Let's Pollute
Encyclopedia
Let's Pollute! is an animated short created by Geefwee Boedoe
. The film is a modern satire
decrying pollution
, waste and consumerism, animated in a 1950s
educational film
style.
to the present, the film follows a nuclear family
polluting its way through an average day. The narrator explains that pollution is a critical part of our culture and keeps our economy strong. The film connects our wasteful, selfish habits with consumerism and its ally, big business. The resulting out-of-control pollution of the air
, water
and land
is displayed in scenes of dismal destruction overlayed with happy music and cheerful calls by the narrator to pollute more for a better tomorrow.
. Boedoe wrote, directed, animated and produced the film with animation help from Tim Crawfurd and post-production help from a small team of mostly volunteers.
In keeping with the 50s style, the animation is very graphic and flat, while gritty textures underscore the pollution theme. Also in keeping with the techniques of that era and his own background of hand-drawn animation, Boedoe drew all the line work on paper with a black lithographic pencil and created the textures primarily with India ink on plastic sheets, rather than computer synthetic effects. He sketched out storyboards with pencil and paper and scanned them and artwork into his computer for editing.
. Two original tunes, composed by Geefwee Boedoe
and performed by a group of his musician friends, are also on the soundtrack.
(AMPAS). This is the first Academy Award nomination for Geefwee Boedoe. Let's Pollute! also took the Silver SpIFFy in the animated film category at the Spokane International Film Festival, the Big Muddy Film Festival and the Orlando Film Festival
.
Geefwee Boedoe
Geefwee Boedoe is an animator and illustrator. He won the 2004 Reuben Award for Book Illustration from the National Cartoonists Society. His animated short film Let's Pollute has been nominated for an Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.-Biography:Geefwee Boedoe,...
. The film is a modern satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
decrying pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
, waste and consumerism, animated in a 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
educational film
Educational film
An educational film is a film or movie whose primary purpose is to educate. Educational films have been used in classrooms as an alternative to other teaching methods.-Cultural significance:...
style.
Plot
After a brief history of the pollution imperative from before the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
to the present, the film follows a nuclear family
Nuclear family
Nuclear family is a term used to define a family group consisting of a father and mother and their children. This is in contrast to the smaller single-parent family, and to the larger extended family. Nuclear families typically center on a married couple, but not always; the nuclear family may have...
polluting its way through an average day. The narrator explains that pollution is a critical part of our culture and keeps our economy strong. The film connects our wasteful, selfish habits with consumerism and its ally, big business. The resulting out-of-control pollution of the air
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
, water
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
and land
Land pollution
Land pollution is the degradation of Earth's land surfaces often caused by human activities and their misuse of land resources. It occurs when waste is not disposed properly. Health hazard disposal of urban and industrial wastes, exploitation of minerals, and improper use of soil by inadequate...
is displayed in scenes of dismal destruction overlayed with happy music and cheerful calls by the narrator to pollute more for a better tomorrow.
Production
"Let's Pollute!" took more than three years to complete, primarily in the home studio of filmmaker Geefwee BoedoeGeefwee Boedoe
Geefwee Boedoe is an animator and illustrator. He won the 2004 Reuben Award for Book Illustration from the National Cartoonists Society. His animated short film Let's Pollute has been nominated for an Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.-Biography:Geefwee Boedoe,...
. Boedoe wrote, directed, animated and produced the film with animation help from Tim Crawfurd and post-production help from a small team of mostly volunteers.
In keeping with the 50s style, the animation is very graphic and flat, while gritty textures underscore the pollution theme. Also in keeping with the techniques of that era and his own background of hand-drawn animation, Boedoe drew all the line work on paper with a black lithographic pencil and created the textures primarily with India ink on plastic sheets, rather than computer synthetic effects. He sketched out storyboards with pencil and paper and scanned them and artwork into his computer for editing.
Music
Much of the film's score is pre-recorded tracks by French musician Roger RogerRoger Roger (composer)
Roger Roger was a French film composer and bandleader. His aliases included: Eric Swan, Cecil Leuter, the last being a pseudonym he used for his electronic productions...
. Two original tunes, composed by Geefwee Boedoe
Geefwee Boedoe
Geefwee Boedoe is an animator and illustrator. He won the 2004 Reuben Award for Book Illustration from the National Cartoonists Society. His animated short film Let's Pollute has been nominated for an Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.-Biography:Geefwee Boedoe,...
and performed by a group of his musician friends, are also on the soundtrack.
Reception and awards
"Let's Pollute!" has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Film, Animated, by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and SciencesAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
(AMPAS). This is the first Academy Award nomination for Geefwee Boedoe. Let's Pollute! also took the Silver SpIFFy in the animated film category at the Spokane International Film Festival, the Big Muddy Film Festival and the Orlando Film Festival
Orlando Film Festival
The Orlando Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Orlando, Florida. It has become one of the premier film festivals for independent filmmakers to showcase their work...
.