“The Cove's" helmer Louie Psihoyos and his staff encountered fierce opposition from the locals when filming, forcing them to shoot not only underwater but also undercover.
That opposition from various sources has continued since Tokyo-based Medallion Media acquired the pic for Japan from the Works Intl. and tapped indie outfit Unplugged to handle distribution and PR.
Demonstrators have converged on the Tokyo offices of Unplugged five times to date, while protesting at the home of Unplugged prexy Takeshi Kato, most recently on April 27. Instead of Taiji residents, however, these activists are rightists who object to the pic's alleged Japan- bashing slant.
This sort of rumpus has had an impact. A screening of the pic at the U.S. Air Force's Yokota Air Base was canceled due to consideration for what a rep called “sensitive local political and cultural concerns."
Unplugged rep Miyuki Takamatsu says the company has not hired security for theaters, but added that “if any emergency occurs we will be protected by the police." So far, the theater owners are holding firm.
Pic producer Fisher Stevens is just relieved that after what he describes as “many obstacles, including incredible harassment to the distribution company by right-wing protest groups," the pic will finally be seen in Japan. He added: “Thanks to Unplugged's incredible commitment to the film, the Japanese people will now be able to see the horrors being committed at Taiji."
For more information contact All About Jazz.
