Item is an experimental style film by Arthur Erickson featuring members of his family (his father Oscar, mother Myrtle, brother Don, sister-in-law Eleanor and nephew Christopher) and family friend Ruth Lee. The film was shot at Ruth Lee's home at Qualicum Beach, where the Erickson's were visiting. In one scene, Don and Eleanor repair a fence while Myrtle gathers wood on the property. In another scene, Oscar sits on a patio and paints on a canvas while Arthur paints standing on top of the house’s chimney. In the next scene, Don and Eleanor enter an outhouse and exit holding baby Christopher, who is placed upon a poppy plant. In the next scene, the couple and their baby wade in several tidal pools on a beach while dressed in seaweed. Following this, the Erickson family (minus Arthur) shares an outdoor meal with Ruth Lee. The final scene shows Christopher wading in the tidal pools alone, playing with a toy boat.

Some of the scenes are filmed or edited in an experimental or artistic manner, such as splicing certain scenes into the film on negative instead of positive film.