Saving Jones Is an Essential Rescue Documentary—How You Can Make Sure More People See It
Get tickets to the September NYC screening now, and tell your favorite streamers to pick up this film.
Rebecca Corry wrote and directed the new documentary Saving Jones for a reason that resonates with so many frustrated, heartbroken rescuers and animal welfare advocates across the country: Something has to change.
It’s no secret that the United States is in the midst of a nationwide crisis. Hundreds of thousands of dogs were euthanizedopens in new tab last year, and hundreds of thousands languish in shelters long-term, often in less-than-ideal conditions. And that’s not even to mention the estimated millions of animals opens in new tab who die of abuse, neglect, or cruelty every year in the U.S.
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After years of working to raise awareness about and address this epidemic, especially among Pit Bull-type dogs (some of the most discriminated against and abused dogs of all), Corry — a comedian, actress, and executive director of the Stand Up For Pits Foundationopens in new tab — knew she had to try something different.
Saving Jones isn’t just a fact-based, informative film about this crisis, though it is that. It importantly makes the point that the animal welfare crisis is a human problem, that “what’s happening to these dogs is a direct reflection of us as a broken people and a broken society,” Corry tells us.
In June, we talked with Corryopens in new tab about Saving Jones’ premiere at the Dances With Films Festivalopens in new tab. Since then, the film has been enthusiastically received and will be screened next in New York City on September 8th. We followed up with Corry to learn more about the film, audiences’ reactions so far, and how potential viewers can advocate for the ability to see it.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
The movie recently premiered in L.A. What has the response been like so far?
We had our world premiere at the Dances With Filmsopens in new tab festival on June 22. The screening sold out, and we won the audience awardopens in new tab, which is an important award to receive because it reflects the impact the film has on audiences. We were very honored to win that, and look forward to the world getting to experience Saving Jones.
The response to the movie has far exceeded anything I could have imagined. In fact, people — not just people in animal welfare and animal rescue, but everyone — have been waiting for this truth to be told because it never has been before. We had a sold-out premiere, and I would say a quarter of that audience didn’t even have dogs.
In fact, after a screening of the film, a guy came up to me and said, “I just wanted you to know that my friend brought me, and I’ve been terrified of pit bull type dogs forever. I won’t pet them, I won’t look at them, I’m the one who would always say things about them. I’m never doing that again.” It was amazing, and that’s why this film can get distribution and will be seen by everyone.
You don’t have to be an animal lover or Pit Bull-type dog owner or advocate to appreciate this film; it’s for everyone. It’s impacting people who have only heard the ignorant and negative things the media has said about Pit Bulls for the past 40 years. It’s extremely impactful for them; they’re very emotional about it. It’s pretty amazing to see.