Being Vegan, Vegan Being: Max Orter – The Strong Ones actually Stand for What They Believe In

I’m a Filmmaker and a Photographer. I’ve had a love for Films since I was a small kid and watched Star Wars. I remember seeing all the different creatures in Star Wars and thinking how damn cool the Universe that it created was. I’ve always believed in the power of Dreams. It was my Childhood Dream to work in Film and that’s what I’m doing now. I produced and directed the feature film ‘A Bitter Lime’ in Guyana, South America that played in Cinemas in California and Australia. A Bitter Lime was about an American Corporate Guy who throws away the Capitalist Dream for a Wild Life in the Caribbean. Now I’m working on my second Feature Film with the working title “Ex Carne”. It’s a Fantasy- Thriller Film that will have an ensemble of characters experience the lives of different Animal Beings. The film features the artworks of Fantasy-Realist Artist Claudia Rubinstein which are quite something worth seeing. The cast and crew are incredible we’ve got together, so it’s something not to be missed!

I also do a daily photography project where every day I take a random person’s portrait and ask them the meaning of life! That can be found on Instagram @maxlifeshots & my website: www.maxorter.com

What was the moment you realize that you wanted to go vegan?

I’ve been working in the Video Production Industry my whole life. I had gone for two days into an abattoir (slaughterhouse) to film a staff training video. The torturous visions I saw in there stuck with me. I found it hard to accept that what I saw was by any means “humane” or “acceptable”. My grandmother who I was very close to was dying a slow death last year and on February 13th I had seen a horror film that actually had nothing to do with Veganism except that it was violent and terrifying. I made the simple connection in my mind that the horror I saw in the film was the same kind of real horror the Animals in the slaughterhouse were to experience. And my dying Grandmother reminded my how I had respect and appreciation for different beings – even if I could not communicate with them in a sophisticated way for whatever reason. I’m glad I could make the connection of the violence I saw in my life to make a conscious decision to minimize my own impact as much as possible. I’ve felt so much better as a Vegan that I’d say it’s been a spiritual transformation. If we go to sleep on a peaceful mind we have nothing to regret.

How long have you been Vegan?

I’ve been Vegan since 14th February 2020, so close to 18 months now.

Any recommended Vegan books?

Eating up the World by Mark Donnedu is a quality concise booklet about Veganism that I’d recommend.

Any recommended social sites, Facebook Groups or other?

It’s fun to follow Vegans online and see their successes. Some of the Cool Vegans I follow on Instagram include, Torre Washington, The Om Twins, Crissi Carvalho, CrisVeganFit & Gymbunny (Inky). Some of the Cool Vegans I follow on YouTube include Vegan Gains, Infinite Waters, Jon Venus, Andrew Perlot & Gary Yourofsky.

Do you actively promote veganism? How?=

Yes, I promote veganism by keeping in top athletic condition. When I’m exercising, it becomes a topic of conversation. I was in the Sydney King’s Cross’ Fitness First and a couple big Maori guys came up to me and asked me how I got all this lean muscle. I told them I was Vegan. They came back later to double-check they had heard me correctly, as they couldn’t believe I’m Vegan!

What is your favorite Vegan meme?

My good friend David Baldini shared this one with me!

I’m also a fan of Vegan Sidekick’s Memes.

What is the vegan stereotype you hear the most and how do you respond to it?

I hear it’s hard to be Vegan. I shrug and say it’s no problem for me. I think people want to have reasons not to change their habitual lifestyle. It’s nobody’s job to convert anybody to anything, especially as we’ve all had different life experiences. For me, it’s a lot easier to be Vegan than not Vegan as I get more energy, fulfillness, and peace-of-mind. I also think Vegans are Smart and Sexy people who I’m glad to connect and interact with.

What’s your favorite Vegan restaurant?

I love Veggie Grill in America; great Vegan Diner-style Food. Australia has great Vegan Restaurants and it’s hard to pick a favorite but I love Loving Hutt in Northcote, Krishna’s in Footscray, Gong De Lin in Melbourne City.

Please share your favorite vegan recipe?

Tofu Scramble is my favourite recipe.

Some encouraging words for new Vegans?

Don’t ever let anybody think you’re in any way inferior for being Vegan because you are actually the Strong One for Standing for the Values you Believe in.

What does living cruelty-free mean to you?

Living Cruelty-free to me means reducing harm to Animals as much as possible.

What are you favorite Vegan non-food products or companies?

Prana makes delicious Vegan Protein Shakes. pranaon.com/

What is the toughest Vegan item to find that you need?

Honestly, I don’t have an issue with Vegan items. It’s only when I’m trying to help friends who are trying the Vegan Life that I do my best with finding their favourite foods in Vegan Alternatives.

Talk about a time when you struggled with your Veganism?

The only struggle with Veganism is putting up with silly people’s silliness lol

What is one question you would ask other Vegans?

I want to put my mind together with other Vegans and see how we can do our best to influence a cruelty-free lifestyle world. I’d love to hear the ideas other Vegans have for such.