began work on the documentary in 2011. It was later joined by PETA, which offered pictures and video footage, including photos from a whistleblower depicting elephant training at the Ringling Bros circus.[4]
The documentary begins by showing the transfer of elephants from a train; the narrator states that "the elephants need our help". It proceeds with Joyce Poole, an elephant biologist, discussing some of the characteristics of an elephant, including mirror recognition capability. Cynthia Moss and Katy Payne explain some of the habits of elephants. While discussing anthropomorphism of elephants, Indian scientist Raman Sukumar states that elephants have a love–hate relationship with human society. The documentary then describes elephant capture for public display in circuses and zoos.
After describing the role of elephants in the environment, the documentary depicts some of the training techniques at circuses using bullhooks. It then shows an "elephant healing area" created in Northern California by Ed Stewart and Pat Derby, founders of Performing Animal Welfare Society. Derby tells the reunion story of Wanda, an elephant from Detroit Zoo, and Gypsy, from one of the circuses from Illinois, who were together in a circus in 1980 and bought together again in 2005. It describes various incidents of elephant communication and their emotional bonding; and it relates the story of Topsy from Luna Park, Coney Island, and her electrocution on January 4, 1903.
The documentary depicts new bullhook-free techniques implemented at Oakland Zoo for elephants; it ends by raising an alarm against the ivory trade, stating that the current elephant killing rate would lead to extinction of the species in ten years.
The documentary received generally positive feedback on release.[5][6][7] The Variety magazine in its review noted that "An Apology to Elephants, in its best moments, is hard to forget" and is "an effective calling card for the animal-rights agenda".[8] Sheri Linden reviewed the documentary for The Hollywood Reporter and mentioned that it is "a succinct, graceful argument to save an endangered species".[9]Bloomberg noted that though the documentary tracks elephant abuse and also refrained from anthropomorphism of elephants, it does not focus on any of the responses from circus owners or enthusiasts.[10] Emily Ashby from Common Sense Media mentioned in her review that though the documentary is "eye-opening on a longstanding animal-rights issue", it is one-sided and not advisable viewing for young children.[11] A review from Postmedia News by Alex Strachan recommended the documentary as an "appropriate viewing on Earth Day" with huge demands for ivory trinkets from China.[12]
After the documentary was premiered on HBO, Feld Inc. which is a parent company of Ringling Bros circus expressed that the documentary is a "one-sided hit piece". They mentioned that Amy Schatz contacted them to have "a full range of voices on the subject of elephants" but did not showcase anything saying "the Conservation Center isn't one HBO wants us to cover in the film". They also noted that the documentary has "an anti-circus political agenda". Later, HBO issued a statement in response to the allegation from Ringling Bros circus that the documentary "explores a wide range of issues surrounding [but] unfortunately not all can be included in the final film".[13]
Referencesedit
^Dinsmore, Jef (24 April 2013). "HBO Documentary Film: An Apology to Elephants". HBOwatch.com. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
^Mai-Duc, Christine (20 February 2013). "Pat Derby dies at 70; rescuer of exotic and performing animals". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
^Silverstein, Melissa (22 April 2013). . IndieWire. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
^Mackey, Jeff (17 April 2013). "Mark Your Calendars: HBO Elephant Doc Premieres on Earth Day". PETA. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
^"Lily Tomlin's 'An Apology to Elephants' documentary looks at lives of captive, wild elephants". The Washington Post. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.[dead link]
^Chitwood, Elizabeth (24 April 2013). . elephantopia.org. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
^Silver, Marc (18 April 2013). . nationalgeographic.com. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
^Lowry, Brian (18 April 2013). "TV Review: HBO's 'An Apology to Elephants'". Variety. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
^Linden, Sheri (17 April 2013). "An Apology to Elephants: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
^Evans, Greg (21 April 2013). "'Elephant Apology' Tracks Abuse; Risk in Retirement: TV". Bloomberg. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
^Ashby, Emily. "An Apology to Elephants". Common Sense. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
^Strachan, Alex (22 April 2013). "TV Monday: An Apology to Elephants for Earth Day". Postmedia News. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
^Lowry, Brian (22 April 2013). "Ringling Bros. Derides HBO Elephants Doc as 'One-Sided'". Variety. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
apology, elephants, 2013, documentary, that, explores, abuse, brutal, treatment, elephants, showcases, elephant, training, psychological, trauma, physical, damage, done, living, conditions, some, zoos, circuses, premiered, april, 2013, also, celebrated, earth,. An Apology to Elephants is a 2013 documentary that explores abuse and brutal treatment of elephants It showcases elephant training and the psychological trauma and physical damage done by living conditions in some zoos and circuses It was premiered on HBO on April 22 2013 also celebrated as an Earth Day 1 The documentary includes interviews with environmental activists and biologists including Performing Animal Welfare Society co founders Ed Stewart and Pat Derby The film was dedicated to Derby also known as an elephant lady who died on February 15 2013 2 An Apology to ElephantsPromotional posterDirected byAmy SchatzWritten byJane WagnerProduced byAmy SchatzBeth AalaStarringPat DerbyCynthia MossRaman SukumarNarrated byLily TomlinCinematographyAlex Rappaport Scott SinklerEdited byTom PattersonMusic byJoby TalbotDistributed byHBORelease dateApril 12 2013 2013 04 12 Running time40 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish Narrator Lily Tomlin campaigned on the subject for several years in the course of which she met Pat Derby Later she suggested that HBO make a movie about elephant captivity 3 HBO began work on the documentary in 2011 It was later joined by PETA which offered pictures and video footage including photos from a whistleblower depicting elephant training at the Ringling Bros circus 4 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Credits 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksSynopsis editThe documentary begins by showing the transfer of elephants from a train the narrator states that the elephants need our help It proceeds with Joyce Poole an elephant biologist discussing some of the characteristics of an elephant including mirror recognition capability Cynthia Moss and Katy Payne explain some of the habits of elephants While discussing anthropomorphism of elephants Indian scientist Raman Sukumar states that elephants have a love hate relationship with human society The documentary then describes elephant capture for public display in circuses and zoos After describing the role of elephants in the environment the documentary depicts some of the training techniques at circuses using bullhooks It then shows an elephant healing area created in Northern California by Ed Stewart and Pat Derby founders of Performing Animal Welfare Society Derby tells the reunion story of Wanda an elephant from Detroit Zoo and Gypsy from one of the circuses from Illinois who were together in a circus in 1980 and bought together again in 2005 It describes various incidents of elephant communication and their emotional bonding and it relates the story of Topsy from Luna Park Coney Island and her electrocution on January 4 1903 The documentary depicts new bullhook free techniques implemented at Oakland Zoo for elephants it ends by raising an alarm against the ivory trade stating that the current elephant killing rate would lead to extinction of the species in ten years Credits editCast Pat Derby Colleen Kinzley Jeff Kinzley Ross MacPhee Cynthia Moss Joel Parrott Joyce Poole Mel Richardson Ed Stewart Raman Sukumar Katy PayneReception editThe documentary received generally positive feedback on release 5 6 7 The Variety magazine in its review noted that An Apology to Elephants in its best moments is hard to forget and is an effective calling card for the animal rights agenda 8 Sheri Linden reviewed the documentary for The Hollywood Reporter and mentioned that it is a succinct graceful argument to save an endangered species 9 Bloomberg noted that though the documentary tracks elephant abuse and also refrained from anthropomorphism of elephants it does not focus on any of the responses from circus owners or enthusiasts 10 Emily Ashby from Common Sense Media mentioned in her review that though the documentary is eye opening on a longstanding animal rights issue it is one sided and not advisable viewing for young children 11 A review from Postmedia News by Alex Strachan recommended the documentary as an appropriate viewing on Earth Day with huge demands for ivory trinkets from China 12 After the documentary was premiered on HBO Feld Inc which is a parent company of Ringling Bros circus expressed that the documentary is a one sided hit piece They mentioned that Amy Schatz contacted them to have a full range of voices on the subject of elephants but did not showcase anything saying the Conservation Center isn t one HBO wants us to cover in the film They also noted that the documentary has an anti circus political agenda Later HBO issued a statement in response to the allegation from Ringling Bros circus that the documentary explores a wide range of issues surrounding but unfortunately not all can be included in the final film 13 References edit Dinsmore Jef 24 April 2013 HBO Documentary Film An Apology to Elephants HBOwatch com Retrieved 3 May 2013 Mai Duc Christine 20 February 2013 Pat Derby dies at 70 rescuer of exotic and performing animals Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Retrieved 3 May 2013 Silverstein Melissa 22 April 2013 Interview with Lily Tomlin Narrator and Executive Producer of An Apology to Elephants IndieWire Archived from the original on 11 May 2013 Retrieved 4 May 2013 Mackey Jeff 17 April 2013 Mark Your Calendars HBO Elephant Doc Premieres on Earth Day PETA Retrieved 3 May 2013 Lily Tomlin s An Apology to Elephants documentary looks at lives of captive wild elephants The Washington Post 24 April 2013 Retrieved 3 May 2013 dead link Chitwood Elizabeth 24 April 2013 Earth Day Earth Week An Apology to Elephants Review elephantopia org Archived from the original on 9 January 2014 Retrieved 4 May 2013 Silver Marc 18 April 2013 Lily Tomlin Speaks Out for Elephants nationalgeographic com Archived from the original on April 21 2013 Retrieved 4 May 2013 Lowry Brian 18 April 2013 TV Review HBO s An Apology to Elephants Variety Retrieved 3 May 2013 Linden Sheri 17 April 2013 An Apology to Elephants TV Review The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved 4 May 2013 Evans Greg 21 April 2013 Elephant Apology Tracks Abuse Risk in Retirement TV Bloomberg Retrieved 4 May 2013 Ashby Emily An Apology to Elephants Common Sense Retrieved 4 May 2013 Strachan Alex 22 April 2013 TV Monday An Apology to Elephants for Earth Day Postmedia News Retrieved 4 May 2013 Lowry Brian 22 April 2013 Ringling Bros Derides HBO Elephants Doc as One Sided Variety Retrieved 4 May 2013 External links editAn Apology to Elephants at IMDb nbsp An Apology to Elephants at HBO Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title An Apology to Elephants amp oldid 1188939426, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
