Gobsmacked
Posts: 4,967 
Location: Edmonton AB
Location: Edmonton AB
January 19th, 2008, 09:39 AM
Caught an episode in a series on animal cruelty in the film and documentary industry last night on The Fifth Estate. This isn't an issue most of us are unaware of, but the brutal details make a pretty horrid statement about how we treat our more vulnerable cohabitants of this planet. The original documentary was aired 25 years ago; revisiting the issue, The Fifth Estate shows us we've made very little progress since then.
Caution - some disturbing scenes. I've not seen the whole vid yet -but the episode I watched (which is towards the end of the video) featured the long term abuse of chimpanzees - there is footage of physical abuse and some chimps being shot after escaping from their cages... also some commentary from Jane Goodall - who makes a strong case for boycotting films that use chimps. I suspect watching the entire series will convince me to boycott all films that feature animals unless the treatment of the animals filmed is humane and verified somehow as such.
The video only worked for me by double clicking it to full screen.
Caught an episode in a series on animal cruelty in the film and documentary industry last night on The Fifth Estate. This isn't an issue most of us are unaware of, but the brutal details make a pretty horrid statement about how we treat our more vulnerable cohabitants of this planet. The original documentary was aired 25 years ago; revisiting the issue, The Fifth Estate shows us we've made very little progress since then.
Caution - some disturbing scenes. I've not seen the whole vid yet -but the episode I watched (which is towards the end of the video) featured the long term abuse of chimpanzees - there is footage of physical abuse and some chimps being shot after escaping from their cages... also some commentary from Jane Goodall - who makes a strong case for boycotting films that use chimps. I suspect watching the entire series will convince me to boycott all films that feature animals unless the treatment of the animals filmed is humane and verified somehow as such.
The video only worked for me by double clicking it to full screen.
Electoral Member
Posts: 293
Location: Boonies
Location: Boonies
January 19th, 2008, 10:27 AM
Zan, I am not going to watch the clip, things like that really upset met. I agree with you about not watching movies that include animals unless there is sufficient proof that the animal has not endured cruelty, although it is hard to know as the animal is usually already trained by the time they are in the films there is still the possibility that it was abused prior to that during it's initial training.
Another activity I don't take part in is going to the road side zoos or petting zoos for similar reasons. Our society as a whole does not make these animals a priority. I think there needs to be some drastic changes.
With everyones concern about the environment and global warming they are missing a piece of the whole.
I am not sure if people choose not to see these poor animals or if they are just unaware of the situation but there needs to be changes.
Zan, I am not going to watch the clip, things like that really upset met. I agree with you about not watching movies that include animals unless there is sufficient proof that the animal has not endured cruelty, although it is hard to know as the animal is usually already trained by the time they are in the films there is still the possibility that it was abused prior to that during it's initial training.
Another activity I don't take part in is going to the road side zoos or petting zoos for similar reasons. Our society as a whole does not make these animals a priority. I think there needs to be some drastic changes.
With everyones concern about the environment and global warming they are missing a piece of the whole.
I am not sure if people choose not to see these poor animals or if they are just unaware of the situation but there needs to be changes.
January 19th, 2008, 10:34 AM
Thanx Zan, great flick...
I knew of the staging and the deaths of animals in film, although I always though the water buffalo in Apocalypse Now was the last animal to be killed on film, in a movie.
Being a hunter, I have always known that most of the animal scenes in documentaries where staged.
Even with some of the best technology available, some of the shots they get are well beyond reason. Animals are not stupid and wild animals don't live long if they aren't smarter then what hunts them.
I've seen them trump the williest of camo and scent covers known to man, lol. They notice every out of place thing in their domane.
One of the pleasures of being a Bow Hunter, is that you get personal with nature and you see far more when you get within yards of animals, rather then from the optics of a scope or binoculars.
It is sad to see people use and discard life without remorse or respect. It is one thing to hunt and take game for what is effectively sport, but use and respect what you have taken, then to use and ignorantly cast off what you created without any thought but your personal wealth.
It's disrespectful, cruel and ignorant. Animals have much to offer beyond entertainment. When we negate their value, by applying a monetary worth to them, we truly become the lesser species.
Thanx Zan, great flick...
I knew of the staging and the deaths of animals in film, although I always though the water buffalo in Apocalypse Now was the last animal to be killed on film, in a movie.
Being a hunter, I have always known that most of the animal scenes in documentaries where staged.
Even with some of the best technology available, some of the shots they get are well beyond reason. Animals are not stupid and wild animals don't live long if they aren't smarter then what hunts them.
I've seen them trump the williest of camo and scent covers known to man, lol. They notice every out of place thing in their domane.
One of the pleasures of being a Bow Hunter, is that you get personal with nature and you see far more when you get within yards of animals, rather then from the optics of a scope or binoculars.
It is sad to see people use and discard life without remorse or respect. It is one thing to hunt and take game for what is effectively sport, but use and respect what you have taken, then to use and ignorantly cast off what you created without any thought but your personal wealth.
It's disrespectful, cruel and ignorant. Animals have much to offer beyond entertainment. When we negate their value, by applying a monetary worth to them, we truly become the lesser species.
Newbie
Posts: 27
Location: Alberta
Location: Alberta
January 19th, 2008, 10:38 AM
I am not surprised that not much has changed in 25 years. And Hazmart I know people that have petting zoos and their animals are treated better than the animals in city zoos. Don't get me wrong yes there are lots of people that mistreat animals no matter if it is their family pet, in a zoo or a movie animal. But on the other hand there are animals that are being tested in labs for new cures for diseases that arnt being treated very well. All that we can really do is treat the animals that we come into contact with the best we can.
I am not surprised that not much has changed in 25 years. And Hazmart I know people that have petting zoos and their animals are treated better than the animals in city zoos. Don't get me wrong yes there are lots of people that mistreat animals no matter if it is their family pet, in a zoo or a movie animal. But on the other hand there are animals that are being tested in labs for new cures for diseases that arnt being treated very well. All that we can really do is treat the animals that we come into contact with the best we can.
Gobsmacked
Posts: 4,967
Location: Edmonton AB
Location: Edmonton AB
January 19th, 2008, 10:48 AM
Hazmart - I tend to avoid watching clips like that too. I'm still unsettled and posting about it here to inform others seems such a small and futile gesture. Adding my voice to others who are trying to bring awareness to the issue, and ensuring my entertainment dollars (all $20.00 of it lol) doesn't go towards supporting any of this activity is the least I can do and sadly, the best I can do.
Quoting CDNBear
That's the thing isn't it? What we see happening with animals in the entertainment biz is a poor testament to what we can allow ourselves to become.
When we negate their value, by applying a monetary worth to them, we truly become the lesser species.
Hazmart - I tend to avoid watching clips like that too. I'm still unsettled and posting about it here to inform others seems such a small and futile gesture. Adding my voice to others who are trying to bring awareness to the issue, and ensuring my entertainment dollars (all $20.00 of it lol) doesn't go towards supporting any of this activity is the least I can do and sadly, the best I can do.
