Depicting a world rapidly becoming overrun with toxic material, The Story of Plastic brings into focus an alarming, manmade crisis. Striking footage, original animations, and archival material combine in this timely documentary to point to the disastrous impact of the manufacture and use of plastics, shedding new light on a pressing global challenge that threatens the life expectancy of animals, humans, and Earth itself.

Interview with Director/Producer Deia Schlosberg

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

We felt it was important to make a film about the plastics issue that 1) connected it to the fossil fuels industry, and 2) highlighted the frontline communities affected by plastics from extraction through disposal, which have first-hand knowledge both of the negative impacts and of potential solutions.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

So many people who watch our film come away from it saying, "I thought I knew that story, but I had no idea." It illuminates why we think we know the story and the intentional design behind that false understanding.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

We share the personal stories of people living and working on the frontlines, and also bring attention to the fact that this isn't a problem of individual behaviors, but a commonly-held belief system that we've all be led to trust and we must work together to change.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

The story itself has changed significantly over the course of development: major global changes in trade, including the Chinese ban on scrap imports, have had ripple effects on the recycling industry, and changes in government administrations and policies have led to favorable conditions for extractive petrochemical industries, particularly in the US.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

We've gotten very positive feedback so far, but we've only screened the film at festivals where audiences are more receptive to its messaging. We're curious to see what kind of response it gets from more typically-industry-friendly viewers.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Not yet, but I expect some challenges as we get wider release...

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I think this is a topic that a lot of people are seeking to deepen their understanding of, since it deals with a material that has embedded itself into our daily lives (and our physical beings). I hope that having increased visibility gives people more "ownership" of the issue, which in turn causes them to become more involved in solutions.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Anyone who can get the word out! Journalists, organizers, foundations to help with outreach and screening events.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

The goal for this film has always been for it to be a tool that anyone working to break free from plastic can use to bring more people into the movement. I hope that organizations, schools, and communities, can use it to identify with a particular portion of the plastic cycle - and thus know where to best direct their efforts to curb its negative impacts.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Is there hope? Do we have any chance of stopping the momentum of the industry?

Would you like to add anything else?

For more info on the plastic problem and how to take action: www.breakfreefromplastic.org

For more info on the film and how to screen it: www.storyofplastic.org

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I'm working on a documentary series exploring themes related to universal basic income (UBI) and human rights. Other team members are currently working on films related to climate change and conservation, and starting a non-profit to continue pushing for education about the plastic crisis.

Interview: March 2020

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

The Story of Plastic

Length: 1:31:00

Director: Deia Schlosberg

Producer: Stiv Wilson, Megan Ponder, Kyle Cadotte

Writer: Tony Hale, Brian Wilson, Deia Schlosberg, Stiv Wilson

About the writer, director and producer:

DEIA SCHLOSBERG (Director/Prpducer) made national news in October, 2016, when she was arrested and charged with 45 years' worth of felonies for filming the #ShutItDown pipeline protest in North Dakota. Deia is the director of The Story of Plastic (2019) and is currently directing a docuseries - Bootstraps (2020) - which chronicles a two-year basic income trial. Deia produced Josh Fox's climate change film, How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change (2016), and co-produced Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock (2017), and The Reluctant Radical (2018).

Key cast: Froilan Grate, Prigi Arisandi, Von Hernandez, Ellen Gerhart, Elise Gerhart, Martin Bourque, Carroll Muffett, Priscilla Villa-Watt, Yvette Arellano, Delphine Alvarès, Emma Priestland, Tiza Mafira, Pratibha Sharma, Liwen Chen, Mao Da, Charles J Moore, Shibu K Nair, Diane Wilson, Joan Marc Simon

Instagram: @storyofplastic

Hashtags used: #storyofplastic

Website: www.storyofplastic.org