Documentary Title and Basics:
Bag It
Is your life too plastic?
An average American guy, Jeb Berrier, who is admittedly not a “tree hugger,” makes a pledge to stop using plastic bags. This simple action gets Jeb thinking about all kinds of plastic. Jeb embarks on a global tour to unravel the complexities of our plastic world. As Jeb’s journey takes a personal twist, we see how our crazy-for-plastic world has finally caught up to us and what we can do about it. Today. Right now.
Currently have rough cut of film. Screened as work in progress at Ashland Film Festival and won Audience Award for Best Documentary.
More About the Documentary's Story And Issues:
Bag It examines our society’s use and abuse of plastic. The theme of the film focuses on plastic as it relates to our society’s throw away mentality, our culture of convenience, and our over consumption of throwaway products and packaging—things that we use one time and then, without another thought, we throw them away. Where is AWAY?? THERE IS NO AWAY!! Away is over flowing landfills, clogged rivers, islands of trash in our oceans, and even our very own toxic bodies. Bag It offers a candid view of the disturbing realities of our culture. And, it suggests concrete solutions to our plastic addiction. The film will raise public awareness on the many issues related to plastic and inspire change, both on the individual level and on the public policy level.
Our story follows an average American guy, Jeb Berrier, who makes a resolution to stop using plastic bags at the grocery store. Plastic bags lead him to disposable coffee cups and water bottles, which, in turn, lead to food cans (lined in plastic) and personal care products (filled with plasticizers) and the packaging that so neatly wraps it all up. Jeb is led downstream to where a lot of our plastic ends up—our oceans where the problems with plastic continue to multiply. In the north Pacific, he finds plastic to plankton ratios as high as forty-to-one. He discovers that not only is plastic contributing to the death of about 100,000 marine animals and birds each year, but that this plastic is even contributing to chemicals making their way onto our dinner plates.
During the course of the film, Jeb’s partner, Anne, becomes pregnant and the film takes a very personal turn. Jeb’s focus turns to the impact of plastic on human health. To make plastics hard, or soft and pliable, chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are added during manufacturing. These chemical additives, which are often used in food and drink containers, have been found to leach, and scientists have overwhelming evidence that these chemicals are affecting humans—specifically babies in utero and children. BPA and phthalates are linked to numerous health problems—cancer, diabetes, autism, attention deficit disorder, obesity, infertility—even smaller penis size. The film beautifully climaxes with Jeb and Anne bringing their son into the world, a world that Jeb is determined to make the best he can.
Lessons Learned
- parents and parents to be
- students
- ocean lovers
- animal lovers
- people who watch what they eat
- people who watch what chemicals go into their bodies
- people who want to know more about recycling
- people who want a more simple lifestyle
- just about everyone. The film is very accessible!
- We are currently introducing our website for people who want to learn more and become involved. The working site is www.bagitmovie.com. It will continue to be developed over the summer. People can also become a fan of the film on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=71630963915&ref=search&sid=1413806645.18
