Film not Vegan?
Posted by awildfire on Sep 14, 2009 · Member since Jun 2007 · 66 posts
So I just found out in class last week that film isn't vegan. I'm a photography student and will be working with film for the next two semesters. Does anyone know if there is vegan film available??? I am pretty upset about this. :-\
nope. it's one of those things that just hasn't been veganized.
personally, i don't use film (digital is fine for me), but if i did i would take the approach along the lines of "my goal in being vegan vegan is to have a society not based upon animal exploitation. the non vegan thing in film is gelatin which is a cheap animal bi-product. the reason it hasn't been veganized yet is because of the abundant gelatin and how cheap it is. the less actual animals that we are killing/exploiting/abusing in any way is going to mean that cheap bi-products are less readily available and vegan alternatives will be made.
that really sucks! now I'm forced to use film for projects for the coming months. ugh. after this year is over, we make the transition into digital and no more film for me!
I know how you feel. I just graduated from art college, and I remember hearing about the gelatin for photography.
I don't know if you have to take any traditional painting classes, but you get that stuff there too.
The brushes are made of sable hair, hog hair, etc. (there are synthetic brushes and they are cheaper so that's a plus)
but it would make me cringe when professors would recommend getting rabbitskin glue, etc. I never had to luckily.
the art world is full of animal products, its scary.
i like this thread because it reminds me of thoughts i've been having, about trying to get into the acting business.
just next week, i'm blessed enough to be taking part in a small community theater play (it's only a small part but, my first "role", so to speak) ... anyhow - so this Monday we'll be doing a read-through on the script and get measured for costumes.
While i can't speak for this play yet, in general - i imagine i'll be exposed to many non-vegan concepts, things that i honestly feel to some degree that i'm compromising myself on - because i don't quite have the star appeal of a Woody Harrelson or Alicia Silverstone (both vegans) - so in order to go this route, i pretty much have to go with the flow.
On an unrelated note - this Sunday i'm going to a baseball game. I'm aware that baseballs are made from leather.
Some things i don't know what to do about really, it bothers me to a degree but i'm honestly not at a point where i'm ready to give up sporting events, going to movies, etc - but, i guess/hope it's a first step that at least i'm mindful of such things (that being said not as a "cop out" but more, as a personal observation)
As Sirdidy said, I think being mindful is a really important point. You can't opt out of everything in life because there's a non-vegan element to it, but knowing where products and equipment comes from might just mean you can find ways to use animal alternatives. Or maybe you can raise awareness in other people and get something changed. Being aware of these things is a kind of progress, I think.