By Lexi Portner
Is plastic always bad? For example, what about its benefits in medicine and public health during the Coronavirus pandemic? How does society misuse cost-effective plastic? What are the biodegradable options for plastic packaging?
The short stop motion short film, Plastic: Villain or Hero (now screening on the Planet Classroom Network YouTube Channel), focuses on why plastic is not a black and white issue.
Creator Shayna Zaidi Gupta shows us that when it comes to plastic, there are benefits and there are challenges. Gupta was the editor, cinematographer, screenwriter, and director of this LXL Ideas production. At the end of the film, we also learn that it took 15 days, over 500 pictures, and numerous props all produced from repurposed materials to create the film.
In Plastic: Villain or Hero, a young girl teaches her grandmother that plastic has benefits as well as negative environmental impacts. The film shows that although we know plastic can be damaging, the way we use it and dispose of it is the bigger problem. Particularly during the Coronavirus pandemic, without plastic we would not have had syringes, inhalers, PPE suits, gloves, sanitizer bottles, or nebulizer masks. The girl explains to her grandmother that even though we are inundated with media messages that plastic is the problem, we need to take responsible steps toward sustainability because plastic is not going away any time soon. Gupta draws our attention to biodegradable products that have been developed and the importance of sorting waste for recycling.
Stop motion is a long process, and in this case it serves to make an entertaining and creative short film. I would rate Plastic: Villain or Hero 4 out of 5 stars. There were some issues with the camera that made the shots less than fluid when cut together, and the lighting could have been angled better. However, the background sound was great as it enhanced the film overall, and helped to move the message along. I really enjoyed the visuals and using a girl teaching her grandmother was a great way to get the message across. Using repurposed and recycled materials to create the props and characters emphasized the core purpose of the film.
Lexi Portner is a senior at Ashland University studying Digital Media Production and is set to graduate in December 2021. She has worked as on-screen talent and crew for news and sports segments on AUTV20 and has been involved in creating content for television, radio, and print publication.
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