Trash began as a game designed to give hope when it came to climate change, nature, and survival of the planet. After profound experiences of talking about climate change with important young people in their lives, Trash’s game designers were struck by the sense of hopelessness: for Creative Director Charlie Kenihan, that sense came from speaking with his young cousins about the state of the earth at a family picnic. As a former teacher, Technical Director Nick Margerison found the same thing when he spoke to his students.

‘It’s always heartbreaking to hear people be pessimistic about the future,’ Kenihan said, ‘but when you hear that pessimism come from an eight-year-old it’s something else entirely.’ 

After a discussion with Nick the first seeds for Trash were planted. Then in early 2020, bushfires hit Australia, and Nick and Charlie saw their country engulfed in smoke. ‘We always knew we wanted to make something to address climate change, but the fires strengthened our resolve,’ Margerison said. ‘Climate change is an urgent problem, and if humans don’t address it the earth will find a way to continue on without us. That’s when the ideas of resin and post-human life started brewing.’

In late 2020, they started pre-production on Trash and assembled a team of creatives from around Victoria. In early February, they received an Assigned Production Investment Grant from Film Victoria. ‘The responses to Trash so far have been really positive,’ Kenihan said. ‘Trash’s themes clearly resonate with players of all ages. I’ve always been a fan of exploration and creativity to help solve problems, and seeing Trash bring people together to enjoy a game and reflect on climate change playfully has been incredibly empowering.’