April 9th, 2024
Interview with Joseph LeBaron
Film Director of Whales and the High Dessert
1. What made you decide to go into film making? When did you produce your first film?
I started in advertising, in making soulless content. I decided to make a career change around 30
years old. Any advertisements I had to try to tell and instead tell the stories I want to tell. Our
Company: the Good Line – in was created in protest of traditional marketing. for a simple thread of
gold. Of truth and people will connect with that. Been around about 13 years. Working with
nonprofits. We worked in 63 countries. And now I'm getting ready to settle down. I'm getting
married! I'm excited to settle down for roots in Millcreek, UT.
2. With the lake dying, do you want to reside here in Utah?
Even though it causes environmental havoc for the slc valley and Utah county. Planting our flag
here and its important to me to stay and Raise awareness. We are taking our own steps to xerox
scape. I have big plans to continue to live here as a Utah native. As kids we grew up going out and
playing in the grass. And now in my lifetime, seeing the impact that there might not be any water
left to water lawns.
3. What's an experience good or bad that had a large impact in your journey as a filmmaker?
Id say that the bad part.. We got really popular really quick. But because of that we got really stale
super fast, kicking out the same video over and over. Two cameras interviews with 60 second slow
frames. And eventually we turned into a parody – of the best parts of ourself. All the jobs, we get
to talk with and interview! We interviewed with over 2000 ppl. Fascinating insights. As well as work
with a lot of non-profits. Its really bolstered our optimism in humanity.
4. How do you feel about the GSL?
Viewing it and growing up in Utah in the 80s, I didn't see the lake as a destination place. Sorta of
an afterthought. It was weird and interesting. And during the production we had to Scout the lake.
And discovered so many Parts of the lake. In researching the lake and finding out where we could
access it. Circumnavigate it. \We full circled all over the GSL at least a dozen times. And just
realizing how much It's underutilized. Its an epic destination to visit! Lucin Utah is my favorite.
Northwest corner. With Abandoned ghost towns. The railroad tracks that separate the lake – it
reminds me of Iceland . Its Turquoise color of water that changes in winter. Antelope island. Spiral
jetty. And the ruins of the old Saltair to explore are pretty cool. And the west side of the lake and
no ones out there. A little bit of insight of the old days.
5. Why this folklore did you want to reimagine? When did you hear about the Whales – in the
GSL?
I think I read about it in a folktale book, they had Jean Baptise – banished to one of the island, And
from Doug Fabrizio – we collaborated about the story of whales. He was so excited to tell us about
it. Doug thought it would be a cool project! He’s a master story teller.
6. What sparked your initial desire to tell this story? Expand on that?
1 st petty part --- growing up – pioneers – lots of outdoor redrock adventure stories – Lochness type
stories. And at one time it was way more popular – The story died with the receding of the lake. If
we could bring this story back and by saving the whales. By default you save the lake!
2 nd – it was going to be a challenging task.. We primarily focused on documentaries. Telling a story
that was a period piece and shooting it in winter on a lake! With 3 levels of difficulty that was
interesting. In 1888 was when the story was original published, it was almost as if they were like
our modern day online troll. You know s*** posting – we are continuing that in some sense – some
message story to parody it.
7. What was a particularly challenging moment in the creative process of creating this film?
And how did you get through it?
We did the first interview. About 10 years ago. A 2-3 min piece. We chopped the story. This could
be more robust we thought. We had an 8-minute version. And plenty of backstory and scenes.
What if we filmed this as if it really happened? With all the details missing. How would he get
these whales here? In the most realistic way. We kept adding scenes. We did this self-funded. We
asked ourselves what's the work around. Solving about how do we show a whale. Doing the
interview with Lynn we decided to redo a brand new story a year ago. Second one we went out to
the slc, We had a couch we put out there. And the couch was sinking. Sinking into the slit almost
thigh high. Jacob justices – director of photography, had such a strong vision and pushing for the
best shot possible. And that's amazing but it also creates problems It was freezing and then the
storm came in all while we were talking. We were subject to the elements. We decided to bring
the couch out the night before, and we wrapped it up into a tarp...and the next morning it was
gone. The wind had carried it two miles out... all while were trying to find it.. We were all using
walkie talkies. The wind sailed it two miles down the wet mud. It was crazy.. It took us about 18-19
hours to shoot.. And cut down to 45 mins. It was pretty wild. We couldn't imagine someone would
of taken the couch. Jacob told me that the couch isn't there... he said “they took it? Whose they? I
don't know! Gnomes! Thats story.”
8. Can you share an example of a project where you had to adapt or improvise due to
unforeseen circumstances and how did it affect the overall outcome?
Underscore it – you don't improvise – you just let the story happen... When we were interviewing
Lynn...you cant control nature... right then, the storm hit. Nature doesn't want it instead by letting
the greater story play out!
9. What was one way you grew as a director through this project?
Our specialty is documentary – but with this film we had to improvise with a lot of reenactments.
Working with a lot of actors... trying to figure how to work with ppl and everyone is doing us
favors... our composer Micah was amazing and the film, Its full of easter eggs. Its filled with
people, they love us and contributing to this story... one of the biggest ways was probably letting
go control of some aspects of the story. There was so much, its a wild life of its own.
10.How involved are you in the "save our great salt lake movement”?
As we wrapped up in filming. As we were approaching the end, we had Lynns old interview. A
much more robust version of it now. We wanted to do it very last. The scenes first. Right before we
did the interview. I reached out to Doug.. The story has a bigger why and a bigger what and you got
to figure that out. Why does this story really matter? Because the great salt lake is a character. We
are losing that character in stories. If you lose it ...we lose bits and pieces of our identity. And we
did the interview. Chopping the final story line together, and an impact part, a lot of great family
and friends with us at the great salt lake. A massive impact. Thats the why we entered it into the
the film festivals. and the Environmental film festivals and tons of local film and trying to get
awareness of the character we are losing! And we Won! Best short documentary! Its a passion
piece! Will want to get people excited about!
11.What would you say is one thing you would like others to know about this crisis?
Its real! And calls to action is now, is going to have very real consequences in the future. Our
grandkids. Ppl today are going to have to deal with it. Its not going away with out action! We get our
snow from the lake, we get so much creates that environment that we love to enjoy. “it's an
environmentally nuclear bomb that's about to go off..” its real and its happening right now and go
out there and Environmentally aside, Its a beautiful lake. Its wonderful and every needs to explore
and see it! Go see it! And want to protect it and sticks around and parts of the keys to get excited
about it.
12.Would you be interested in having your film featured on our website?
Yes absolutely!!!!! We have to do a full run before we can make it more public! submitting a film
like this. We could do either a MPFile or youtube. - yes we want to be featured, but we have to
wait until the end of the showings of the film festivals before making it Public. We submitted to
about 30 different film festivals.