Keiko
An Orca's Journey from Captivity to Freedom
- A Full Length Documentary

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Joshua Records, LLC in Association with the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation are in production of a full length documentary film about Keiko’s life and legacy, utilizing project specific interviews, unique and diverse film footage, and inspired music written by Theresa Demarest, Tim Ellis, & Jean-Pierre Garau.

Keiko in his pen in Iceland

THE EXPERTS

Join these experts as they share their professional knowledge and personal stories from their time spent with Keiko and marine life over the years.

- Mark Berman, Associate Director of the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation

- Dr. Naomi Rose, the marine mammal scientist for The Humane Society of the United States

- Dr. Paul Spong, founder of OrcaLab

- Colin Baird, the Keiko Project's Field Team Coordinator in 2002-2003

- “Tobba” - Þorbjörg Valdís Kristjánsdóttir, Caretaker for Keiko in Iceland and Norway

THE GOAL

The goal for this film is to encourage you to take a second look at the whole effort to release Keiko back to the wild. We hope to evoke within you a desire:

to ponder Keiko's own strong will to survive
to explore his enormous embrace of his own freedom
to observe his behavior and compare it to orcas in the wild
to see things about Keiko in a way that maybe you didn't know about before
to look at what The Free Willy Keiko Foundation and all those directly involved were doing
to look at the ways in which the effort to release a captive whale into the wild succeeded perhaps from Keiko’s point of view
to look at the ways in which the critics called the release a "failure" and examine the ways in which it succeeded
to encourage the study of so many questions left unexplored by both the public and the science community...

THE FILM FOOTAGE

KEIKO utilizes film footage provided by many people and organizations. The amount of footage that people have been willing to share is incredible.

Film footage has been provided by:

EarthViews Productions (website)
Since 1988, EarthViews Productions has been dedicated to producing high-quality television productions, campaign videos, home videos, and more. They cater predominantly, but not exclusively, to non-profit organizations that are working to protect animals, both wild and domestic, and the environment. They are a full-service production group.
Eric Engelken - independent videographer
During Keiko's journey at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and his move to Iceland, Eric Engelken ran a weekly public access television show out of California called “Whale Tales.” Eric made the trip to Oregon twice to meet and film Keiko and many of the people involved in his recovery efforts. Eric also completed an internship at Paul Spong's "Orcalab" on Hanson Island, in Canada.
Free Willy-Keiko Foundation (website)
The Keiko Project -- a joint non-profit effort by the Free Willy Keiko Foundation and The Humane Society of the U.S. -- was established in 1994 to rescue, rehabilitate, and release to the wild Keiko, the most famous whale in the world.
Ocean Futures Society (website)
The mission of Ocean Futures Society is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean's vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet.
Orcalab (website)
OrcaLab research is land based as a matter of philosophy... research without interference. The approach works well in our area, with its many waterways & relatively small distances. OrcaLab's location on Hanson Island at Blackney Pass is perfect for reception of radio signals from Johnstone Strait & Blackfish Sound, two of the most important areas used by the whales.
Orca Conservancy/Outpost Media - Michael Harris (website) (PDF)
Ten-time Emmy Award-winning producer, filmmaker and on-air science/wildlife specialist Michael Harris has used his unique affiliations and interests to help create some of the most imaginative television coming out of the Pacific Northwest. Over the last 20 years, Michael has held staff positions at a number Seattle-Tacoma
television stations, but he's truly made his mark in the world of freelance network production and independent filmmaking. He is currently a regular contributor of HDTV 'Weekend Windows' for ABC's Good Morning America, and produced material for New Line Cinema, CBS News, ABC News, Major League Baseball, ESPN's SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight, MTV News, VH-1 and the E! Television network
Stable Hand Video - Julie Murray (website)
Stable Hand Video is dedicated to capturing the character and beauty of your horse in any situation. They specialize in documenting your horse shows and events. Their professional videos are a great way to showcase your horse or facility. If you are looking for ways to promote your stallion or sell your horse, video is the popular choice.
The Humane Society of the United States (website)
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest and most effective animal protection organization—backed by 10 million Americans, or one in every 30. Established in 1954, The HSUS seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals—a world that will also benefit people. We are America's mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling the human-animal bond.

THE MUSIC

KEIKO is filled with breathtaking music.

The title song "Keiko’s Dream" is an original instrumental piece dedicated to Keiko that evokes the whale’s song through the extra-ordinary lead guitar theme written by Theresa Demarest and eloquently performed by Good Company band member Tim Ellis.
A second song titled “Keiko”, is performed by Jean-Pierre Garau, Tim Ellis, Jamin Swanson, Reinhartz Meltz, and Renato Caranto. Tim Ellis and Jean-Pierre Garau were also commissioned to write an instrumental piece for the film, titled "Deep Blue Water."
Tim Ellis has also written and produced an additional song titled: “Ocean of Dreams.”


Interview with Naomi Rose, Senior Marine Mammal Biologist, The Humane Society of the United States	Theresa Demarest, Kirsten Rayhawk, and Julie Murray, at work interviewing for the documentary

Dr. Paul Spong, founder of OrcaLab, preparing for interview with Julie Murray of Stable Hand Video	Kirsten Rayhawk, Production Assistant, with Mark Berman, Associate Director, Free Willy-Keiko Foundation

Interview with Colin Baird, the Keiko Project's Field Team Coordinator in 2002-2003	Interview with “Tobba” - Þorbjörg Valdís Kristjánsdóttir, Caretaker for Keiko in Iceland and Norway