The Can. Filmed in 1982 on 8mm film using stop action animation. Part 1 was a Council Rock high school film class project by Bob Neubauer, starring Harry Greisser. In the summer of 82, we filmed part 2. (We had a lot of time on our hands back then.) I scripted it out in detail during the school year. In addition to acting, Harry provided almost all of the tedious moving of the trash can, inch by inch, while I clicked a single frame in the camera each time.
The plot revolves around a boy being chased by a trash can. We filmed half of part 1 on a Saturday. Then it snowed overnight. Initially I thought I would clear away all visible snow from our lawn, until Harry wisely suggested we just create a sign saying "The Next Day" to ludicrously suggest he had hidden from the can under a tree all night long. (We even put snow on his head to further the ruse.) At the end of part 1, he is rescued by Super Can (a hero in the trash can world).
Part 2 is more of the same, with Harry being chased through different locations. He hitches a ride with a passing cyclist (Joe H.) only to have the can hitch his own ride, with an evil cyclist (Doug Douglass). Harry climbs a tree and finds a rope swing there. He swings out of the tree into a swimming pool in the Harper's back yard. The can follows suit.
The ending of part 2 is not so upbeat, however, as the can calls in reinforcements. Every trash can in the neighborhood comes to his aid, and together they pummel the hapless Harry. They are lured away only when a sexy girl trash can saunters past, at which point every can chases her into the distance. When Super Can arrives too late, Harry curses him and takes his revenge.
My heartfelt thanks goes out to Harry Greisser for being such a good sport and making this film with me.