Join us at the Rosendale Theatre for a special event in collaboration with the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. A Q&A will follow with Director Shawn Bannon, moderated by Anna Balser, Education Manager, along with Jo-Anne McArthur, founder and president of We Animals Media.
A story about the power of love for one’s family and community to triumph over even the largest forces of injustice, THE SMELL OF MONEY calls upon viewers to see the people behind what's on our plates–and to join the fight for a better future for us all.
When you purchase a ticket, a portion of the proceeds will go directly to the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, supporting their mission to rescue, care for, and advocate for farmed animals. Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to a great cause and engage with inspiring individuals!
ABOUT THE FILM: “The smell of money”—that’s what Big Pork calls the stench of pig waste in the air in eastern North Carolina, where much of the world’s bacon and barbecue is made. But to Elsie Herring and others who live near the state’s giant pig factories, the revolting odor is a call to battle against generations of injustice.
When a corporate hog farm moves in–uninvited–on land her grandfather had purchased after claiming his freedom from slavery, Elsie Herring decides to fight back. But as her rural community becomes the epicenter of the pork industry’s explosion in America, Elsie’s struggle to save her family’s home and heritage turns into a battle against one of the world’s most powerful companies and its deadly pollution.
After decades of intimidation and defeat, Elsie and her community team up with a gutsy small-town lawyer to take the world’s largest pork company to court. An epic, nine-year legal battle ensues, and the residents risk everything to reclaim their rights to clean air, pure water, and a life free from the stench of shit.
A story about the power of love for one’s family and community to triumph over even the largest forces of injustice, The Smell of Money calls upon viewers to see the people behind what's on our plates––and to join the fight for a better future for us all.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: Shawn Bannon is an award-winning filmmaker whose films have screened at the Sundance Film Festival, AFI FEST, and featured on The Atlantic, Forbes, and BBC America. His short films, Hurricane Heroes, Bloody Barbara and A Ghost Story – 10 Pages, have all been selected for Vimeo Staff Picks. His recent film The Green Knight Documentary was made for A24 and premiered on iTunes. The Smell of Money is his first feature-length documentary.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR:
Anna has spent the past two years as the Education Manager at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in High Falls, NY, which is home to nearly 400 rescued farmed animals. Anna holds an MS in Anthrozoology from Canisius College, where she primarily focused her studies on sanctuary regulation, public policy, and animal ethics.