While recently binging on Netflix one evening, I came across a new release called Okja. Honestly, at first I scrolled right past it, because the preview poster portrays a giant hippo-appearing animal and a bunch of people behind it. Seemed to me like a revival of Free Willy. Not my genre of interest and definitely an over-used plot. It wasn't until I started reading reviews on this Netflix Original that I became more deeply interested in what lies in its plot.
Apparently what looks like a hippo is supposed to be a pig. The plot revolves around a corporation that discovered a mutant super pig that they brought to the U.S. to breed and distribute around the world. In 10 years they harvest the pigs and reward the farmer who took the best care of their pig. One of the farmers is a teenage girl from South Korea that tries to saves her beloved creature and fights the system (which I found ironic since South Korea has one of the highest per capital consumption of pork in the world).
Not going to lie, I stopped after 10 minutes so I can't really tell you if she was successful or not. The director clearly wanted this film to be an anti-agriculture platform that could reach millions of binge watchers such as myself. They use words such as GMO Free and All Natural right off the get go, instantly creating fear of food into the audience. The lady in charge of the corporation is supposed to represent large scale pig operations, however I found her bleach blonde hair and braces are quite distracting. Typical Netflix move since they also enjoy offering vegan documentaries such as Food Inc and Vegecated. But do we ever see a pro-ag movie available? Nope.
Honestly, I could go on a long rant about what is all wrong with this movie. But will complaining change it? No. Netflix will never take this movie down, especially since it has caused controversy which = attention which = views to a very poorly written Netflix Original that will never become a box office hit or be available via DVD.
The ag industry is notorious for almost always being on the defensive side of the table talk. Why do we let this happen? When will the day come that someone within the industry will stop complaining about those who don't understand and do something to actually help teach them? Why can't we as an industry come together and create our own films and get them on Netflix? There's no reason that Farmland and similar films can't be more readily available to those who NEED to see it.
Let's push for it! Im tired of the agriculture industry being the meek little kid on the playground getting pushed around by the anti-ag bullies. We need to stand up for ourselves and start throwing the first punch! For starters, let's stop making posts and articles about how stupid and misleading this movie is. Don't give it anymore attention than it already has. Instead, start sharing links to Farmland or the Peterson Brothers or other pro-ag cinema. Flood your newsfeed with it. Make your friends see it so often that they eventually fall for the click bait.
I know Okja won't be the last anti-ag film I will see in my lifetime or even in this year. So what? How about the ag industry gets out ahead of them and get the crowds approval first! I wasn't ever good at football and I really wasn't good at being a defensive player. The offense is the part of the team that actually puts numbers on the scoreboard. It's time for agriculture to start being the offense.
Apparently what looks like a hippo is supposed to be a pig. The plot revolves around a corporation that discovered a mutant super pig that they brought to the U.S. to breed and distribute around the world. In 10 years they harvest the pigs and reward the farmer who took the best care of their pig. One of the farmers is a teenage girl from South Korea that tries to saves her beloved creature and fights the system (which I found ironic since South Korea has one of the highest per capital consumption of pork in the world).
Not going to lie, I stopped after 10 minutes so I can't really tell you if she was successful or not. The director clearly wanted this film to be an anti-agriculture platform that could reach millions of binge watchers such as myself. They use words such as GMO Free and All Natural right off the get go, instantly creating fear of food into the audience. The lady in charge of the corporation is supposed to represent large scale pig operations, however I found her bleach blonde hair and braces are quite distracting. Typical Netflix move since they also enjoy offering vegan documentaries such as Food Inc and Vegecated. But do we ever see a pro-ag movie available? Nope.
Honestly, I could go on a long rant about what is all wrong with this movie. But will complaining change it? No. Netflix will never take this movie down, especially since it has caused controversy which = attention which = views to a very poorly written Netflix Original that will never become a box office hit or be available via DVD.
The ag industry is notorious for almost always being on the defensive side of the table talk. Why do we let this happen? When will the day come that someone within the industry will stop complaining about those who don't understand and do something to actually help teach them? Why can't we as an industry come together and create our own films and get them on Netflix? There's no reason that Farmland and similar films can't be more readily available to those who NEED to see it.
Let's push for it! Im tired of the agriculture industry being the meek little kid on the playground getting pushed around by the anti-ag bullies. We need to stand up for ourselves and start throwing the first punch! For starters, let's stop making posts and articles about how stupid and misleading this movie is. Don't give it anymore attention than it already has. Instead, start sharing links to Farmland or the Peterson Brothers or other pro-ag cinema. Flood your newsfeed with it. Make your friends see it so often that they eventually fall for the click bait.
I know Okja won't be the last anti-ag film I will see in my lifetime or even in this year. So what? How about the ag industry gets out ahead of them and get the crowds approval first! I wasn't ever good at football and I really wasn't good at being a defensive player. The offense is the part of the team that actually puts numbers on the scoreboard. It's time for agriculture to start being the offense.