‘Speciesism: The Movie’ Set to Premiere Next Month
Opening in New York City on September 18, Mark Devries’s debut film, “Speciesism: The Movie,” is a tour de force that’s certain to change hearts and minds. I recently sat down with Mark to discuss his experience working on this moving documentary.
What inspired you to make this film?
It started innocently enough, when I happened to come across some PETA demonstrations, which piqued my curiosity, so I decided to learn more about the issues. Once I found out about factory farming, I decided to look into it firsthand. This involved everything from crawling through the bushes that hide factory farms to flying overhead in a propeller plane, and even convincing a factory farm owner to let me inside (the trailer at SpeciesismTheMovie.com/screenings provides a first glimpse of all this). During these adventures, I discovered the bigger issue, speciesism.
How do you define “speciesism,” and how did making this film change your outlook?
The term “speciesism” describes an unreflective assumption that the interests of nonhuman animals, such as an interest in not suffering, are less important than the interests of humans. A growing number of prominent individuals are questioning this assumption. I met and spoke with the people at the cutting edge of this philosophical discussion, and the more I learned, the more it seemed like they were really onto something. If they are correct that speciesism is an unjustifiable bias, it would mean that what happens to animals on factory farms is one of the most important ethical issues in history.
What was the most shocking experience you had while making this documentary?
It’s hard to pick just one. Here is an example: In rural North Carolina, factory pig farms cram thousands of animals into each building, and then flush all of the manure into gigantic, open-air cesspools the size of football fields. Sometimes the neighbors can hardly breathe. Even worse, while they were ostensibly fertilizing fields, I also observed these farms spraying the manure straight up into the air, where it turns to mist, and the wind carries it into surrounding neighborhoods. And of course, if they treat their neighbors this way, just imagine what happens to the animals.
Was there a particularly interesting moment in your dialogue with others about speciesism?
It was fascinating to speak with everyday people about why they believe human interests are more important than the interests of nonhuman animals, and to challenge their thinking and arguments. For example, I spoke with the head of the biology department at a major university, who told me all about the intellectual and emotional similarities between humans and other animals, and then admitted that he had never thought about the idea that those similarities might have ethical implications!
What has been the audience reaction?
It has been extraordinary. I never anticipated a reaction like this. Over and over again in sneak previews, audience members who had walked into the theater with no prior knowledge or interest in the subject told me afterwards that the movie completely changed their thinking about animals. People have even contacted me months later to tell me that the movie changed their lives.
Where can people see Speciesism: The Movie?
The world premiere will be in New York City on September 18, followed by regional premieres in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, DC. The tickets have just gone on sale along with a limited number of DVDs available for pre-order.