THE DOLPHIN DEALER (2008)

CREATED, WRITTEN, & DIRECTED BY BRAD QUENVILLE

PRODUCED BY OMNIFILMS

The Dolphin Dealer tells the story of a former dolphin trainer turned dolphin trader, Chris Porter, who went to the remote Solomon Islands where locals hunt dolphins and use their teeth for currency to buy brides. As a lucrative alternative to killing them, Porter began trading live dolphins to overseas dolphin resorts. Though caught up in a storm of controversy with dolphin campaigners like Ric O'Barry (The Cove)  trying to shut him down, Porter provided full access to his captive dolphin operation.  Porter’s only condition was that as well as telling the animal rights and environmentalist’s points of view, that he also be allowed to tell his side of the story.  It took five years and self-financing shoots in the Solomon Islands, but eventually with the support of Omni Films, this documentary was picked up to launch CBC’s flagship documentary series, Doc Zone.