Joplin High School student wins filmmaking award
Features . Photography . The Joplin Globe
Joplin High School student Nathan Goswick traveled to Chicago in March to receive the top prize in a young filmmaker festival he won for his short film, “Plastic Bags,” about plastic pollution. Globe | Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller
When Nathan Goswick becomes interested in a topic, he jokes it often leads to “tangents” where he learns everything he can about the subject.
He’s studied a multitude of things, from engineering to science, and admits he frequently changes direction because his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often leaves him quickly bored.
But a course of study that began when he was a freshman at Joplin High School has not only brought Goswick rewards, it’s also helping to shape his future career plans.
Last weekend, Goswick traveled to Chicago to receive the top prize in the One Earth Young Filmmakers category at the One Earth Film Festival. The award for his short film, “Plastic Bags,” earned him $350 plus a matching $350 grant that Goswick promptly donated to Plastic Oceans, a group that fights plastic pollution.
The short film — roughly three minutes, 20 seconds in length — was one of 196 submissions from students ranging in age from 8 to 25. Entrants were asked to create a three- to eight-minute environmental film that “inspires or promotes action,” according to Lisa Biehle Files, digital media associate and young filmmakers contest lead with One Earth Film Festival.
Students competed for a range of prizes. A jury of 19 filmmakers and environmental activists reviewed the films to determine the winners. The top films, including Goswick’s “Plastic Bags,” premiered at the festival.
“Nathan’s fast-paced, concise message is a simple one: Bring a tote and recycle any stray plastic bags you see,” Biehle Files said. “He conveys this through inventive editing and sound in his three-minute film. With a sense of urgency, he questions how we let 100 billion plastic bags be thrown away each year with only 0.6% recycled.”
Biehle Files said Goswick’s film is full of images and sound effects that promote his message in an effective manner.
Nathan Goswick credits the Joplin High School media department for much of his success. He uses state-of-the-art equipment in making his films. Globe | Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller
Behind the lens
Goswick said filmmaking keeps his interest because each step of the way is different with changes around every corner.
He learned about the One Earth Film Festival contest after his mom saw a Facebook post about the event. Goswick’s interest was piqued, but there was one catch: Entries were due in five days.
Goswick went to work, spending a day hanging out with friends and sketching out possible themes and shots.
He began shooting images for the film and writing the script by day two. Over four days, he shot and edited the film — working at one stretch for 36 straight hours.
Goswick used equipment from the JHS broadcasting program to record and edit the movie. His key pieces included two cameras: an Ursa Mini Pro 4.6k and a Sony A7iii along with two lenses, a Canon Cine 85mm T-1.3 L lens and a Canon 35mm f2.0 lens. Voiceovers were added with a Sennheiser MKE 600 microphone. He utilized Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects for the editing process.
In “Plastic Bags,” Goswick strived to use visual and audio techniques to help viewers understand how much crude oil is used each year to create plastic bags.
A call to action at the end of the film encourages people to consider how removing just one plastic bag from the environment can make a difference.
“I wanted what people see and hear to take it from the abstract part of their brain,” Goswick said. “It just takes one plastic bag to kill a bird or kill a sea turtle.”
“Plastic Bags” is just one of the films Goswick has created. He began making Lego stop motion films as a child. Since high school, his portfolio has increased to include a 32-minute documentary on Chihuahua, a city in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, and a short film called “Five Aces.”