1 hr ago
Austin Abrams Met Sperm Whales Before Filming Whalefall
Austin Abrams is an actor in a movie called Whalefall.
In the story, his character is swallowed by a sperm whale while diving.
Before filming, Abrams went to Dominica to see real sperm whales underwater.
Whale expert Patrick Dykstra guided him.
The whales appeared on both days Abrams was there, even though nobody had seen them in the nine days before his visit.
Three female whales once swam close and rested in the water near him.
Abrams said being near them felt almost like being with an alien.
He also got advanced scuba training and practiced wearing scuba gear.
The experience helped him prepare for playing someone trapped underwater.
Austin Abrams visited a sperm whale sanctuary near Dominica before filming Whalefall.
Whale documentarian Patrick Dykstra guided Abrams during scuba dives to observe wild sperm whales.
Abrams saw whales on both days of his visit, after none had been seen during the previous nine days.
Director Brian Duffield said Abrams earned advanced scuba certification after being cast.
Abrams also walked around his neighborhood wearing full scuba gear to prepare for the film’s underwater scenes.
- Who
- Actor Austin Abrams, guided by whale documentarian Patrick Dykstra, prepared for his role in Whalefall.
- What
- Abrams observed sperm whales in their natural habitat and trained for the film’s underwater sequences.
- Where
- A sperm whale sanctuary near Dominica in the Caribbean, and Abrams’s neighborhood.
- When
- Before principal photography; no specific date is given.
- Why
- To help Abrams understand sperm whales and prepare authentically for his character and the film’s demanding underwater scenes.
Key facts
- Film
- Whalefall
- Lead actor
- Austin Abrams
- Whale guide
- Patrick Dykstra
- Visit location
- A sperm whale sanctuary near Dominica in the Caribbean
- Whale sightings
- Abrams saw sperm whales on both days of his visit; none had been seen during the previous nine days.
- Training
- Abrams earned advanced scuba certification and practiced walking in full scuba gear.
Quotes
Austin Abrams
Actor who plays Jay Gardiner in Whalefall
“I was surprised at how much time I actually got to spend with them. They hadn’t seen any sperm whales in the previous nine days, so I was lucky that both days I was there, they showed up and let me observe them. It was almost like being with an alien…very surreal.”
deccanchronicle.com
Patrick Dykstra
Whale documentarian who guided Abrams during his visit
“One day, three females approached him, and just kind of lay in the water with him.”
deccanchronicle.com
Brian Duffield
Director of Whalefall
“As soon as Austin was cast, he got advanced certified in scuba diving. So, he was fully committed to the character from the get-go.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
Related news
Four Sailors Rescued After Sperm Whale Sinks Pacific Yacht
Great White Shark Kills Seal Near Nantucket Shore
Mother Humpback Whale Stays Beside Stillborn Calf in Rare Behaviour
Passenger’s Horror Movie Scream Wakes Baby on Flight; Actor Reacts
Endangered Whale Shark Spotted Near California During El Niño
Rescuers Guide 25 Pilot Whales From River Thames to Sea
