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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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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Thank you Susie and Melanie!
They are forever in our hearts. #ForTheGhosts. 

Sonny and Fanny have come such a long way in this short 3.5 years. Sonny arrived weighing around 60 pounds and was a sickly little guy and now he weighs around 2,100 pounds and is healthy and happy and still growing. They usually peak at around 4 years of age.Sonny has made many friends but still maintains an independent streak. He is currently challenging the herd leader- Travolta, who weighs a good 500-700 pounds more than Sonny and is taller, but Sonny is definitely vying for the spot. He is the smartest boy- figures out things before the rest of the herd. He also comes down to the barn even without the herd if he hears someone he is interested in seeing- usually me because he is in my top ten favorite beings on earth and he knows it. He is affectionate- will fall asleep with his head in your lap. He is playful- he loves to try to knock the bales of hay off the tractor when the guys are feeding the cattle. He has amazing friendships- he has taken Michael under his wing and still is super close with Conrad, Orlando, Tweed, Arnold and Milbank, who arrived a month after he did. This gang of Holsteins grew up together and are a very bonded crew. He moos when you call him. He stares longingly at you when you leave and he is the greatest cow guy I have known! So lucky he is in our world. I think about how just missing him by one day could have so easily happened. We almost went to the second stock yard and a day earlier- but because of that one small twist of fate this incredible individual is now a huge part of my life and the lives of so many. I feel truly blessed to know him.

Fanny- the mother and now the head of the special needs herd. She has come full circle. She had such a will when she was down at the stockyard. I remember thinking that I just wanted to get her so she could be put down in peace at Cornell and not lie with a bullet in her head and die slowly at the stockyard or be drug by a tractor to load her on a truck. It was all about a dignified end but in her case it was just the beginning. The ride home where the downer stood up and breathed in the fresh air out of the trailer- to be in a trailer with straw- clean straw- something she likely never had before. And then the second day when she was standing and mooing when she heard us come in. Unreal her strength. And for almost two years she limped- now she doesn’t. She was on pain meds for two years- now she doesn’t need them. She mothers and babies who come into the herd- bosses around the females and is in love with a giant. Her life is so her own. She moos when you come in the barn- and moos loudly. She is always announcing her presence. She gets the stink eye and paws the ground making guttural sounds when the main herd comes in the barn- warning each one not to touch her family- the special needs family- the elderly, the youngest and those who are not quite strong enough to join the bigger group. She is their champion and she is also ours. I think all the time about what an amazing mother she could have been to her babies- which now she can do with her adopted family. Another individual who fate and this film brought to us- and another individual I cannot imagine my life without!

Thank you for this incredible film- that I know has changed hearts and minds but that also saved two of my favorite beings on the earth!

Since our journey alongside The Ghosts In Our Machine, both miss Maggie & miss Abbey have been a constant joy in my life. Lately, they’ve had a major change in their lives, but both have come through this with flying colours. A few minor “adjustments”, but Maggie’s back to her “miss independent” self again & Abbey, to her cuddlebug self. Both are the loves of my life and together, the 3 of us continue to grow together. Being such a major part of this ever moving documentary has changed my ways of thinking as well as my eating habits. I (we) have meet some amazing people along this journey and I’m amazed at how both girls are recognized from time to time… me on the other hand will always be “Abbey & Maggie’s mom” (and I AM EXTREMELY PROUD TO REPLY “YES”!). Alongside TGIOM, I have an extended family whom I will cherish for ever.

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The Ghosts In Our Machine has been going strong since its inception in 2011, and Donna and Rosemary have been an integral part of our online team. As we wind down our main activities, we asked them to write a wrap-up blog summarizing their experience of mentoring so many people through our online initiative the Ghost-Free Journey. Thank you Rosemary and Donna for your love and support along the way, and for your meaningful contribution to the community, at large. For the Ghosts. xo

How is it possible that 3.5 years have passed since we watched the first trailer for THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE? We were both magnetically drawn to the film and we knew that this important and beautiful documentary would become the catalyst for change —a gentle yet thought provoking means of opening eyes and hearts. What we didn’t know at the time was that we would become Mentors for The Ghost Free Journey and embark on one of the most beautiful experiences of our lives.

Ghost-Free Journey Mentors Donna and Rosemary.

It has been an honor to be a part of this. From the amazing support that was always shared by members of the community to the honesty and insightful reflections that were shared by those taking the journey —we have been blessed to see love and compassion in action.

This is from our statement about The Ghost-Free Journey that is on The Ghosts In Our Machine website:

Our intention is to ultimately foster a moment for each participant to connect deeply to animals as sentient beings, deserving of our respect and thoughtful choices. We believe that when one’s reverence for animals is acknowledged and merged with an understanding of choices available to them, this harmonious connection is what helps sustain the ability and desire to remain Ghost-Free.

Each journey has inspired us and strengthened our resolve to live Ghost-Free and to support others on their journey. As you take the next steps remember:

Compassion is a verb.
  – Thích Nhất Hạnh

Much love to THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE team, and to the community who helped support each Ghost-Free Journey, and to all of the GFJ participants over the years.

For the Ghosts, always.

– Donna & Rosemary, co-Mentors, and soul sisters.

Thank you to LUSH Charity Pot for the incredible support and friendship!
Thank you VegFund for your support!

VEGAN RESOURCES

The Ghosts In Our Machine Website:

Alternatives

Food and lifestyle alternatives

Ghost-Free Journey

Food and nutrition guides:

The Vegetarian Resource Group 

The Vegan r.d

Lifestyle transition:

Live Vegan

Main Street Vegan 

Vegan Street

Animal Rights:

We Animals – Jo-Anne McArthur

Books:

Dominion: The power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy.
– Matthew Sculley

Why we Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows.
– Melanie Joy

Farm Sanctuary.
– Gene Baur

The Emotional Lives of Animals.
– Marc Bekoff

The World Peace Diet.
– Will Tuttle

The Ethics of What We Eat.
– Peter Singer

On Their Own Terms.
– Lee Hall

Bleating Hearts.
– Mark Hawthorne

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2013 has been a nonstop busy year for us.

For those new to our project (and there are many of you), and for those who are long-term supporters, this blog recaps some exciting highlights from 2013.

Since our World Premiere earlier this year, THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE has been seen by thousands of people, and continues to stimulate important dialogue for a wide audience.

Looking ahead – 2014 will be another important and active year. The film will be seen by thousands more around the globe. We’re excited to announce to our ardent supporters that THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE will be available in new ways. Also, for those of you who supported our Indiegogo fundraising campaign(s), we have an important message for you below …. PLEASE READ ON.

We just wrapped a successful Oscar Qualifying U.S. Theatrical Release Campaign in 4-cities: New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; Columbus. Check out our new photo album of highlights from the campaign. It was action packed with very special guests, Q&As, events and red carpets. We think you will recognize some or many of the smiling faces in this photo album. Enjoy!

Thank you to our amazing Funders, Partners and Team.
We could not have done this without your
generosity, moral support and expertise!

We made it to the master list of 151 OSCAR QUALIFYING DOCS, 2013. While the film was not shortlisted for the Oscars, it’s an achievement to have made this list. Overall, the campaign sparked a great deal of interest. Our U.S. release exceeded our expectations. It was a strong promotional tool to raise the profile of the film and to shine a spotlight on the issues. As a result, we doubled, and in some cases tripled, our social media metrics. There is an increase in demand for the film and we are actively pursuing all avenues of distribution, to get the film out there globally. We are a small committed team, doing our best and so thanks for your patience!

Our Canadian Theatrical Release, with Distributor IndieCan, was also fruitful and exciting. The film was seen in cinemas across the country in 11 cities. Our highly anticipated Broadcast Premiere on Canada’s documentary channel was November 24th, it aired across Canada. THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE was produced in association with documentary.

In total, Director Liz Marshall and Photographer/Protagonist Jo-Anne McArthur have conducted over 30  in-depth Q&As with diverse audiences, and there will be many more to come in 2014.

We have listed over 85 reviews and interviews on our website, ranging from the grassroots to traditional mainstream media, to everything in between. Interestingly, but not a surprise, they are polarized. And by the way, we have included the whole story; the good and the bad reviews. Check out our PRESS page to see how Ghosts is being upheld, interpreted, dismissed and critiqued.

Have you seen THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE  documentary, and/or our online Interactive Story? Our online story is accessible 24/7 from our website, as a narrative companion to the film, try to give yourself between 15 – 45 minutes to experience its breadth. Tell us what you think, please HAVE YOUR SAY on our website. What was your experience of the film? Of the Interactive Story?

We are proud the film has garnered several international awards and nods, and from some respectable festivals. We say this not really to show off, but to express how important this is. The film is being recognized first and foremost as a film (which is great), but of course for its content – the issue, which at times can feel like the ‘impossible issue’. Those involved in the struggle to put this conversation  on the table understand just how tough it can be, yet things are starting to change  …

HOW CAN YOU SEE GHOSTS IN 2014?

For those who have filled out our REQUEST A SCREENING intake form, thank you! If you have not heard from our Community Screenings Team, don’t worry, you will be contacted in the new year. Director, Writer, Producer Liz Marshall is heading up a 2014 Community Screenings Campaign with a small team, we appreciate your patience. Announcements will be made about plans for this exciting new initiative. DVD and other professional formats of the film such as BluRay will be available to license (rent) with Public Performance Rights, for Community Screenings. Stay tuned!

Our home video DVD (for home usage only, to watch with your family and friends) is available now for pre-order from our online store. You will receive your DVD in April!

Our Canadian Distributor IndieCan will release THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE on DVD, iTunes, and on some VOD Platforms (to be announced) in Canada, in the 2nd Quarter of 2014.

Syndicado, our U.S. VOD distributor, will make the film available to watch or download on digital platforms and cable VOD as of February 7, 2014 in the USA. Soon you can pre-order on iTunes for electronic download, or rent for VOD on iTunes starting February 7, 2014. THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE will be available for rent on cable VOD at Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cox, Cablevision and other major cable and IPTV services. And on Internet connected devices through: Microsoft xBox, Samsung Smart TVs, SonyPlaystation, vudu, Amazon, GooglePlay and ilovedocs.com.

There is a strong emerging interest within academic circles to examine the human-animal relationship. We are excited to consult with forward thinking scientists, lawyers and experts, including TeachWithMovies, to develop a compelling Educational Guide, and to work with our educational distributors to usher THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE into academic curriculum around the world. We are excited to announce the US educational release of THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE on March 3, 2014.  It is being released by the leading US publisher of independently-produced, environmental DVDs, Bullfrog Films. It will also be available for streaming to educational institutions on www.docuseek2.com shortly thereafter. The Canadian educational release will be simultaneous with McNabb Connolly, one of Canada’s leading educational distributors.

Film Festival and Broadcast Premieres will continue to be announced on our website. Stay tuned!

A MESSAGE TO OUR
INDIEGOGO SUPPORTERS

Since early 2011, we have conducted two successful Indiegogo crowd funding campaigns. The first one ran from May 24 – July 22, 2011 in support of our Early Development phase, and the second one ran from July 29 to September 27, 2013 in support of our recent U.S Theatrical Release. We are eternally grateful to our generous Indiegogo fans whose financial support has been critical to the success of this project! In the new year we will be assembling our goodies for you,  we plan to have your packages shipped out by the end of February, latest, with one exception – the actual DVD.  Due to contractual requirements, our DVD cannot be released until April 2014. Anyone who has purchased a DVD, either through indiegogo or our online store, will receive the DVD then. Thank you Thank you Thank you for helping us make this project a reality. Sincerely.

Wishing you a very positive holiday season, and a forward thinking, conscious year ahead.

With love from Ghosts Media.

#ForTheGhosts,

Liz Marshall & Nina Beveridge & the Ghosts Team

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The post 2013 Year in Review – Looking Ahead appeared first on The Ghosts In Our Machine.

We are prepping for an exciting (and very busy) fall season and will announce our U.S. premiere dates on Monday September 23rd, and our European launch date on October 15^th. There will be other important news for you this fall as well, so stay tuned. In fact, keep reading this blog because I mention below the various ways people can keep up-to-date with our progress and learn about THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE.

The focus of this blog is our U.S. release, its importance, our strategy and the support we have galvanized. We have been fundraising since July 31^st towards an Oscar Qualifying U.S. Theatrical Release in NYC and LA this fall. From there, we will extend to other cities. Very exciting times!

We have until September 27th to reach our goal of $30k

Please help to share our campaign widely. Every dollar will be used towards our goal of putting THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE on the map in the largest most competitive film market in the world.

With the help of a stellar committed publicity team (GAT and Evolotus) we will continue to reach the grassroots and we will generate national mainstream media in the U.S, and with the help of our U.S. Partners we will have tremendous reach (and moral support). These combined efforts will put the animal question before a broad audience; on the agenda where it belongs.

We are humbled and thrilled to announce our U.S. Partners

We have officially partnered with several very well established animal rights, advocacy, rescue and rehabilitation groups to significantly increase our impact. The following organizations work tirelessly and with great compassion in a multitude of ways to help animals – through education, investigation, advocacy, protest, and by changing legislation, these organizations are heroic and pioneering – we are truly honoured to partner with them this fall and beyond (in alphabetical order): Compassion Over Killing; Farm Sanctuary, The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy; Mercy For Animals; NEAVS and PETA.

Toronto Pig Save Vigil. Photo by Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

As you can see, we are working hard without major distribution backing us, we are engaged in what is called “hybrid distribution”. My next blog, later this fall, will focus on various modes of distribution such as digital and educational, and the exciting ways our fans can see the film and use it as a tool for consciousness raising and social action in 2014 and beyond.

In other but related news,  Photographer Jo-Anne McArthur, the protagonist of the documentary, is releasing her highly anticipated book We Animals in December.

Are you a community organizer or willing to be a community organizer? Why don’t you make it possible to bring the film to your neck-of-the-woods? Please fill out our Community Screenings Form. We will be in touch.

Finally, here are some ways for you stay tuned in to our progress

Follow us on facebook, I post as often as possible, sometimes several times a day.
Follow us on twitter, we tweet often, with feeling!
Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter and get the latest news and meet members of our team.
Peruse our website, it’s quite robust and layered. Contribute to our blogs on the website –
Take the interactive journey from our homepage.

Thanks for your ongoing support of our project, you make it possible!
For the Ghosts,

Liz

Liz Marshall is an award-winning auteur filmmaker who fuses character-driven cinematic storytelling with social and environmental justice issues. Since the 90s she has created a body of documentary projects shot all over the world.
Read Liz’s Bio
Read Liz’s Director’s Statement

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The post Ghosts US Release appeared first on The Ghosts In Our Machine.

We are grateful for:

The passion, commitment and artistry of the Ghosts film team. Liz will send out a detailed Directors message about the film in our next newsletter.

Interactive directors The Goggles, who just completed an innovative interactive story which will launch on our website when the film is released in 2013.

Bruce Cowley, Commissioning Editor of documentary channel who is a hero for believing in our project early on.

Our funders and investors: documentary channel; Canada Media Fund; The Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund; Hot Docs Shaw Media Fund; Films Transit International; documentary Giving Voice program; Culture and Animals Foundation; docSHIFT initiative and our indiegogo supporters.

Our Animal Ambassadors, who have generously supported and inspired us with their insights and endorsements.

Donna and Rosemary, Co-Coaches of our 5-Day Ghost-Free Journey, as well as the GFJ Participants who bravely embraced personal change; Danielle Legg who tweets on our behalf; our guest bloggers and social media supporters who have written about and shared and championed our project.

Our online sponsors: Tofurky, LUSH and Vegfund.  This kind of support is crucial for our online activities.

Thank-you from the bottom of our hearts!
Wishing you peace and joy in the coming year.

Liz & Nina
Ghosts Media Producers.

The post Producer’s Blog appeared first on The Ghosts In Our Machine.

In November we’ve seen a jump in followers on both our Facebook and Twitter, and I think I can tell you why!

TWITTER HIGHLIGHT

The most re-tweeted tweet this month was the promotional trailer for The Ghosts in Our Machine, followed by Ghost Free recipes. With the RT’s of the promotional trailer, @GhostsMovie gained over 40 followers in just a few days! In total, from November 19^th to the 29^th there have been 3,968 views of The Ghosts in Our Machine promo.
Over THREE THOUSAND views! Excuse me while I smile, and sit with that number – 3,968 lives potentially changed, 3,968 people introduced to the amazing work of Jo-Anne McArthur and the ghosts, 3,968 potential animal advocates ready to make a difference for animals, to help Jo “Save the world”.
It’s truly incredible.

FACEBOOK HIGHLIGHT

The Ghosts in Our Machine’s promotional trailer was our most shared story, with over 400 facebook views, 55% of those viewers shared the trailer! There were amazing comments too!

“This documentary looks brilliant. I hope it really gets noticed for the animals sake”

 “Wow, you guys.So beautiful & touching.How does she get into a farm truck with a veal calf? Amazing. Cannot wait to see this film!”

 “I cannot express how it touched me except to tearfully say thank you for everything you do and the risks that all of you take to get such footage.I will be sharing this with everyone I know.”

 Later in the month, the team was gathering information on “mainstream attitudes”. Director Liz Marshall posted some simple words and phrases and followers were asked to post their reactions to them . The word “Bacon” reached over 2,000 people, with 320+ engaged users (meaning folks that clicked or commented on the post).

For the Ghosts!
Danielle Legg

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The post November Social Media Highlights appeared first on The Ghosts In Our Machine.

The Ghosts In Our Machine project continues to grow, to raise awareness and to show people the faces of the ghosts too often forgotten. Facebook and twitter continue to be great hubs for the project to thrive and reach people around the world. Here are some highlights from October:

FACEBOOK HIGHLIGHTS

We have had over 158 “Likes” and a multitude of “shares” of this heavenly photograph by Jo-Anne McArthur of little Sonny walking through a field with Susie Coston, the National Shelter Director for Farm Sanctuary. This image reached over 1,000 people the week it was posted! That’s absolutely incredible!

TWITTER HIGHLIGHT

We had a scare this month too. Abbey, another one of the featured animal stories in The Ghosts In Our Machine documentary, went missing from her backyard … The outpouring of support online was ecouraging. Abbey’s picture quickly circulated Facebook and Twitter and thankfully within hours she was reunited with her family, safe and sound and we could all rest well!

Here is Abbey ready for Halloween, as Wonder Woman! Til next month.

Abbey as Wonder Woman, Halloween 2012. Photo courtesy of Melanie Dion

For the Ghosts,
Danielle Legg

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The post October Social Media Highlights appeared first on The Ghosts In Our Machine.

In August my daughter and I went on our annual road trip from Toronto to Westport, CT to visit my lifelong friend Jackie Hauge. On the way we visited TGIOM’s Ghost-Free Journey coach and all around beautiful soul Donna Oakes at her tranquil oasis, Cow Jones Industrials Vegan Boutique, currently located in Chatham, NY.  Donna greeted us with a big smile, hugs and a gift of delicious chocolates from Lagusta’s Luscious. My 17 year old fashionista daughter Jamie was drawn immediately to the awesome shoe collection, which lines the walls of the boutique. Donna treated us to vegan sandwiches from a café next door and we really enjoyed getting to know one other in person, after a thriving online friendship that has been growing ever since we launched our TGIOM facebook page in the late spring of 2011.

After lunch we thoroughly explored the shop and Jamie scored a gorgeous pair of boots from Cri de Coeur’s Hearts of Darkness line and I bought a beautiful pair of sandals made by Olsen Haus. We  explored the little details of the shop while munching more luscious chocolate (hey – it was the beginning of our vacation!) and then Jamie modelled some gorgeous wedge sandals called Sasha by Beyond Skin (some of Donna’s personal favourites!)

Donna’s gentle wisdom and commitment to a cruelty-free lifestyle make her the perfect coach for our 5 Day Ghost-Free Journey and we are honoured to have her as a member of our team. That same serenity infuses her shop. Donna told me how the carefully displayed brochures and postcards on her shop counter, combined with the peaceful aura, inspire people to share their stories and reflections on human-animal relationships with her while they shop. Donna listens and encourages everyone without judgement.

We are also pleased to announce that Cow Jones Industrials Vegan Boutique is now selling our “For the Ghosts” t-shirts to US and international customers. T-shirts can be purchased online via the Cow Jones store, or in the boutique. Hurry though, the boutique is closing on September 31/12 and will be relocating to another town soon. While she seeks a new location, Donna will be running her store in full force online and there are some beautiful fall line additions to her merchandise. Check it out!

Clockwise from top right – Jamie shows off her new boots, Nina’s new sandals, Jamie models Cow Jones Vegan Boutique’s stunning Sasha sandals by Beyond Skin

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