All Things Bakelite

The Age of Plastic

Splash Magazine interview with Dave Rabadi

In 1907 Leo Baekeland changed the world. Today I have the pleasure to speak to his great grandson producer Hugh Karraker. Read on as Hugh shares a story with great relevance for today, the Leo Baekeland legacy. 

David: Hello Hugh, congratulations on your film All Things Bakelite. The film is about your great grandfather Leo Baekeland. Tell me why is his story important?

Hugh: He was a game changer. Our lives would be very different without LHB’s invention. I admire that he thought outside the box and took well considered risks to achieve his goals. This makes his story an important inspirational and educational asset worldwide. Also, if people know more about the history of plastic, they’re less inclined to misuse it.

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Auction Central News: “All things Bakelite” explores wonder and curse of plastic

LOS ANGELES – All Things Bakelite, the third documentary feature from director John Maher (Throw it Down), will arrive on multiple digital platforms on June 29 worldwide. In partnership with Bitmax, Executive Producer Hugh Karraker is bringing his great-grandfather Leo Baekeland’s story to six continents via streaming platforms such as iTunes, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, VUDU, and more.

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Doc ‘ALL THINGS BAKELITE’ Will Arrive on Digital, HD and Video On Demand

June 2021: Doc ‘ALL THINGS BAKELITE’ Will Arrive on Digital, HD and Video On Demand To Tell The Greatest Science Story Never Told

ALL THINGS BAKELITE, the third documentary feature from Director John Maher (Throw it Down), will arrive on multiple digital platforms on June 29 worldwide. In partnership with Bitmax, Executive Producer Hugh Karraker is bringing his great-grandfather Leo Baekeland’s story to six continents via streaming platforms such as iTunes, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, VUDU and more.

[Read more…]

NYU Review

Lights, Camera, Bakelite!

The Office of Student Affairs Hosts a Fun and Informative Movie Night

NYU Tandon School of Engineering
December 5, 2018

If you don’t think of chemistry as an exciting enough topic for a movie, you probably don’t know much about the life and work of Leo Baekeland, the Belgium-born scientist who produced Bakelite — the very first thermoset plastic — and in the process changed the world.

On November 29, the NYU Tandon community was treated to a showing of All Things Bakelite: The Age of Plastics, directed by filmmaker John Maher and executive-produced by Baekeland’s great-grandson, Hugh Karraker. As a bonus, the two were on hand (along with chemist Louis Pilato) to field questions about the iconoclastic scientist; the revolutionary substance he created; and the process of filming a picture that would engage and entertain as it enlightened.

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Bakelite Showing Review

Hope Yashnik, The Observer
November 2017

Case Western Reserve University

The showing of the Bakelite documentary at Case Western Reserve University had a successful viewing and drew a sizable and diverse crowd this fall.   The documentary told the story of Leo Baekeland, the inventor of the first polymer, in an informative, engaging and humorous way.  [Read more…]