The Invisible Vegan is a 90-minute independent documentary that explores the problem of unhealthy dietary patterns in the African-American community, foregrounding the health and wellness possibilities enabled by plant-based vegan diets and lifestyle choices.
Check out the teaser!
The Invisible Vegan is our first feature length film documentary project, and its emergence stems not only from our commitment to veganism, but also our investment in the possibilities of film as a medium for raising awareness, inspiring consciousness, and creating collective social experiences. It is our hope that the film will receive the widest possible audience, and catalyze productive debates about the future of food in African-American culture.
![]()
![]()
![]()
The Journey So Far
Kenny Leyva and I have spent thousands on cameras, books, audio equipment, lights, etc. I requested interviews with several players in the vegan movement and upon their acceptance, flew around the country and even as far as Europe to shoot interviews on my own dime. We got interviews transcribed, put together a script, gathered footage and photos, and the list goes on. We hired an editor and my friends joined in to help direct shoots, conduct interviews, research and help me attain funding, but there is still a ways to go.
![]()
We have poured countless dollars and hours into this project, but we do not have the funds to finish it. In order to legally use the footage, music and photos that we do not own and/or aren't public domain, we have to pay licensing fees. To give you an idea of what we are up against, licensing photos and footage can cost hundreds or thousands per video clip or photo. Now keep in mind our documentary is 90 minutes and loaded with photo and video clips. We need your help to make this work.
Below are the items your contribution would help fund.
- Photos/Footage
- Licensing Fees
- Editing fees
- Festival Fees
- Marketing
- Music Licensing
- Legal fees
![]()
The Future Of Our Health
Europe and other places around the world have banned certain meat products from the US in their country and branded them “unsafe for human consumption." One of the reasons for this ban is the link between US meat and cancer. Also, there are people struggling with degenerative diseases that have no idea that the food they are consuming triggers these illnesses. This documentary sheds light on how our lifestyles are putting us in early graves and by donating, you are helping to spread a message that might influence whether one of your loved ones dies at 50 due to heart problems or lives to be a healthy 100.
Diversity
There are not enough young directors, female directors, and minority directors offering fresh, balanced perspectives that would prevent incidents like “Oscars So White” from ever taking root. Hollywood has been white male dominated for a long time and it is more challenging to break in as an outsider; you won't get offered the same opportunities. So by supporting this project, you are helping Hollywood move in a new direction where everyone is properly represented and given fair chances.
![]()
![]()
Kenny Leyva || Director
Having spent nearly a decade working at various production companies and rising through the ranks to become an online editor/colorist, Leyva supplements his passion for film editing with an enthusiasm for most things associated with geek culture.
![]()
Jasmine Leyva || Director
From Washington DC to Hollywood, where I have, to date, acted in commercials for major brands like Nissan, Sony, and Youtube; modeled for Elle magazine, Apple, Uber and Michelle Watches; and produced television shows for various cable networks. Now, I am claiming renaissance woman status with my directorial debut in The Invisible Vegan.
![]()
Antawan Byrd || Executive Producer
Antawan is an art historian and curator, with a particular focus on art practices in African and the African Diaspora. Currently a PhD candidate in Art History at Northwestern University, Byrd was most recently an Associate Curator for the Telling Time, the 10th Bamako Rencontres Biennial of African Photography (2015).
![]()
Kim Fisher || Executive Producer
Today, Kim is currently working as a junior story producer for a television show on LOGO TV. Along with completing post production on her first feature length documentary "The Invisible Vegan" as a producer.
![]()
Daarina Marie || Assistant Director
Daarina produced her first pilot for Endemol in 2007, spurring her move to Los Angeles from her native Chicago. Since then, she has worked on a variety of top-rated shows including America's Got Talent and The X-Factor, as well projects for ABC, CW, Oxygen and Lifetime.
![]()
Mark Pomerville || Executive Producer
Mark Pomerville joins THE INVISIBLE VEGAN team after years of producing and casting unscripted television programs such as MTV’s Catfish: The TV Show, ABC’s Extreme Weight Loss, OWN’s America’s Money Class with Suze Orman, and GSN’s The American Bible Challenge. He is also the Creative Consultant and Co-Founder of Project SPARK Studio.
![]()
Erica Taylor || Producer
Erica L.Taylor is Founder and Principal of Sophistiglam LLC, a creative production company featuring scripted and unscripted content for television, film and digital. She is an adept entertainment talent who has worked nearly every angle of the entertainment business, from production to news reporting, scripting, creative strategy and talent acquisition.
![]()
Jae Scott || Associate Producer
Through her diverse travel and work experiences, she has developed a holistic approach to self-improvement mentally, physically, and spiritually. She has been seen hosting Centric TV show Queen Boss: #BossTalk live panel. As well as being covered in Forbes, Cheatsheet, and featured in Black Enterprise.
Joseph Blaustein || Producer and Editor
Blaustein's primary focus these last few years has been concentrated on films and documentaries exposing the issues plaguing our modern existence and he understands the importance of being involved in projects that not only entertain, but educate and inspire viewers to be conscientious and proactive in dealing with these issues.
![]()
We appreciate your support and thank you for your consideration.
