Underdog Entertainment, a New York-based production company, today announced that “Save Lolita” will screen at the opening night reception of the Hamptons Conservation & Wildlife Film Festival. The public service announcement (PSA) raises awareness of the plight of Lolita the Orca, who has been held captive for 40 years in a small concrete pool. Director Daniel Azarian, who produced the PSA, will speak, along with third-generation ocean explorer and filmmaker Fabien Cousteau.
Forty years ago this month, herders violently took Lolita from her family in Puget Sound and transferred her to a 20-foot-deep tank at the Miami Seaquarium. Only four times her size at its widest point, the tank appears to be illegally small under Department of Agriculture regulations. Many are calling for retiring Lolita to a coastal sanctuary.
“Research clearly shows that orcas are sentient, emotional, and highly intelligent beings who are aware of their surroundings. To see such a beautiful 22-foot creature in a tiny 35-foot-wide tank seems inhumane. I felt compelled to do something,” explains PSA director Azarian.
The spot can be viewed at www.savelolita.org.
The Hamptons Conservation & Wildlife Film Festival features some of the world’s finest conservation, natural history and wildlife films—in all, over 50 films from 20 countries. This international traveling event runs from September 24 – 26 at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, and will show the Lolita PSA during the opening night reception Friday evening, which runs from 6 – 9 PM. For festival and/or reception tickets contact the Bay Street Theater Box office, 631-725-9500. Visit www.WildlifeFilmFestivals.com for more information. A portion of the reception proceeds will go to Fabien Cousteau’s nonprofit organization, Plant a Fish.
Daniel Azarian has won three Telly Awards, including Telly’s highest honor, the Silver Award, for his futuristic-themed cosmetic spot, “Bulletproof,” for Facez Cosmetics. Azarian has also directed and produced national spots for 3M’s Scotch-Brite brand and Horizon Organic. Blue-chip telecommunications firms and entertainment networks have licensed Azarian’s commercial spots for their US and international mobile networks.
Underdog Entertainment (www.UnderdogEntertainment.com) is a New York-based production company active in producing commercial spots, branded and traditional entertainment, and film.
