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There is a great article on the vegan outreach (a website “…dedicated to reducing animal suffering by promoting informed, ethical eating.”), written by Matt Ball (view here). I personally share the author’s rationale for the humane treatment of animals, while oddly enough, maintaining a sense of humor about the subject. This article suggests that despite the seriousness of the issue, the longevity of the activist is often based on how well they survive burnout when trying to teach others about the benefits of being vegan. This advocacy, together with a little humor, is a central theme within my latest filmmaking.My approach to vegan advocacy begins with being content with yourself, knowing that you are doing what you can, and then approaching non-vegans with an open mind. If you are unhappy with yourself, or frustrated at others for not getting the message, that energy will project onto whomever you are speaking with. The non-vegan will quickly turn-off viewing you as an angry, frustrated, and sad person trying to make them like you.
I think vegans could relate to the teachings of the early Greek scientists Pythagoras, Aristotle, and Plato (all vegetarians too, hmmm). They all tried to convince people that the earth was round but were met with immediate and overwhelming opposition from a misunderstanding of that time. Galileo was even forced through torture to recant his conclusions. Fortunately, vegans in our time do not face such harsh retribution for teaching people about the vegan lifestyle. However, there remains the expected opposition from those who blindly hold onto their familiar lifestyles…right or wrong.
Many times in my past I would get into pointless, dead-end arguments and then give up on having an open dialog with the person. However, unlike an ideology or belief, there can be no real sound argument against veganism. It is a logical choice backed by science, fact, and reason. Unfortunately, merely stating that you are vegan can imply a moral judgment to the other person, immediately suggesting that what they are doing is wrong. Most vegan-lifestyle advocates know all-to-well what that feels like. To advocate with sincerity and conviction, while at the same time losing the moral high-ground, is a tricky balance. However, as long as you are positive, open, respectful, and willing to listen, the important work of teaching others that they are in control of their health, through their diet, can be accomplished.
I have committed myself to making films that include these important messages. I have found that injecting “vegan humor” into certain situations between the actors is fun and useful. It cannot remove the harsh reality of suffering that takes place by animals farmed for food in atrocious conditions every hour of every day of their lives. However, it does serve as a tool for the filmmaker to avoid becoming the “heavy” in their advocacy. The author mentioned above deems animal rights as “the moral imperative of our time”. He also suggests that dealing with our anger about animal cruelty may be the advocates’ biggest challenge. The “human condition” has never changed overnight. We will all do our part, mine is the passionate role that filmmaking has offered me.
Here is a link to the classic Simpson’s episode “Lisa the Vegetarian” that I feel is very effective in the discussion about vegetarianism and veganism. It is by no means perfect, but considering it was a primetime show in the mid 1990s, with most of the television audience being meat-eating Americans and the program being sponsored by Burger King, I think it is about as close to perfect as it could have been.
There is a great article that I came across awhile back on the psychology of change.
The article is a brief introduction to the book entitled Change or Die: Three Keys to Change in Work and in Life.
The article describes hows and whys a people decided to change and improve their approaches of living and interacting with the world around them. I thought it was a great reference for vegan advocacy. The basic point of the article made the point that change cannot be brought on by the traditionally held methods of:
Force: forcing them to change rather than having them make the decision themselves
Facts: Overwhelming them with facts to change
Fear: Instigating fear that they must change or else
Real, long lasting, effective change has statistically been proven to be encouraged through:
Relating: being personable and open…willing to hear their thoughts, needs, desires, etc.
Repeating: prove them with the encouragement and hope that they can change
Reframing: allowing new way of thinking to form a new, healthy, habit of activity.
I have less than a month to go before shooting and things are moving pretty fast…
Actors:
I just finishing the 2nd draft of the script and am knee deep in the search for actors. The process is quite difficult because I am looking for great actors that are good at comedy and improv which is very difficult to find (well, for my budget anyway).
Locations:
The good thing about locations is that many scenes take place in vegan restaurants and I already know a few of the restaurants managers..Neil’s Yard, Pogo cafe, Inspiral Lounge, Vitaorganic, and Dragonfly, and Peking Palace are all in mind.
Production/equipment:
I have been wanting to shoot on the Red camera which is taking the film world by storm. My goal is to shoot on the Red camera with a set of Arri/Zeiss Ultra Prime Lenses.
The Red camera with my Director of Photography Charlie Meyer can only lead to a beautifully visual film.
Still to do…
van hire, catering, public liability insurance, shot list
As many of you may be aware, the film work of Morgan Spurlock has been an inspiration for me. I feel that he is able to very effectly bring up difficult social issues through the vehicle of comedy and entertainment. A memorable moment for me was about 4 years ago, when I lived in LA, I met Morgan Spurlock at a bar downtown. We talked for about 4 hours (until the bar closed) about using film and television as a vehicle for social change. He knows fully well what he is doing and he is talented enough to pull it off. I hope that I will be able to adapt that approach to my own work.
I was happy to hear that Morgan addressed the issue of Animal Rights in a new episode of his “30 Days” TV show on FX.
US Viewers click here
or those outside the US click here
The episode is effective on the one hand that it is geared towards the common American viewer to introduce them to the concept of animal rights….however, I felt that it was a bit too naive and generalized in its approach. Plus there were a lot of negative stereotypes of veganism and AR that weren’t really addressed or absolved. That said, I feel that it is a step in the right direction.
This is the best vegan documentary I have seen so far that effectively gets across the message of the importance of a vegetarian/vegan diet. I think what makes this one stand apart is that it drawn on personal empathy through personal stories of the individuals in the film.
It is called Peaceable Kingdom by Tribe of Heart Productions…get your tissues ready: