Skin Trade DocuFilm Exposes What Fashion Really Costs

By: Songirl Sez, special story for Diversity News

The unprecedented documentary film “Skin Trade” made its red carpet Hollywood Debut on Thursday night, February 25, 2010 on the Paramount Pictures Lot. Produced by John Feldman and Ramy Hassan and Directed By Shannon Keith, the documentary film examines and exposes the fur trade industry and it’s unsuspecting customers.

The docufilm uncovers the shocking and disturbing reality of how animals are brutally, tortured, trapped and skinned alive all for the sake of fashion. It takes an honest and historical look inside the dark world of how fur is acquired and how glamour drives this demand and hides the ugly truth in the process.

Despite great attempts in recent years and much progress in helping people understand the origins of fur and the way it is made, contemporary culture still has an accepted attitude of cruelty, disregard and indifference when it comes to fur as a fashion statement. Although the documentary’s images are unsettling and devastating, one of the biggest bombshells was revealed about supposedly fur-friendly “faux fur.” It was uncovered that a large percentage of “Faux Fur” products use dog and cat fur to increase profits. (By the way, that’s murdered and skinned dogs and cats, folks-not just their hair shaved off). Consumers are also being misled by retailers who assure them that animals used for fur coats and such are humanely euthanized, intentionally hiding the truth of how the animals are gruesomely killed. Although this docufilm is not easy to watch, it is necessary and important to expose the truth about this unnecessary cruelty and torture. After viewing this documentary by Uncaged Films, a person has to ask themselves, what does fur lined fashion REALLY cost? To this, the answer is clear: integrity, dignity, compassion and a piece of our soul.

Supporters in Attendance: James Cromwell (Spiderman/Six Feet under), Debra Skelton (Family Guy/MadTV), Rory Freedman (Author NY Times Bestseller), Robin Torme’, Fawn (Hit singer/songwriter), Suzanna Urzuly (Actress/Model), Stephen Wozniak (Beyond The Da Vinci Code), Lacey Connor (Charm School/Rock Of Love), The Faded, Daisy De La Hoya (Rock Of Love/Daisy Of Love), Elaine Hendrix, Zoli Teglas (Pennywise), John Feldmann (Goldfinger), Ashley Paige (Fashion Designer), Gene Blalock (Composer), Synthian Sharp (Activist Rapper) and many others.

For more information about the movie visit http://www.skintradethemovie.com/


 © Photos courtesy of FFD Images, Cyndee Arroyo and Maxim Maximov

A Valentine For The Farm Animals in Hollywood/Beverly Hills

By: Songirl Sez special story for Diversity News

Valentine’s day came one night early for the farm animals in California. On Saturday, February 13th, a decadent fundraiser for ACI (Animal Cruelty Investigations) was held in a beautiful modern style mansion sitting high atop the canyons of Hollywood/Beverly Hills.

Guests arrived by shuttle from a near by parking garage to be greeted by ushers who took their shoes and led them into the party. Animal supporters didn’t seem to mind the “shoes off” rule of the private home, as they mulled around enjoying the open bar, vegan h’orderves and celebrity interactions. There were impressive silent auction items, thought-provoking stories, brief speeches and heart wrenching images and video footage shown which made it clear to every one in attendance why the fundraiser was so important.

Notables in attendance were Jane Valez-Mitchell (Emmy winning journalist-CNN/The View/MSNBC), Rory Freedman (New York Times Best Selling book author), Tracy Torme’ (I Am Legend /Saturday Night Live), Robin Torme’ (Book Author), Barney Cohen (Producer Sabrina The Teenage Witch), Fawn (#6 Billboard Dance Charts), Carol Leifer (Comedian/writer), Maria Spivey (Book Author), Jay Tavare (Cold Mountain/The Missing), Stephen Wozniak (Beyond The Da Vinci Code), Robert Sarzo (Producer/Guitarist), Bettina Rosmarino (ACI Board President), Monica Wild (Publicist), Lars Slind (Model for MTV Next/Clubcrushers), James Costa and many others.

Animal Cruelty Investigations Inc. (ACI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) California corporation and registered Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals whose Humane Officers conduct cruelty investigations, engage in humane enforcement, and take possession of abused and neglected farm animals.  ACI works to protect farm animals through cruelty investigations, humane enforcement efforts, and the seizure of abused and neglected farm animals. For more information on the non-profit go to http://www.acinvestigations.org/

Photos courtesy of ©FFD Images‏ & You Tube Video courtesy of ACInvestigations.org

Editor’s Note: We want to thanks Songirl Sez for covering the event.