Macabre Whimsy
Through the Wreckage:
The Unheard Voices of Helene
This collaborative project combines paper puppet stop motion and live-action film to tell the story of Hurricane Helene. Through a blend of handcrafted animation and real-world footage, the piece captures the chaotic energy and human impact of the storm, highlighting creative teamwork and mixed-media storytelling techniques.
Synopsys
This two-minute short film, created through a mix of paper puppet stop motion and live-action footage, highlights the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on unhoused communities in Western North Carolina. The story follows a homeless individual forced to flee his camp during the storm, navigating the wreckage left behind. Scenes depict overwhelmed shelters, long lines at depleted distribution centers, and the harsh aftermath of the disaster. The film concludes with the character returning to the woods to find his camp completely destroyed, illustrating the compounded vulnerability faced by already marginalized populations during natural disasters.
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A collaborative film By:
Alex castillo-Lai, Owen O'grady, Sh'kiah Lockamy and Dawson Mazanek