Last week I was fortunate enough to be invited to 2 ground-breaking premieres.

First, the world premiere of Unity–a documentary produced by the same filmmakers who created Earthlings. Personally, Earthlings was a game changer. A documentary that sealed my vegan fate.

Now the same writer and director teamed with an exceptional team and 100 celebrity narratives to create another groundbreaking documentary.

A testament to the film–each celebrity narrator who collaborated on this project did so without the help of financial influence. The shift in consciousness is beginning and a powerful message is being shared.

As summed up by Unity:
“Seven years in the making, UNITY is a new documentary that explores humanity’s hopeful transformation from living by killing into living by loving. It is a unique film about compassion for all beings, or all “expressions of life,” and going beyond all “separation based on form,” and beyond perceiving opposites. Writer/Director Shaun Monson, collaborating with an astounding cast of 100 celebrity narrators (never before gathered in the history of film-making), presents a message of love, tragedy and hope, all set against the backdrop of some of the most compelling 20th and 21st Century footage imaginable.

Presented in chapters, (like its predecessor EARTHLINGS) UNITY takes an in-depth look at what it truly means to be human, to be mortal, and to be incarnate in this world. The film explores our brief existence among the Cosmos (Chapter I), then moves on to the perceptions of our Mind (Chapter II), the nature of our Body (Chapter III), the infinite capacity of our Heart (Chapter IV), and ultimately to the mysterious energy of the Soul (Chapter V). Initially, these chapters will appear unrelated to each other. But as the film progresses it becomes clear that all life is interconnected, and each chapter represents the totality of our mortal experience, which is only measured in decades.”

Last night a few of the narrators were present for a panel discussion including the write/director Shaun Monson

From left to right: Lisa Bloom, Moby, Jorja Fox, David Deluise, Kathy Freston, LarenzTate, Nestor Serrano, Shaun Toub and Shaun Monson — From left to right: Lisa Bloom, Moby, Jorja Fox, David Deluise, Kathy Freston, LarenzTate, Nestor Serrano, Shaun Toub and Shaun Monson

Second

the premiere of PlantPure Nation–an eye-opening film based around T. Colin Campbell’s (The China Study) life-long research and his son Nelson Campbell’s struggle to get American’s to understand the direct correlation between nutrition and health.

As stated on the website:
“A growing number of celebrities, athletes, TV hosts, and nutrition experts have promoted plant-based diet in the past few years. And tens of thousands of people have documented their personal success stories since adopting a plant-based diet. But as more doctors and public officials become aware of the healing power of plant-based nutrition the question arises: Why don’t they share the information with their patients or the public?

On November 15th 2011, doctors T. Colin Campbell and Caldwell Esselstyn presented their research on the benefits of plant based nutrition to the Kentucky State legislature. The house members were enthusiastic. With one of the highest levels of childhood obesity in the nation, Kentucky also suffers from high rates of heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. Soon after Campbell’s and Esselstyn’s presentation, Rep. Tom Riner introduced a bill to establish a pilot program that would document the health benefits of a plant-based diet.

But once the bill went into committee, industry lobbyists launched one of the most intensive lobby efforts ever in Kentucky. As the bill’s sponsor Rep. Riner put it, the bill was watered down to “a shadow of its former self”, turned “from steel to Reynolds Wrap.”A top-down approach that recognized the powerful healing effects of plant-based nutrition had failed again. But Nelson Campbell suspected there was another way to prove the merits of this idea. After the setback in Kentucky, he resolved to put his hunch to the test in his own North Carolina hometown of Mebane (population 11,562). He also took a documentary film crew with him.”

Me stating the results, will not have the same impact as watching the documentary will have. I encourage you to check out the film to see the impact Nelson’s program had on everyday individuals and the ripple effect it’s creating.

A panel discussion with Nelson Campbell, PlantPure Nation cookbook author Kim Campbell and the renowned T.Colin Campbell hosted by Marilu Henner took place after the screening.

-Great shot of myself with Nelson Campbell and my friend Michael from Rawfiv5-

To hear them speak so passionately about a diet and lifestyle they themselves have incorporated for more than 25 years, is a testament to the research T.Colin Campbell had and is still conducting.

Both of these documentaries have proven to me that the good fight is still needing to be fought, but that the shift is happening and momentum is gaining.

For both films, check out their websites and social media accounts for nationwide upcoming screenings.