Working towards shifting perspectives on the meat and dairy industry can feel like a daunting undertaking, given that these products are deeply ingrained in many cultures and diets. Nevertheless, Coffee Wars, a new comedy feature film, aims to do just that.
The film, starring vegan actress and musician Kate Nash (Powder Room, GLOW), carries a potent message about embracing a dairy-free future to improve the health of the planet while bringing attention to veganism, ethical consumerism, and female entrepreneurship.
Coffee Wars follows coffee aficionado Jo (Kate Nash), who is doing her best to stay afloat running her own coffee shop alongside a band of unpredictable colleagues, played by Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Finding You, The Flash), Owain Arthur (Amazon’s Power of the Rings), and Jordan Stephens (Tucked, Feel Good), while nothing seems to be going her way. She can make a latte better than anyone, but her customers have trouble getting past one thing: her coffee shop is vegan. Drowning in debt and with everything on the line, Jo and her team of misfits gear up as the underdogs for the World Barista Championships, where she’ll face her “full fat full cream” archrival Rudy, portrayed by Toby Sebastian (Game of Thrones, The Music of Silence). Jo will finally have a chance to prove herself in the dairy-dominated world of coffee, and, most importantly, win a big cash prize.
The Power of Vegan Films and Documentaries
The past few years have seen a number of documentaries highlighting the harm that animal agriculture has on animals, our health, and the planet. These hard-hitting films, such as Eating Our Way to Extinction, Cowspiracy, and The Game Changers, have had massive impacts on viewers, opening their eyes to the realities of animal agriculture and changing the way they think about the food that they eat.
Coffee Wars also aims to shift the perspectives of its viewers, shining a light on the devastating environmental impacts of dairy products with humor, and proving that plant-based alternatives are tasty, more sustainable substitutions worthy of award-winning lattes.
“Coffee Wars brings pressing issues to a global audience in a laugh-out-loud comedic way,” said Nash. “It invites viewers to challenge their beliefs about what it means to be an ethical consumer and the overall environmental impacts of their purchases.”
Nash is no stranger to fighting for a cause. A vocal feminist activist, Nash uses her voice to fight gender inequality in the music industry, as well as campaigning to empower girls and women through various campaigns such as Because I Am a Girl. Nash is also vegan, and extremely committed to positive change in the world.
In an interview with VEGWORLD, Nash spoke on her own vegan journey, appealing to people with humor, and how making small efforts can lead to bigger things.
VW: As a child, Jo had a close bond with Daisy, a cow on her parent’s farm who inspired her to go vegan. How did your vegan journey begin?
KN: It began with Fluffy, my bunny rabbit, and underestimating how all animals, no matter how big or small, are special. She taught me so much actually. I was a vegetarian and then I watched the movie Okja in 2017, and it just really struck me and I just became vegan literally after watching that movie. It was a bit scary to go vegan but luckily my boyfriend who I started dating not long after was also vegan so I could latch onto him showing me what to do and how to make that change, which was great.
VW: Films with vegan themes have been instrumental in many people’s vegan journeys. A majority of vegan films tend to be documentaries – how do you feel a film like Coffee Wars that approaches difficult subject matter with humor can have a similar impact?
KN: I think that trying to appeal to all kinds of people with all different angles is really important because some documentaries are extremely difficult to watch and, for me, Okja had so many comedic moments that made me laugh and had action all the way through I found it so enjoyable and impactful. Some of the documentaries are definitely too heavy. It’s weird because now that I’ve seen some of those documentaries I feel like I don’t have to see them again but I will never forget what I saw. But in a movie like Coffee Wars, you get really strong messages about how things really are but in a lighthearted way for people who might be too scared to watch the big scary stuff because it can be traumatic to watch those documentaries. I think that comedy can also just change people’s minds in a small way, like if they say, “You know, I’m not going to eat that tonight” because they just watched Coffee Wars and they’ll just think differently. So these little impacts are really vital for what the planet needs, which is for everyone to help not eat meat or dairy every single day. If people start even making small efforts that can turn out to be huge so if we can reach people through comedy, I think can have a great impact.
VW: The idea that you have to be “perfect”, with veganism, conscious consumerism, eco-friendly choices, etc., can make these lifestyle changes seem daunting. How can Jo and her team’s journey in the film show us that even small changes make an impact and that it is important to meet others where they are in their journeys with kindness?
KN: A lot of the side characters are playing roles that are not vegan. You can tell because they’ll say something in the film like “I’m eating a chicken curry, uhh I mean a seitan curry!” but these characters really believe in Jo and the coffee shop. They want to be part of the message. When the character played by Saoirse leaves the coffee shop and has to go work at the fictional Buck Stars she does so because she needs the money and has to work. There are the realities of life. So, if something feels too big then start with a small effort, that small effort that we make gradually becomes massive. It’s like the campaign not to buy false fashion. That doesn’t mean go and throw out all of the clothing you have, just wear it because you’ve already bought it but then when it wears out then look at the alternative fashion out there. Don’t just throw away the clothes you have because that’s just all going to go to a landfill, you might as well just wear it until it’s worn out.
VW: The Coffee Wars set, cast, and crew was largely vegan, including vegan hair and makeup products, a vegan wardrobe, and vegan food both on set and on screen. We love that the production was compassionately done, an unfortunately uncommon practice. Jo’s story shows that you can make a difference when you stand up for what you believe in. How can audiences and industry professionals make a change to the norm and call for compassionate filming practices to become more widespread?
KN: When I shot two short films which I wrote and directed with a friend of mine Rebecca, she wasn’t vegan and when we were talking about what we were going to do for food, of course, I wanted it to be vegan to have a full vegan set because I don’t want to purchase anything that isn’t vegan. Thankfully everyone was happy to do that, but I felt a bit apologetic because I wanted everyone to be happy. We did this on both shoots and I think having the confidence to request something like that or ask the question of a producer is key. I do think we need more people in production, behind the cameras, and in front of the camera willing to ask the question about issues like this. We need people in power to do that. Having vegan options is at least a start and not just having it be one or two options but maybe splitting the food choices between vegan and non-vegan. That might make a big difference.
VW: What do you hope the audience takes away from Coffee Wars?
KN: I hope they have as much fun watching it as we did making it. So much so that you’re just completely enjoying it and then perhaps the next day when you order a coffee or you think about where you want to eat you’re conscious of the message of the film and make different choices.
VW: Finally, we have to ask, what is your preferred plant milk to enjoy in your coffee?
KN: Oatly and Nutpods!
Coffee Wars will be released in March 2023, on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play. You can learn more about the film at coffeewarsfilm.com and by following @coffeewarsfilm on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
