Joshua Zeman Talks Motivation Behind Animal Rescue Documentary ‘Checkpoint Zoo’

Checkpoint Zoo, an award winning documentary directed by Joshua Zeman (The Loneliest Whale), hits theaters on Friday. Centering on zookeepers and volunteers who are trying to rescue animals during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Checkpoint Zoo is a downright riveting experience. Putting animals first in a war torn environment is selfless and dangerous act, and Zeman effectively captures the humanity amidst the tragedy. Zeman talked to Deepest Dream about the challenges of shooting his latest documentary.

The volunteers and staff at Feldman Ecopark (located in the city of Kharkiv) risked their lives to evacuate over 5,000 animals in the sanctuary, and Checkpoint Zoo spotlights their respective determination amidst all the bloodshed and tragedy. Director Joshua Zeman claims that he was not “scared” about traveling to Ukraine for his project. “We’re covering a story about people saving animals,” said Zeman. “So you felt that you were doing, for lack of a better term, God’s work, if you want to call it that.”

“These people were fighting for animals who don’t care about borders or peace treaties or weapons,” addied Zeman. “They’re innocent. I think it gave these people unbelievable motivation to actually complete this misison. It’s impossible to rescue (all these animals) from a war zone while bombs are litterly falling on top of them while they’re doing this.”

Zeman, however, “felt scared” when he returned home and discovered that the Kharkiv hotel he lived in during his Ukraine travels was destroyed by a missile. He believes that attack was not random since many foreign journalists stayed at that hotel.

The interview also covers Zeman’s approach to being an effective communicator and he also elaborates on one of the most important elements of documentary filmmaking. If you don’t have a good editor, your documentary might be in trouble!

Tickets can be purchased through the film’s official website (checkpointzoo.com).

Check out Bruce Purkey’s Checkpoint Zoo review on this week’s CinemAddicts: