We are excited to launch a new section on our website called Take Action.

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Dedicated to the Ghosts, the billions of nonhuman animals used globally for food, fashion, research and entertainment.

Please share widely.

With gratitude to the Lush Charity Pot for supporting this endeavour.

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A big shout-out to Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals for the use of her photos

Happy and Compassionate Holidays to all.
#FortheGhosts

Liz and Nina, Ghosts Media.
Toronto

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THIS DOCUMENTARY IS THE EYE-OPENER NEEDED FOR OUR SOCIETY – Viewer Comments

Watch the award-winning documentary
The Ghosts In Our Machine 

Buy our English language DVD for home viewings with family and friends. It is captioned for the deaf and hard of hearing. There are scene selections and extra features. “Region 0” means the DVD can be viewed on all standard DVD viewing systems. Distributed by Indiecan Entertainment.

Be part of the change and Host a Screening. We provide you with the film and a downloadable toolkit.
The Ghosts In Our Machine is screened publicly by organizations and individuals on all continents!

Buy or rent the educational DVD for the classroom and for libraries. Available through leading distributors, BullFrog Films in the US, and McNabb Connolly in Canada. Includes closed-captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing, scene selections and more. Comes with in-depth educational guide.

NO WORDS CAN CAPTURE THE IMPORTANCE OF LIZ MARSHALL’S FILM.
– Tom Regan, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, North Carolina State University

Watch and share. Thanks for your support! #ForTheGhosts
– The Ghosts Team

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We are very pleased to release
this 34-page full-colour “Impact Report” 

Download Impact Report as a PDF

This impact report is for anyone interested in learning about impact and audience engagement campaigns for documentary films, and about animal rights issues. It is a tool for the global animal advocacy community, and for the global documentary industry.

Between December 2014 and January 2015, LizMars Productions conducted a formal impact evaluation in partnership with the US-based nonprofit organization the Humane Research Council (now rebranded as Faunalytics), funded by the Bertha BRITDOC Connect Fund. It marked the final phase of the film’s global 18-month outreach and engagement campaign. The Ghosts in Our Machine was made available for free for a 3-day period, and the response was overwhelmingly positive: more than 4,500 people from more than 90 different countries (on 6 continents) viewed the film in just 72 hours! The final step was to survey the viewers to understand how the film influenced them. The Ghosts in Our Machine is making a difference for animals, as demonstrated by results from the large-scale follow-up impact evaluation.

The film is achieving its ultimate goal
to change hearts, minds, and behaviour

After viewing the film, support for the rights of nonhuman animals was nearly universal. In fact, 96% of those who saw The Ghosts in Our Machine believe that animal rights is an important social justice issue. This is a remarkable achievement for a movement that has been historically marginalized – even stigmatized – and is considered by many people to be far less important than other social justice causes. When asked how much the film influenced them, 85% of viewers said 10 out of 10, meaning the film had “a great deal” of influence on them.

It is with immense gratitude that we conclude the film’s robust global campaign by releasing this important in-depth report.

Please study it, share it, and know that we couldn’t have achieved any of it without you.

Watch The Ghosts In Our Machine around the world in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish.

Yours in solidarity,

#fortheghosts

Liz Marshall, and the campaign team

For questions, or to book a live or virtual presentation, please email filmmaker and impact producer Liz Marshall.

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The Ghosts In Our Machine is now widely available
in five major languages

03.23.15 – Toronto

Ghosts Media is pleased to announce the release of The Ghosts In Our Machine in French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. Since April of 2013, the film has been widely available in English.

Thanks to the generous support of the experienced translators who offered their services in support of the film.

Find your country on our WATCH NOW page, and click on the viewing option you prefer.

Syndicado releases The Ghosts In Our Machine on iTunes in the following countries:

Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Costa Rica
Colombia
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Ecuador
France
Germany
Guatemala
Honduras
Italy
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Spain

Thanks for your support.

The Ghosts Media Team
Toronto

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(names are in alphabetical order)

Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary
Nina Beveridge, Liz Marshall

Best Direction in a Documentary Program
Liz Marshall

Best Photography in a Documentary Program
Nick de Pencier, Liz Marshall, Iris Ng, John Price

Best Sound in a Documentary Program
Garrett Kerr, Jason Milligan, Daniel Pellerin

The Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary is the greatest honour bestowed upon a social-issue documentary in Canada. To be nominated for four prestigious 2015 Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Director, is a shining moment for the film and the filmmaking team; a beacon to illuminate the billions of animals around the globe used for food, fashion, research and entertainment. 

– Liz Marshall, Director, Producer, Writer, Co-Cinematographer

Tuesday, February 24th, 2015
Canadian Screen Awards
Television & Digital Media Awards Gala
See here for more information.
DOWNLOAD PDF of the list of 2015 Nominees 

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The post Canadian Screen Awards 4 Nominations appeared first on The Ghosts In Our Machine.

We want to take this moment to remind you, our supporters, of the various ways you can use The Ghosts In Our Machine and the film’s website as part of your ongoing animal advocacy toolkit. We have worked hard since 2011 to fund, manage, and release the project to the world. Since the film’s premiere in April 2013, we have established a sustainable global distribution plan with several distribution partners.

Part of the legacy of the Ghosts project is the film’s website – we have built up a robust repository; a treasure chest of content and shareable resources and features. A lot of research, talent, vision, generosity and passion went into our website. Please spend some time visiting, and please consider it your own:

Watch the Film – anywhere in the world!

Download Toolkit – promote your events, use the 52-page full colour Educational Guide

Experience the Interactive Story – turn up the volume

Director’s Statement – the overarching vision

Meet the Cast – human and nonhuman animals, featuring Jo-Anne McArthur of We Animals

History – read about the  project’s 4-year history spanning 2010 to 2014!

Have Your Say – about the film or the interactive story or the website!

Animal Ambassadors  – meet the entire family!

Supporters, Funders – see who helped make Ghosts a reality

Property or Sentient?  – you decide

View the Photo Gallery – see many of Jo’s photos

Learn More About the Issues – and share

Alternatives to Animal Industries – and share

Get Involved – For The Ghosts – #fortheghosts

Ghost-Free Journey  – archived, with Rosemary & Donna

Read Archived Blogs – there’s lots!

Wishing you continued empathy, fortitude, and happiness in 2015.

For the Ghosts,

Liz Marshall  &  Nina Beveridge

Ghosts Media Producers
Toronto

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92 Events  71 Cities
12 Countries  5 Continents

Thank you to the international Hosts and Partners
of the #ForTheGhosts Community Screenings Campaign
for The Ghosts In Our Machine documentary

View Gallery

Thanks to the support of
The Bertha BRITDOC Connect Fund

Partners

Animal Equality
Animal Legal Defence Fund
Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals
New England Anti-Vivisection Society
VegFund
Women Make Movies

(Hosts in alphabetical order)

Action for Animals – Seattle, Washington

Alexis Thomas – Honolulu, Hawaii

Allyson Dwyer  – Red Bank, New Jersey

Anima – Copenhagen, Denmark

Animal ACTivists of Philly – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Animal Equality – London, United Kingdom

Animal Equality Italia – Rome, Italy

Animal Justice Party – Melbourne, Australia

Animal Legal Defense Fund – Oakland, California

Animal Liberation ACT – Canberra, Australia

AnimaNaturalis Internacional, México

Ann Arbor District Library – Ann Arbor, Michigan

Appetite for Change – Stanford, California

April Meddick – Grovedale, Australia

Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals – Sechelt, British Columbia

Basisgruppe Tierrechte – Bern, Switzerland

Berkshire Voters for Animals – Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Big Cat Rescue – Tampa, Florida

Bristol Animal Rights Collective – Bristol, United Kingdom

Center for Animal Law Studies – Lewis & Clark Law School – Portland, Oregon

Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre Association – Tofino, British Columbia

Cleveland VegFest – Cleveland, Ohio

Compassion Over Killing – Washington, DC

Compassionate and Sustainable Consuming – Northfield, Minnesota

Conscious 108 – Johannesburg, South Africa

Consuming for Change – Phoenix, Arizona

CUNY Law Student Animal Legal Defense Fund – Long Island City, New York

Die Linse – Munster, Germany

Djurens Rätt (Animal Rights Sweden) – Sollefteå, Sweden

Djurrattsalliansen (The Animal Rights Alliance) – Stockholm, Sweden

Djurrattsalliansen (The Animal Rights Alliance) – Uppsala, Sweden

Dzīvnieku brīvība – Riga, Latvia

Earthmovies – Glasgow, United Kingdom

Essere Animali – Bologna, Italy

Farm Sanctuary Hoe Down – Orland, California

Farm Sanctuary Hoe Down – Watkins Glen, New York

Florence Yoga – Florence, Massachusetts

FOOD FIGHT! Vegan Grocery – Portland, Oregon

Freedom Hill Sanctuary – Goodwood, Australia

Friends of Animals – Toronto, Ontario

Friends of Animals – Victoria, British Columbia

Give Back Yoga Foundation – Rhinebeck, New York

Golden Paw Tregeagle (ACCL Health Pty Ltd)  – Ballina, Australia

Grand Rapids Veg Meetup – Grand Rapids, Michigan

Healthy You Network – Tucson, Arizona

Humane Society of the United States, South Texas College of Law – Houston, Texas

Hunt Saboteurs Association – Portland, Oregon

Igualdad Animal / Animal Equality – Madrid, Spain

Indiana Animal Rights Alliance – Indianapolis, Indiana

Indy Veggie Meet-up Group – Indianapolis, Indiana

Institute for Human-Animal Connection – Denver, Colorado

Keiko Krahnke and Fort Vegan – Fort Collins, Colorado

Liberation BC – Vancouver, Canada

Little Oak Sanctuary – Canberra, Australia

Lompoc Vegan Society – Lompoc, California

Louisville Vegetarian Initiative – Sellersburg, Indiana

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art – Seoul, South Korea

Near North Mobile Media Lab – North Bay, Ontario

NebenrolleNatur – Hinteregg, Switzerland

Neues Vorum für veganes Leben in Leipzig e.V., Saxony, Germany

New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS) – Boston, Massachusetts

New York City Bar Association – New York, New York

Niagara Veg Fest – St. Catherines, Ontario

Noor Cultural Centre & Green Sacred Spaces – Toronto, Ontario

Northeast Florida Veg Society – Jacksonville, Florida

Northern Vegan Festival – Blackpool, United Kingdom

Nuovo Cinema Aquila –Rome, Italy

OPEN CINEMA: Connecting the Docs – Toronto, Ontario

OPEN CINEMA: Connecting the Docs – Victoria, British Columbia

People for Animal Welfare – Stanford, California

Pie Bird Vegan Farmstay and Animal Sancuary – North Bay, Ontario

Rachel Brugeman – Shenectady, New York

Rice Animal Rights and Rice Ethnographic Film Society – Rice University – Houston, Texas

Roots of Compassion – Munster, Germany

Sacramento Animal Rights Group – Sacramento, California

Sea Shepherd  – Vancouver, Canada

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at University of British Columbia – Vancouver, British Columbia

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund Chapter at University of California – Hollywood, California

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at University of Victoria – Victoria, British Columbia

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at Lewis & Clark Law School – Portland, Oregon

Sun-Ray Cinema – Jacksonville, Florida

Svensk mat och miljöinformation in partnership with ABF – Stockholm, Sweden

Sydney Nursing School – Sydney, Australia

The Hard & Soft Yoga Institute – Rhinebeck, New York

The Rookery – Kitchener, Ontario

Tier-im-fokus – Bern, Switzerland

Toronto 30th Veg Food Festival – Toronto, Ontario

Transition Lincoln and University of Lincoln Environmental Sustainability group – Lincolnshire, UK

Triangle Chance for All  – Chapel Hill, North Carolina

University of Lincoln Vegetarian and Vegan Society – Lincolnshire, UK

University of Louisville Eco-Reps – Louisville, Kentucky

University of Louisville Group Recycling and Sustainability Solutions (GRASS) – Louisville, Kentucky

University of Southern Maine – College of Arts, Humanities and Sciences, Women and Gender Studies

Vegans and Vegetarians of Alberta – Edmonton, Alberta

Program, Criminology Program – Portland, Maine

University of Northern Colorado and the International Film Series – Greeley, Colorado

Uplands PEAK Sanctuary – Sellersburg, Indiana

Veg Rehoboth – Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Vegans and Vegetarians of Alberta – Edmonton, Alberta

Vegan Ireland: The Vegan Society of Ireland – Dublin, Ireland

Vegan Ireland: The Vegan Society of Ireland – Kilkenny, Ireland

Vegane Gesellschaft Schweiz – Hinteregg, Switzerland

Vegetarians of Highpark – Toronto, Ontario

Vegfest UK – London, United Kingdom

VegMichigan – Ann Arbor, Michigan

West Kootenay Ecosociety – Nelson, British Columbia

Western Massachusetts Animal Rights Advocates (WMARA) – Florence, Massachusetts

Western Massachusetts Animal Rights Advocates (WMARA) – Pittsfield, Massachusetts

While You Were Sleeping – Cape Town, South Africa

Willowite Animal Sanctuary – Grovedale, Australia

World Society for the Protection of Animals Dalhousie University – Halifax, Nova Scotia

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Lorena Elke, our Research Consultant, conducted the following interview with
our Featured Animal Ambassador (AA), Jo-Anne McArthur of We Animals.

LE: In The Ghosts In Our Machine, you mention that you suffer from PTSD as a result of the work you do for nonhuman animals. Can you talk more about that aspect of your life in terms of how you learned (or are learning) to take care of yourself?

AA: Dealing with the heartbreak and frustration of what I see has certainly been a journey. I’m happy to report that I haven’t burned out yet, and I don’t foresee that happening. First of all, I think that feeling traumatized is a healthy and correct response, when one bears witness to cruelty. Not just for me on the front lines, but for anyone who witnesses stories and images, even via social media. Billions are suffering needlessly at our hands. There’s a lot to be angry about. It’s easy to feel hopeless. I have spent years feeling angry and hopeless! Despite the realities of this mass suffering, I’ve learned that I *have* to look after myself. Animals need our full efforts, every step of the way. They won’t benefit from us burning out after only a few years, or from us having to turn our compassion off because we can’t handle the sadness. So, over time —and with the help of a therapist and good friends for a while there!— I’ve learned that I can’t just *live* in sadness. That it’s ok not to. I’ve learned to not just automatically participate in my feelings, but observe them, and decide if I want to partake or not. I’m faced with cruelty every day. We all are. But I can *decide* whether to expend energy getting upset about things all the time, or conserve my precious energy and parlay it into the good work that needs to happen on behalf of animals. I have healthy barriers now. And I nurture the things that bring joy to my life a little bit more now. I have to. If I don’t, I’ll be less energized for the good fight.

LE: Many activists struggle with remaining positive in relation to animal liberation when we see so much cruelty towards nonhuman animals reflected back to us from mainstream society. Yet, you often speak about the innate ability of humans to be compassionate. Where do you get your hope from?

AA: I think there’s a little bit of bad in all of us, and a lot of good. We all tend to focus on the bad, but if we choose to look at the good in people, that changes our own worlds. And it changes how we relate to, and treat, others as well. People’s best sides come out when they are treated kindly and respectfully, and related to with humility and without judgment. The good in people, and their compassion, rises to the surface. When we find common ground with each other, we can move mountains. Though I’ve witnessed a lot of humanity’s darkness, I think that only represents a small portion of who we are. That gives me hope. I also immerse myself in change, action and activism, and surround myself with positive people who have similar goals as I do (the emancipation of non-human animals). If you need your hope battery recharged, take part in “being the change,” as Gandhi said. It’s uplifting and empowering.

LE: The animal liberation movement has a rich history, and it seems to be reaching a tipping point. Can you talk about the changes taking place around us, as someone who has been part of the movement for over a decade? And, what do you think the areas of strength in the movement are, and what are the areas for growth?

AA: It does seem to be reaching a tipping point! I think that that’s happening in part because there is such a diversity of tactics now. Different actions reach different people. We debate the merits of animal rights actions all the time, and that’s amazing —it helps us revise and refine the effectiveness of our work. Though we may disagree on one tactic over another, I think that together, they are reaching more people than ever. Whether it’s vegan leafleting, demonstrating loudly, performing open rescues, making art, doing humane education, creating documentaries, working with both grassroots and large organizations, taking direct action, working from within the system, speaking with politicians and changing laws…these forms of outreach and activism reach a wide range of people, and some will become more actively compassionate after seeing a direct action, and others might hear their MP speak out about cruelty, and think twice about their next purchases. Our strength is in numbers, in diversity, in education and in seeing the connection between so many forms of oppression. These things are all happening.

I don’t think I can say what the areas of growth should be. The animal rights movement is a world-wide experiment in action. Actually I think that I’m also just not bold enough to say, or speculate. But I would like us to find more common ground, with other activists and especially with people who haven’t yet learned about or understood animal cruelty. This leads back to kindness again, and I realize that sounds simplistic, but it’s so often missing. Kindness doesn’t mean not being angry, it means finding humility and interacting with the world from that vantage point.

LE: As the featured human subject of The Ghosts In Our Machine, your work, face and name has been seen by a larger audience. The film has been reviewed widely by mainstream corporate and alternative media, and has been screened globally in cinemas, at the grassroots, online and on TV  —how has this journey impacted you personally and your We Animals project?

AA: I decided long ago that I would attach my words, my face, my self, to the documentary work that I do. I figured I would be a decent person to whom people could easily relate and I have both won and failed in that regard. THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE has impacted my work and my personal life hugely. Both are way more visible! The visibility of the We Animals images has helped the animal rights movement, helped create change in people. The film offered a glimpse into my life, in a personal way, and that has served a purpose, and has given people inspiration about what activists are doing, and what they themselves can do. I’m ready, now, though, to have Jo-Anne a little less visible. I can keep pushing the We Animals work to the fore, with all my might, but step back personally. I feel really lucky, and both We Animals and I have received so much incredible support. But I’m also slightly stretched thin! It’s time for me to lay fallow a little while, and germinate new animal projects, and work on making the issues I’ve already covered even more visible. More focus on We Animals, less focus on Jo, is where I need to be for now!

LE: What is next for We Animals?

AA: Lots! I’m working really hard to keep the momentum going, now that the Ghosts film and the We Animals book have been released, welcomed and celebrated. Animal issues are in the media, now more than ever before; there’s a growing demand for the type images and information that We Animals can provide. And so, I’m “in the field” a lot, and at my desk all the time, too. It’s great! Presently, I’ve assembled a great team of folks who are beginning to develop curriculum for the We Animals Humane Education Programs. I’m doing humane education talks, especially to students, more and more. They love the stories and the purpose is to nurture their empathy and awe for animals. I’m starting two new book projects, and one is with a wonderful professor and friend at Brock University. Details will be divulged in the near future. I’ll continue to work with both local and worldwide organizations in a support role, and make We Animals freely available to anyone helping animals. I’m thankful to be able to continue doing this in large part to the many people and organizations who offer all kinds of support to the project. I’ll always do investigative work, but have started being a bit more selective, and strategic, with the projects. It’s at the point where there are many requests, and I can no longer say yes to every opportunity. Which…is a good problem to have. There is a need, and a demand, for powerful images, poignant documentaries and great story-telling. Hopefully both We Animals and The Ghosts In Our Machine will inspire others to follow this path as well.

We Animals is our Featured Animal Ambassador for December 2014.

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From December 10th – 12^th, thousands of people around the world participated
to help us find out how The Ghosts In Our Machine is changing the world for animals!

We made the film available for free, and over 5,000 people completed our short survey prior to watching the film.
In January, we will follow up with the respondents to engage in our “Impact Survey”.
A big thank you to the more than 200 people who had previously seen the film,
who participated in our “Impact Survey”.

Since 2013, The Ghosts In Our Machine has been seen countless times around the world, thank you so much
for your important contribution in helping us to further understand the film’s impact.

Due to the generous support of the Bertha BRITDOC Connect Fund we are working with professional researchers, the Humane Research Council, to gauge how the film is affecting people’s perceptions and behaviors in relation to animals. Results will be analyzed and compiled into a final “Impact Report”,
available to all in March 2015. Emails and answers will be kept strictly confidential.

Participants are eligible to win our special gift basket which contains a $100 gift card,
a DVD of The Ghosts In Our Machine, and a signed poster of the film.
The winner will be selected and notified in February.

This initiative is the final phase of the LizMars global impact and engagement campaign: #ForTheGhosts.

For those who missed the opportunity to participate,
the film is available around the world to rent or own.
Thank you for your support!

Photo: © We Animals 

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The post Impactful Campaign appeared first on The Ghosts In Our Machine.

Our Impact Campaign is now closed!
Please read our Campaign Message here.

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Join us December 10th, 11th, and 12th and watch The Ghosts In Our Machine for free around the world, in English, with the option of closed captioning (CC) for the deaf and hard of hearing. Help us find out how The Ghosts In Our Machine documentary is changing the world for animals!

Thanks to the generous support of the Bertha BRITDOC Connect Fund we are working with professional researchers, the Humane Research Council, to gauge how the film is affecting people’s perceptions of animals, and behavioural change in relation to animals.

New Viewers: Watch the Film Now!

Answer a few questions and watch the film now! We’ll follow up with you in January to participate in our Impact Survey. Please note that your emails and answers will be kept strictly confidential. The results will be analyzed and compiled into a final “Impact Report” in March 2015, available to all. For the research to be as accurate as possible, we need to hear from as many viewers as possible, and that means we need your help! Please watch the film, take the short survey, and spread the word. As an extra incentive, one lucky respondent will receive a $100 gift card, a DVD of The Ghosts In Our Machine, and a signed poster of the film.

Attention Past Viewers: Watch the Film Again
or Go Straight to our Impact Survey!

If you have already seen the film within the last 1.5 years,  that’s great, we really need your involvement! Watch the film again by following the steps above, OR please go directly to our longer Impact Survey now. It will take you just 3-5 minutes to fill out. Many thanks! As an extra incentive, one lucky respondent will receive a $100 gift card, a DVD of The Ghosts In Our Machine, and a signed poster of the film.

Since our successful world premiere in 2013, The Ghosts In Our Machine has been viewed countless times around the world for a wide and diverse audience. This “Impact Assessment” is an important opportunity for us all to understand how The Ghosts In Our Machine is helping to change the world for our nonhuman animal friends.

Thank you for your important participation.

This initiative is the final phase of the LizMars global impact and engagement campaign: #ForTheGhosts.

Yours, for the Ghosts,

Liz Marshall
Director, Writer, Producer, The Ghosts In Our Machine
LizMars Productions | Ghosts Media

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