SPONSORED POST Interview a Dolphin Trainer!
This blog post is sponsored by Dolphin Tale.
True story: a dolphin named Winter got its tail caught in a crab trap. It survived but had to have its tail amputated. How can a dolphin swim without a tail? It can't. . . BUT it got a prosthetic tail and now Winter can swim fine! You can read about the story in a book called Winter's Tail, and coming in September, you can see the movie based on the story called Dolphin Tale.
If you love dolphins, we have a special surprise for you at the end of this blog post but first, here is Nathan Gamble, the 13-year-old star of the movie to talk about what it was like to make the movie.
Q: Tell me about your character in Dolphin Tale.
Q: Are you similar to him in any ways? In real life, do you think you would be friends?
Nathan: I'm not too much like him, really. I'm pretty outgoing and like to laugh and am pretty social. But I think we might be friends, too, as I would respect his loyalty to his family and his cause. He becomes the kind of person people want to follow in the end.
Q: This movie is based on a true story. Did you meet the real Sawyer Nelson?
Nathan: Well. . . there really wasn’t a Sawyer Nelson. Winter was actually found by an adult. A little-‐ what do they call it? – creative license, I think.
Q: Which scene was the most fun to shoot? Which scene was the hardest?
Nathan: Filming with Harry Connick, Jr. was really the highlight of the shoot for me. He is such a funny, personable and nice guy. He took me to a Tampa Bay/New Orleans Saints game during the filming in Florida and later he got me a Drew Brees autographed football-‐ which was awesome. Hardest? Probably having to hold my breath for so long! And then when it got colder the water was really tough to be in for hours at a time, too.
Q: Can you describe the experience of swimming with a dolphin? What are dolphins like up close?
Nathan: Well, if you can imagine playing with your dog underwater, that is what it is like. They are so fun-loving and so affectionate and smart, too. They learn tricks incredibly fast and have a great memory.
Q: What was the funniest or most memorable experience you had with Winter, the dolphin?
Nathan: After a while Winter became protective of me so when someone else would come in the pool, Winter would get between me and the new person as if to say, "He's my buddy, keep your distance, stranger!" That and the fact that Winter never got tired of spitting water in my face, too. And then he'd laugh that crazy, squeaky dolphin laugh. It must have been like a joke that is always funny no matter how many times you hear it, you know?
Oh my goodness! The dolphin was laughing at him?! That's so cool/crazy!
If you want to know more about dolphins, you're in luck because. . . the actual dolphin trainers who work with Winter at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida will be here to answer YOUR questions! If you have any questions about Winter's real life experience with a fake tail, what it's like to swim with dolphins, or just how awesome it is to work at an aquarium, now is your chance to ask and maybe get your question answered by a real dolphin trainer.
UPDATE: The dolphin trainer from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium replied! You can read her answers to your questions here.
Great! can't wait to watch. I am an absolute dolphin fan and animal fan in particular. How long is a dolphins life span?
does winter mind the prosthetic tail? does Winter swim differently with the tail attatched?
thanks :)
Comment #51 | Posted by: topaztiger10 on September 25, 2011 at 11:42 PM
the poeple who worked with the realy life is winter stel alive or did she past a way was the story sad for the actrs
Comment #52 | Posted by: timisha on September 26, 2011 at 04:26 PM
Is was amazing to watch it about a dolphins
Comment #53 | Posted by: ps on September 26, 2011 at 05:51 PM
this looks like a good book
Comment #54 | Posted by: comment 7 on September 26, 2011 at 08:13 PM
Yeah it was sad that the dolphin couldn't swim. I felt like crying.
Comment #55 | Posted by: no1chocolategateau on September 27, 2011 at 12:56 PM
did the dolphin survive the hurracane.im so sad. i have to know.
Comment #56 | Posted by: cleo on September 27, 2011 at 06:38 PM
what does a dolphin feel
like?
Comment #57 | Posted by: dolphin lover on October 01, 2011 at 07:52 PM
I wold like to mette Sawyer Nelson.I wold also like to worke at the marin hospital withe whitner
Comment #58 | Posted by: s334 on October 20, 2011 at 06:57 AM
I read the book and it meant a lot to me and i wanna see the movie but i dont have time. whoever madae it has great vocab. Anyone who doesnt like they should give it a chance. You can see winter at florida.
Comment #59 | Posted by: greensports10 on October 21, 2011 at 07:55 AM
i love her story and i was touch by her story and the movie is what got me so intrusted in winter now im trying to learn all can about her and dolphans.
Comment #60 | Posted by: winter lover on December 27, 2011 at 10:16 PM
hello
Comment #61 | Posted by: kayla starr on January 07, 2012 at 04:02 PM
i relly want to meet winter mabey just mabey i can come 2 meet her yahhhhhhhhhhh i lllllllllloooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeee dolfins there were my favfite animal sence as long as i remeber! yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment #62 | Posted by: kayla starr on January 07, 2012 at 04:17 PM
hello
Comment #63 | Posted by: kayla starr on January 07, 2012 at 04:18 PM
i love winter so much!and your movie i hope i can see winter and the other people from dolphin tale!i want to be like hazels dad when i am older. who was the funniest person from the movie? hazel, sawyer, dr.clay?
Comment #64 | Posted by: Rebecca on February 25, 2012 at 07:08 PM
i rilly like the movie dolphin tall and i wonder how winter servived ushaly they die on dry land when they are not in water
Comment #65 | Posted by: dines on April 22, 2012 at 10:24 PM