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| The HSUS/Laura Dicterow |
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Beverly Kaskey with Oliver. |
By John Balzar
John Balzar: The entertainment and news media are the focus of the Genesis Awards. How is the portrayal of animals changing in the media?
Beverly Kaskey: With social issues gaining more prominence in the news, they have become increasingly relevant to all forms of TV programming and to feature films. Because of this shift, filmmakers are more inclined to incorporate issues that reflect the current cultural climate, providing that they lend themselves to good storyline, of course!
JB: In what ways are the Genesis Awards changing?
BK: With TV, film, news and print media focusing on animal issues as never before, The Genesis Awards has an abundance of material to consider. This year, the Hollywood Office received over 250 submissions from a variety of U.S. and overseas media. With so many qualifying works, we have been able to recognize multiple nominees in each category for the first time in our 21 year history. This gives us the opportunity to present a vast array of animal-protection issues to our audience - this year's show was rich with topics ranging from the environmental impact on animals and factory farming's impact on the environment to the Canadian seal hunt to horse slaughter and to Class B dog dealers.
JB: You selected the polar bear as the theme of the 21st annual Genesis Awards, will you explain?
BK: No single animal was more in the public eye via the media in 2006 (and continuing into 2007) than the polar bear. The threat facing this animal says so much about the way we are all connected and how man's impact on the environment affects all life on this planet. Images of bears stranded on melting ice floes, and learning that fisherman are finding drowned or emaciated bears (polar bears can only hunt on ice) brought home the reality of global warming to the public in a tangible way, and made it clear that this magnificent animal may be extinct by the end of the decade. In fact, the plight of the polar bear is what forced the current administration to concede that global warming does indeed exist. This beleaguered animal is the face of an urgent environmental and animal protection issue, symbolizing the interconnectedness between people, animals and the planet.
JB: Can you tell us about your personal pathway to animals and activism?
BK: Well, like most of the people in the animal protection movement, I have always loved animals. As a very young child, my first dog was a little black cocker spaniel mutt who immediately became one of the family - I couldn't imagine treating "Cookie" in any other way. I refused to attend a circus as it pained me to see the elephants perform, I knew then that there was something terribly wrong with forcing an animal to do something against its own nature. But being an activist, per se, was something that began to take form much later when I became an adult. When I became educated about certain issues I found myself faced with an opportunity to speak out. I am not by nature confrontational, and found a perfect and comfortable opportunity when I began working on the Genesis Awards with Gretchen Wyler.
JB: What about your association with The HSUS?
BK: I am very proud to be a part of The HSUS. I had worked at the Ark Trust from 1995, co-producing the Genesis Awards with the inimitable Gretchen Wyler, and became an HSUS Director when we merged in 2002. In the last few years since Wayne Pacelle became the President & CEO of The HSUS, I have seen a surge of significant advancements for the animals, spearheaded by The HSUS. After seeing some of those victories from 2006, which were featured in our show, I could not be more enthused about the direction of animal protection, the power of The HSUS and in particular, the future of the Genesis Awards.
JB: How does someone get involved with the Hollywood Office of The HSUS?
BK: Volunteering. We use over 70 volunteers at the Genesis Awards and can use individual help on and off throughout the year. Also, for those without the time to devote to volunteering, we rely so much on individuals who see news pieces, episodic TV, feature films or magazines that have a strong message or information about any animal issue. So, anyone can become our "eyes and ears" so to speak. They would become a great asset to our office - helping us to track animal issues in the media.
The Hollywood Office of The HSUS can be reached at contact@hsushollywood.org
