Echos of the Sound: The Story of Hugo and the Southern Residents
30 mins | 2024
Emma Stafki, Annie Stafki
In 1968, a baby orca, Hugo, was captured in Vaughn Bay and sold to an aquarium, far from his natural habitat and family. This documentary tells the story of Hugo’s capture and captivity, exploring the impact on him and his pod. The film offers a clear view of how attitudes towards orcas have changed over time, from their first captures to current efforts aimed at rescuing the southern resident orcas from extinction. Echos of the Sound urges viewers to reconsider our impact on marine ecosystems and support efforts to ensure Southern Residents can thrive in their home waters again.
DIRECTOR STATEMENT
We created our documentary Echos of the Sound to tell the untold story of Hugo, who was captured out of Vaughn Bay in 1968 and sent to Miami Seaquarium. Hugo's story has not received the attention it deserves, and its powerful narrative could positively impact the critically endangered southern resident orca population.
We aim to inspire and educate others to protect these incredible creatures. We were challenged to learn the ins and outs of documentary filmmaking independently. As students with a limited budget, we were fortunate to borrow equipment and connect with incredible individuals who generously volunteered their time for interviews.
As sisters, we've consistently supported one another through every challenge. Our different strengths complement each other perfectly, and creating this film has affirmed our desire to continue working together. Our aspirations extend beyond filmmaking; they are rooted in a desire to make a tangible difference in our world. We are driven to enact positive change in our world so that native species can thrive in their natural habitat once again and future generations can genuinely have the opportunity to live on a sustainable planet.