From ‘Tiger King' to ‘Chimp Crazy,' Eric Goode aims to highlight animal welfare issues while preaching to the ‘unconverted'

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2 days ago

Documentary filmmaker Eric Goode knows how to captivate an audience. From the breakout success of Tiger King to his latest HBO docuseries, Chimp Crazy, his work combines fascinating characters with a focus on wildlife and animal welfare issues.
Chimp Crazy, Goode's four-part docuseries centering on "monkey mom" Tonia Haddix, originally set out to advocate against the ownership of primates but took an unexpected turn. "I never knew this woman would kidnap a chimpanzee," he tells Gold Derby.
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Goode wants his work to transcend entertainment and spark conversations about wildlife conservation and ethical treatment of animals. "Many documentaries that are very clearly advocacy documentaries, like The Cove or Blackfish, oftentimes they're great, but oftentimes they preach to the converted and have a very narrow, small audience," he says. "We want to preach to the unconverted as well. And so the only way to do that is to really make these documentaries entertaining, but always knowing that at the end, hopefully people scratch their heads and recognize that there's a more important story in here."
Photo courtesy of HBO
Goode acknowledges that while both Tiger King and Chimp Crazy follow a similar formula, that wasn't necessarily what he was aiming for. "This one happens to be the most similar to Tiger King. Not everything that I do has that same formula," Goode says. He describes casting a wide net, initially exploring multiple subcultures, including a taxidermist and a shark enthusiast. Eventually, the intriguing world of "monkey moms," and their controversial practices, unfolded naturally into the central focus of Chimp Crazy.
In the case of Tiger King, advocacy efforts resulted in the passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act. Goode hopes for similar results with Chimp Crazy via passing of pending legislation like "The Primate Public Safety Act," which he believes would prevent people from recklessly purchasing chimpanzees or other primates that inevitably suffer as domestic pets. "All of these primates make for terrible pets," says Goode, explaining that their lives typically end in misery, with their owners facing regret — a truth that Chimp Crazy highlights with startling clarity.
One of the central figures in Chimp Crazy is Haddix, whose relationship with Goode presents an intriguing dichotomy. On the one hand, her willingness to let Goode and his team into her deeply personal life allowed the story to take shape. On the other, her ethical treatment of animals, particularly Tonka the chimpanzee, has been widely criticized.
'Well, I think if anyone's tracked her since Chimp Crazy came out… she'll talk to anyone, and she has no filter, and that's sort of her Achilles' heel," Goode says. For many months, Haddix was at the center of Goode's work and even welcomed his crew into unusual facets of her life, whether they followed her to tanning booths or eyelash appointments. "I am very grateful that she allowed us into her more intimate parts of her life," Goode reflects, acknowledging her openness despite ongoing conflicts.
Photo courtesy of HBO
At the heart of the story is Tonka, a chimpanzee Haddix kept in captivity under conditions many experts described as isolated and far from ideal. Goode consulted with renowned primatologists like Craig Stanford and Russell Mittermeier, who affirmed that while Haddix provided Tonka with certain comforts — a television, air conditioning, and junk food — the lack of socialization with other chimps was profoundly damaging. "It's like us… if you don't have the ability to hang out with other people, you're going to be very lonely and isolated," Goode explains.
After Haddix tells the film crew Tonka has died (and even shared some of his fake ashes), audiences witness the dramatic revelation of Tonka's existence, followed by his transfer to Save the Chimps sanctuary, where he now thrives on a three-acre island among 17 other chimpanzees.
Photo courtesy of HBO
While Goode continues to communicate with Haddix, their relationship remains fraught. 'I always told her... try to make a compromise [with PETA]," he says, referring to the organization's offer to waive $250,000 in fines if she stopped exploiting exotic animals. Despite Goode's advice, Haddix refused unless she could reclaim Tonka, a position that has left her in ongoing legal trouble. "She's kind of brought it on herself," Goode remarks.
PETA plays a pivotal role in Chimp Crazy, often appearing as an antagonist but also as an instrumental voice for enforcing change. Goode is transparent about the fact that his dedication to animal welfare diverges in many ways from PETA's staunch animal rights philosophy. "I'm not vegan and I drink milk and eat eggs and wear leather," Goode says. "I would say I fall into the category of a conservation biologist who wants to see endangered species survive on this planet." Nonetheless, when it comes to chimpanzees in captivity, their objectives aligned.
Goode worked closely with PETA but admitted that sensitive moments forced certain collaborative discussions off-camera, particularly to protect individuals like Dwayne Cunningham. Cunningham, while acting as a "proxy director" for the documentary, earned Haddix's trust and accessed crucial information about Tonka's location. Goode pushed PETA to remain discreet in order to protect Cunningham. "We were just trying to be sensitive to protect Dwayne from any retaliation because… they can be dangerous."
The making of Chimp Crazy came with unique challenges, particularly in terms of the extensive and unpredictable filming schedule. "In this genre of documentary filmmaking… you have to be very fluid and mobile and spontaneous and be filming everything," Goode explains. His team filmed over 300 days, capturing countless moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. "Some of the least, what feel like they're going to be the least important moments, become the most important moments," he notes.
However, not every story made it into the final cut — a reality Goode describes as "a learning lesson." For every story included, far more subjects fell to the cutting room floor, as was the case in Tiger King. "You'll get a great interview at a great moment, but you've got to make those decisions not to put those stories into the documentary."
For Goode, his passion transcends Chimp Crazy. Known for his conservation efforts involving endangered turtles, Goode reveals that he's completed another project that took over 10 years to finalize. While he can't share many details yet, he admits it deals with wildlife trade issues and should be released sometime in the coming year.
As for Chimp Crazy, Goode hopes its impact will lead to legislative and societal change, much like Tiger King eventually did. "Let's hope Chimp Crazy makes a difference," he says. "If we can change laws and make a difference on that level, it's a big deal."
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