If you live in Los Angeles (or anywhere close by) there are two screening events that you MUST attend.

First is the Skin Trade Public Premiere and Benefit on Thursday, June 10th. 3 years in the making, Skin Trade premiered to a limited audience back in February, but now ARME and the producers are having their official public premiere at The Majestic Crest Theatre located at 1262 Westwood Boulevard. Shannon Keith, the director, will be present for a Q&A after the screening. They will also be having a silent auction at the event with  proceeds benefiting ARME – Animal Rescue Media & Education to promote this film as well as preparing funds for their next film. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.

The following week is Bold Native premiere week. On Wednesday, June 16th, the Majestic Crest Theater will be hosting the World Premiere of the film.  With both the filmmakers and cast in attendance, the public will get the first glimpse of the story of an animal liberator wanted for domestic terrorism who emerges from the underground to coordinate a nationwide action. Tickets for the premiere are $12.50 and can be purchased here. Later that week, you can join the filmmakers and watch Bold Native under the stars at the top of the Hollywood Hills. A free screening will be held at Tree People Outdoor Amphitheater on Friday, June 18 at 8:15. You can reserve your seats by RSVPing for the event here.

If you don’t happen to be in Los Angeles, you’re still in luck. Both films have upcoming screenings around the country. To view Skin Trade’s upcoming national screenings, click here. For Bold Native’s upcoming screening schedule click here.

In 1951, the Federal Fur Products Labeling Act was passed which requires all garments with real fur to indicate species and country of origin on clothing labels. Unfortunately, all garments with animal pelt valued at $150 or less are currently exempt from the Labeling Act. Just yesterday, The California Assembly passed AB 1656, a fur labeling bill which would require ALL garments sold in California that include animal fur disclose the species and country of origin information on the label. This would close the loophole which currently allows unlabeled and falsely labeled animal fur garments to be sold at well-known retailers. This bill would make it much more difficult for salespeople to deceive unsuspecting consumers and claim that fur-trimmed jackets are fake when they are in fact made from animal. The bill now heads to the California state Senate. If it passes, California will join Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Wisconsin in closing the federal loophole.

On a related note, the brand new documentary Skin Trade is a must see film on the subject of the fur industry. Screening are currently happening all over the United States and the DVD can be purchased online through the website.

As you hopefully know, 25% of the profits from all sales on our website go to charity, one of those being A.R.M.E. (Animal Rescue Media and Education). On top of rescuing unwanted and homeless animals, A.R.M.E. has also produced the award-winning documentary “Behind The Mask.” A.R.M.E. is currently hard at work finishing up their second full length documentary “Skin Trade” which targets the cruel practices of the fur trade. They have finally launched the website with a brand new trailer that you can view here. And while you’re there, throw them a few dollars via PayPal on the “Donate” page.

The new website: http://www.skintradethemovie.com/

Generally we post about Los Angeles events, but there’s a few East Coast people out there that read this blog, so this is going out to you folks. The Vegan Collection is happy to support this fundraiser by donating a few items for the raffle. The great organization Open The Cages Alliance (OTCA) is presenting this benefit for the AETA’s Victims legal defense and the Skin Trade documentary.This all day event happening on August 8th from 1 – 9 PM in Washington, DC is hoping to bring awareness of government repression of activists and to educate people about the bloody fur industry. So if you are in the area, stop by and enjoy great vegan food, a root beer keg, great music, activist workshops and informative speakers including Shannon Keith, Will Potter, Darius Fullmer, Camille Hankins and Sean Day. For more information check out Open The Cages Alliance’s website here.

If you missed ARME’s “Skin Trade Cabaret” you have a chance to redeem yourself this Monday, October 13th. Diva Dog is hosting an event at The Bungalow Club on the corner of Melrose and Formosa to benefit ARME and help raise funds for their new “Skin Trade” documentary. Doors open at 7pm and entertainment begins at 8pm and advance tickets are only $10. There will be a silent auction and raffle as well as a second screening of the “Skin Trade” trailer.

For more information and advance tickets visit http://www.arme.tv/fundraiser.htm

Skin Trade, the movie and message show you that you can change the world right now.

Sunday at The Mint was an event that was stylish, socially-conscious, and just plain fun. The makers of Behind the Mask are back with a movie called Skin Trade, so they previewed the movie trailer at a party/fundraiser, as they helped to educate people about the truth behind the fur industry. ARME and Uncaged Films President and CFO Shannon Keith is Executive Producer, Writer, and Director of this film. Miss Keith said that Skin Trade is an artsy and historic informational documentary, so the movie will educate people about the history of the fur industry and how it is tied to numerous areas of social justice, including slavery, trade, and animal suffering. When asked why this event had a cabaret theme, Miss Keith said “this is a serious issue, but why not make the fundraiser fun.” This is a unique topic and something most people would say they support, but why does fur still sell in stores. Shannon Keith said that the reason why she choose this topic to focus on for this movie is because “it is a winnable issue and something that we all should have figured out already, that is why we made this mainstream movie to get people to stop the fur trade all together.” At a time when big stars have begun to speak out against fur and other stars have felt strong criticism for wearing and selling fur in their clothing lines, it is important that this film is seen.

Here is the link to the Skin Trade website (http://www.skintradethemovie.com/) where they can still use additional funding to finish the film.

I can’t wait to see this film when it is finished.