Twelve cities, nine states, two film festivals, and one very successful U.S. film tour. Thanks to everyone who joined us at one of premieres and helped spread the word about the tour. Together, we vegucated around 2,000 people this fall. Thanks to local allies who helped us spread the word, turnouts were great, but what really blew us away were all the emails, tweets and Facebook posts from people who declared they were going vegan, vegetarian or more veg from seeing the film.
Check out our Facebook albums for photos and highlights from the tour. Here are just a few of them:
*sold-out red carpet U.S. premiere in NYC with amazing food donated by local chefs
The audience at the beginning of our sold-out U.S. premiere in NYC
*the Show Me Justice film festival in Warrensburg, MO, where we stayed 3 minutes away from ZenBlenderz, a new vegan restaurant in town (the world is changing!)
Wonderful crew at the Show Me Justice Film Festival
*a Texas premiere in Dallas, where the first Q&A question was, “where did you get your [vegan] cowboy boots?” and where we got to try fried pickles for the first time at the mobbed out Texas State Veggie Fair
One vendor's menu at the fair
*sharing a panel with activist/author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, Kevin Connelly from the Earth Island Institute, and radio personality Rose Aguilar at the Berkeley premiere
Producer Demetrius, director Marisa, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, Kevin Connelly, and Rose Aguilar
*a rooftop reception at VegNews headquarters after the premiere in San Francisco
The marquee at the Victoria Theatre in San Fran
*seeing indomitable local activist Linda Middlesworth and her posse in action at the packed premiere in Sacramento
The premiere crew in Sacramento, including Jennifer Fearing from HSUS
*strutting the red carpet in LA with the cast and celebs, including Bob Barker
The cast with Bob Barker
*attending Chicago VeganMania before two full screenings in the Windy City
Chicago VeganMania
*meeting Big Vegan cookbook author Robin Asbell at the Minneapolis premiere, who introduced the film, and local filmmaker Ryan Strandjord, who hosted the evening and captured some audience responses in this li’l video
Robin Asbell introducing the film
*being joined by associate producers Gene Baur from Farm Sanctuary and Dawn Moncrieffe from A Well-Fed World at our DC premiere, which was hosted by Compassion Over Killing
DCers enjoying drink samples from our sponsor So Delicious
*picking up an award for best documentary in the education division at the Columbus International Film & Video Festival, followed by an all-veg reception
Our "Chris Award"
*finishing up the tour in filmmaker Marisa Miller Wolfson’s hometown of Evansville, Indiana, where the local press welcomed her with a terrific article in the paper and an interview on News Channel 25.
Hoosier hometown premiere audience
Along the way, we stuffed our faces with food and drink from local sponsors in each city and from international sponsors So Delicious Dairy-Free and Obsessive Confection Disorder. The treats were met with “ooo’s, aaah’s, and mmm’s” and really highlighted how delicious vegan eating can be.
Big, warm thank-you’s to our sponsors, to the film festivals, to our local hosts and allies, to Farm Sanctuary, Compassion Over Killing, Mercy for Animals, and PETA for helping to spread the word.
You all helped us generate critical buzz as we gear up to release the film digitally and on DVD and as we prepare for our community screenings campaign in 2012.
Thanks to everyone for your support this past year and ongoing into the New Year!
