10 On-set Transitions to a Vegan Lifestyle by Cast and Production Crew
Spotlight: Films that Changed Minds, One Bite at a Time
Forget about the popcorn and soda - the real action in a movie is usually the transformation that happens behind the scenes! Many productions activate a shift in consciousness, particularly when it comes to dietary choices. In the midst of the fiction, an intricate web of reality unfolds as actors and crew members undergo a transition towards a plant-based lifestyle.
It's not uncommon to find films that espouse vegetarian and vegan messages, but it's equally intriguing when productions with no such ties also have an impact on the individuals working on them. Some changes are temporary, brought about by on-set conditions or unexpected interactions, while others are permanent, altering the cast and crew's mindset forever.
1. Bong Joon Ho, Okja (2017)
South Korean director Bong Joon-ho (Parasite, The Host) is no stranger to addressing social issues in his work. In Okja, a farming girl nurtures a genetically modified super-pig only to have it snatched away by a U.S. meat company. The overwhelming experience of visiting a slaughterhouse during the film's production led Bong to embrace veganism for two months.
2. Sam Fell, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)
A sequel to the classic Aardman Animations film, Chicken Run, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget features anthropomorphic chickens in a daring rescue mission. Director Sam Fell was initially a meat-eater, but the film's honest approach to factory farming swayed him towards vegetarianism.
3. Jim Sheridan, Brothers (2009)
Don't think of Brothers as a pro-veggie film, but lifelong vegan Chris Evans's ideology did convince Natalie Portman to try the plant-based life during filming, thanks to his personal vegan chef on set!
4. Chris Hemsworth, Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame (2018; 2019)
Captain America, Star-Lord, and Thor have all pushed the boundaries for Marvel's heroes, but Chris Hemsworth tried something new for Infinity War and Endgame by maintaining his bulk and mass while transitioning to an entirely vegan diet. Although it wasn't a permanent switch, he still gives beans, quinoa, and legumes a shout-out for providing plenty of protein!
5. Rishi Kapoor and Paresh Rawal, Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi (2017)
Director Sanjay Chhel's Bollywood film explores culture shock between rural Punjabis and Gujaratis, a predominantly vegetarian community. To honor the location and the director, the cast and crew only ate vegetarian meals during filming, leading to a shared understanding and stronger relationship on the set.
6. Constance Marie, Selena (1997)
Acting in the iconic biopic Selena, Constance Marie held a live chicken throughout a five-hour scene. The actor felt a deep connection to the animal and, as a result, became a vegetarian and could no longer bear the thought of consuming it.
7. Thandiwe Newton, Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
While Woody Harrelson has been a long-time vegan advocate, it was his on-set influence that persuaded Thandiwe Newton to transition to a plant-based lifestyle during the filming of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Since then, she has become a public voice for animal rights.
8. Angela Sarafyan and Luke Hemsworth, We Are Boats (2018)
We Are Boats, starring Angela Sarafyan and Luke Hemsworth, was the first Hollywood blockbuster to serve only plant-based food on set. Produced by Sarafyan's husband, the film aimed to be as equitable, ethical, and environmentally friendly as possible.
9. James Cromwell, Babe (1995)
The veteran actor, a lifelong vegetarian, became a vegan after the hypocrisy of eating animal products on the set of the family-friendly film Babe upset him. Cromwell has been a dedicated activist for animal rights ever since.
10. The Entire Cast & Crew, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Known for his technological advancements, director James Cameron made Avatar: The Way of Water the first Hollywood blockbuster to serve only plant-based food on set. Combining his environmental concerns with the growing body of scientific evidence supporting plant-based diets, Cameron set a new precedent for sustainable filmmaking.
Don't miss out on these fascinating tales that show how the magic of movies transcends the big screen and leaves a lasting impact on our everyday lives!
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- Movies can spark transformative changes beyond the realm of entertainment, as witnessed by filmmakers like Bong Joon Ho, who became vegan after the distressing experience of visiting a slaughterhouse during the production of Okja.
- Films can influence the diets and lifestyles of members involved in their production, such as Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget director Sam Fell, who adopted vegetarianism due to the film's authentic portrayal of factory farming.
- Even films unrelated to dietary choices can inspire changes, as evidenced by Chris Evans's vegan lifestyle influencing fellow actress Natalie Portman on the set of Brothers.
- Actors and crew members often embrace plant-based diets during filming, like Chris Hemsworth who managed to maintain his bulk while adopting a vegan diet for Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.
- Culture-based films can lead to a temporary or permanent transition to vegetarianism, as occurred with the cast and crew of Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi, who adhered to a vegetarian diet during filming to honor the production's Punjabi location.
- Actresses like Constance Marie and Thandiwe Newton have become vegetarian after getting emotionally attached to animals during filming, such as Marie while playing Selena.
- Famous actors like Thandiwe Newton and James Cromwell have adopted plant-based lifestyles due to the influence of their co-stars who are passionate advocates for animal rights, such as Woody Harrelson.
- Films can set a powerful example for sustainability by serving only plant-based meals during production, as demonstrated by We Are Boats and Avatar: The Way of Water.
- Celebrities like James Cromwell have become dedicated activists for animal rights after feeling hypocritical about consuming animal products while working on films like Babe.
- The impact of movies on everyday lives may extend beyond dietary choices, as seen in the case of Avatar: The Way of Water, which shed light on the relationship between environmental concerns and plant-based diets.
