Farm Sanctuary On The Hudson Gala Q&A With Colbie Caillat, Emily Deschanel & Loretta Swit
Farm Sanctuary is an organization dedicated to combating the abuses of factory farming and encouraging a new awareness and understanding about farm animals. As founded in 1986, the organized hosted its 2018 Gala Farm Sanctuary On the Hudson at New York City’s Pier 60 on October 4th. Among those present at the star-studded event were Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, Carol Leifer, Michael C. Hall, Loretta Swit, Emily Deschanel, Jennifer Coolidge, Colbie Caillat, Joe Gatto, and Bellamy Young.
I had the pleasure of attending the red carpet portion of the evening and interviewing some of those celebrity attendees. Beyond starring in and producing Bones, Emily Deschanel is a six-time People’s Choice Award nominee. Colbie Caillat first made waves internationally with her 2007 mega-hit “Bubbly,” and has earned Grammy, Billboard, MTV and Billboard Music Award nominations for each of the five studio albums following her debut full-length Coco. Loretta Swit has worked steadily as an actress since the late 1960s, notably earning two Emmy Awards for her work as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on M*A*S*H. Below are highlights from my chats with Emily Deschanel, Colbie Caillat and Loretta Swit, all of whom are very actively involved with Farm Sanctuary.
More on the Watkins Glen-based Farm Sanctuary can be found online at www.farmsanctuary.org.
What was your calling into the animal rights world?
Emily Deschanel: I watched a documentary called Diet For A New America when I was a teenager, and it talked about factory farms in the United States and how our food got to our plates. So the suffering of those animals on those farms, the detriment to the environment from those farms, and what it does to our bodies. I became vegetarian on the spot, and I planned to become vegan in a year. I remember hearing about Farm Sanctuary over the years and finally got involved over 10 years ago. With Farm Sanctuary I’ve since been to all of their farms. The documentary was my first eye-opening experience that really changed my view, and I just thought if that’s what happening to animals for me to eat a steak or a rotisserie chicken, that’s not okay. If I can be healthy without that, amazing. If it’s healthier than eating meat, even more amazing.
Colbie Caillat: I’ve always loved animals. Everyone says that they love animals, but I had the realization, “How can I eat animals? How is that possible?” I never enjoyed eating meat growing up. It was just something that was in everything. Once I realized that I didn’t have to eat that way, and it’s not healthy for you, and I don’t feel good when I eat it… Hearing what Farm Sanctuary and the Humane Society and ASPCA, they’re spreading the word for treating all animals humanely and adopting and saving lives. I really wanted to be a part of that, because animals can’t speak for themselves, so we have to speak for them. To me there’s no difference between a dog and a cow and a pig, they’re all the same and they all feel pain and they all have babies and want to nurture their babies. I really think that Farm Sanctuary has taught me a lot, and yes, all the countless documentaries I’ve watched them all, and there’s no going back once you’ve watched those. A lot of people aren’t actually aware of what goes on behind the scenes in factory farms and puppy mills… I think that just we speak for them and coming together we’re spreading awareness, it’s our job.
Loretta Swit: I can’t remember a moment not caring about animals. There’s no moment I go, “Wow, there’s some work to do out there.” I do that every day. But as a toddler in a stroller, I’d see a dog and go crazy, “Doggy, doggy, doggy.” It’s always brought out the animal in me.
Were you able to turn other people in your family into having the same values?
Emily Deschanel: I have different family members who eat different things, but certainly people eat a lot less meat and dairy than they used to. I just believe in leading by example. As you become more successful as a touring musician, you get to chose what you are eating on the road and what is on your rider. What are some of the foods that you feel are a good gateway for people considering going vegetarian or vegan?
Colbie Caillat: I have a list of so many favorite things. Especially Beyond Meat. All of their products are plant-based, they’re healthy for you. The Beyond Burger tastes just like a burger. I haven’t had meat for eight, nine years, so I don’t remember what that fully tastes like… It’s about following a plant-based diet, so having a lot of processed foods isn’t good for us. I just do what makes my body feel good and I listen to that, as well as my morals behind it.
In terms of food, was it a big transition for you to stop eating meat?
Loretta Swit: Not at all. I guess I was lucky in that respect, I wasn’t a big meat eater. My family was growing up, as a kid, it was there for me. But I always preferred grazing. (laughs)
Speaking of grazing, the nickname “Hot Lips” [from M*A*S*H], is there a day that goes by where you don’t hear that?
Loretta Swit: Oh yes, absolutely. “Major,” “Ms. Swit”… People are smarter than that! (laughs) I know they adore the series and it’s on everlastingly. But no, I don’t get that a lot.
You have a lot of notable ties to the entertainment world within your family, including Bruce Hornsby, who you’re related to by marriage. Are you yourself a musician? Or do you have ties to the music world?
Emily Deschanel: No, my only ties are with family members, but I’m not a musician. I took piano lessons for four years and I can play “Chopsticks.” (laughs)
Your father made a great documentary on The Rolling Stones, and earlier you mentioned that a documentary got you interested within the animal rights cause. Where are you in terms of wanting to produce or direct a documentary?
Emily Deschanel: I’m thinking of doing that. I know it has to be a labor of love and finding the right thing. My friend Jill Latiano Howerton just produced a documentary that I saw called The Devil We Know, really great, I highly recommend it, that inspires me. I’m interested but I haven’t yet found anything that I’m willing to spend years on to do. (laughs)
Any upcoming projects that you can talk about?
Emily Deschanel: I finished Bones a year and a half ago and I’ve chosen not to work, and [instead] spend a lot of time with my kids because I didn’t have a lot of balance while I was working on that show. I didn’t have as much time with my kids as I wanted. I’m taking that time now and considering doing other things. We’ll see what actually happens.
Colbie Caillat: I moved to Nashville two years ago. I wanted to try the writing thing, just that. In doing so we realized we wanted to start a band, and we’re going to be announcing that very soon. But I can’t announced without my whole team. We’ve been writing and recording this album and we’ve already shot a music video and done a photo shoot for it, so that will be coming out very shortly. That really was the sole focus of what my past couple of years has been. It’s just being in Nashville, writing, making friends and starting this project.
Loretta Swit: Oh sure, I have my own charity. I work with Farm Sanctuary, Bidawee, a lot of charities… Mine is Switheart Animal Alliance. In unity there’s great strength… You probably know that I have a book out, “SwitHeart.” We’re having a book signing in Sarasota. Lots of veterans are coming out. I mention that because I’m working hard now to get the dogs back from Afghanistan. I’m getting teams back together. Obama has provided for this and they’re now enacting that law to bring them back. I’m involved with POWs, involved with animals, military and children. I can go on and on… It’s on-going because the problems are on-going.
Is there something you wish more people knew about you?
Loretta Swit: I think it would be nice if people bought my book. They can see my paintings. I think I’m all over social media. They can get to me real fast. I read everything and I try to answer everything.
So finally, any last words for the kids?
Colbie Caillat: If everyone can just focus on kindness, that’s what everyone should just focus on every day.
About the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
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