Film Info17 minutes
Brett Kuxhausen Available for Free AND Ticketed events Synopsis: Pork.0 follows Carl Blake as he combats factory-farming by inventing his own breed of pig. A former computer engineer who returned to the farm after a harrowing car accident, Carl is changing the pork system by producing some of the tastiest and happiest pigs, all using sustainable methods. He’s reached fame and success, but hasn’t finished his quest of making the perfect pig. Pork.0 is not only about a farmer who wants to bring accountability back to pork production, but also of a selfless man who will stop at nothing to change a flawed system. |
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Filmmaker Q & A
What inspired this story?
Mostly my upbringing. I’m from a small rural community in Iowa and wanted my Master’s Thesis Film to be a unique story focused on my part of the world. My grandpa raised cattle, and I originally wanted to make a film about how he traveled the state selling bull semen to other farmers, but then I happened on a story about Carl. You see the scars of what the meat industry (especially pork) has done in the Midwest, and to tell the story of a guy that is successfully combatting that by doing it the right way, and with a pig he invented himself, was something that really interested me.
Describe some of the challenges faced while making this film
Besides the constant travel from Montana to the Midwest to film, and the insane weather, it was the sheer amount of work in post. I had over three seasons of footage that I shot with Carl, and I decided that I was going to do all of the editing solo. So picking through three seasons of footage, editing, color correcting, and mixing by myself was a battle at times.
How do you approach science storytelling?
I think it is all about communicating my excitement about a particular subject. I get hooked and very passionate on all areas of the science spectrum, and when something particularity interests me I want to find a way to get others as into it as mush as I am. It’s the main reason I love making these types of films; I get to keep engrossing myself in subjects I love and deserve attention while trying to make a meaningful story about that topic.
What impact do you hope this film will have?
I hope that it makes people think twice about where they are getting their meat from, and how it is raised. My goal isn’t to turn anyone vegetarian, but I think that we need to consume less meat and eat it more consciously. I also really hope that it challenges preconceived notions on what the contemporary American farmer is like. Carl is definitely atypical, and I think its important to continue to challenge the pitchfork wielding stereotype, because farmers are some of the most distinctive characters I’ve ever met.
Were there any surprising or meaningful moments/experiences you want to share?
The most meaningful moment was when we went to the slaughterhouse for the processing of the pigs. It’s easy to forget that the meat on your plate used to be a living thing, and to witness what happens as an animal is turned into food is something every meat eater should have to experience. It’s a gut check on if you can live with the fact that this is what happens if you want to enjoy bacon in the morning.
What next?
I’ve graduated from MSU’s MFA program in Science and Natural History Filmmaking, and now I am working as a producer and cinematographer for the media team in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park where I’ll be documenting it’s continuing restoration story.
Mostly my upbringing. I’m from a small rural community in Iowa and wanted my Master’s Thesis Film to be a unique story focused on my part of the world. My grandpa raised cattle, and I originally wanted to make a film about how he traveled the state selling bull semen to other farmers, but then I happened on a story about Carl. You see the scars of what the meat industry (especially pork) has done in the Midwest, and to tell the story of a guy that is successfully combatting that by doing it the right way, and with a pig he invented himself, was something that really interested me.
Describe some of the challenges faced while making this film
Besides the constant travel from Montana to the Midwest to film, and the insane weather, it was the sheer amount of work in post. I had over three seasons of footage that I shot with Carl, and I decided that I was going to do all of the editing solo. So picking through three seasons of footage, editing, color correcting, and mixing by myself was a battle at times.
How do you approach science storytelling?
I think it is all about communicating my excitement about a particular subject. I get hooked and very passionate on all areas of the science spectrum, and when something particularity interests me I want to find a way to get others as into it as mush as I am. It’s the main reason I love making these types of films; I get to keep engrossing myself in subjects I love and deserve attention while trying to make a meaningful story about that topic.
What impact do you hope this film will have?
I hope that it makes people think twice about where they are getting their meat from, and how it is raised. My goal isn’t to turn anyone vegetarian, but I think that we need to consume less meat and eat it more consciously. I also really hope that it challenges preconceived notions on what the contemporary American farmer is like. Carl is definitely atypical, and I think its important to continue to challenge the pitchfork wielding stereotype, because farmers are some of the most distinctive characters I’ve ever met.
Were there any surprising or meaningful moments/experiences you want to share?
The most meaningful moment was when we went to the slaughterhouse for the processing of the pigs. It’s easy to forget that the meat on your plate used to be a living thing, and to witness what happens as an animal is turned into food is something every meat eater should have to experience. It’s a gut check on if you can live with the fact that this is what happens if you want to enjoy bacon in the morning.
What next?
I’ve graduated from MSU’s MFA program in Science and Natural History Filmmaking, and now I am working as a producer and cinematographer for the media team in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park where I’ll be documenting it’s continuing restoration story.
