About this Short Film
Amy's Journey (Seaview High School, Australia, 2018) offers a thoughtful look at themes around blindness, school life and growing up. Shot by a student team, the short film invites viewers to consider individual experience and sensory disability without assuming a single point of view. It is the kind of work that fits the Focus on Ability festival's aim to showcase the abilities, experiences and achievements of people with disability. Expect a quiet, observational piece that opens space for conversation about teenagers, accessibility and inclusion in educational settings. A sensitive addition to a program celebrating diverse perspectives and young filmmakers.
Film Details
Film Transcript
So how do you adapt? Well, I look at the system and try to figure out a way around it. Like, mostly with reading I get to use Braille, which is basically reading with your fingers. The interesting thing about me is I found a way to adapt to e-sports, which is primarily a visual sport, but I found a way to adapt to it. I just put some sort of audio behind the target and aim with my ears.
Do you have any hobbies? I like reading and watching movies and TV shows and stuff. I like stuff on the internet and stuff like that. Yeah, I really like fantasy, but lately I've been going for superheroes. Marvel is awesome. So can you tell us what your favourite Marvel character is? My favourite — I just have to say — is Captain America or Loki. I really like the story about Loki because I kind of identify with him, like being other people's shadow and not feeling appreciated sometimes. I have always liked complicated characters like that.
If you had a superpower what would you want it to be? I would like to be able to move stuff, like Spider-Man's web-slinging or like in Star Wars where you can pull objects towards you — or be able to sense what's going on. That would be awesome.
You see, when one sense is really bad, like with my sight, our other senses have to compensate. I can read Braille, which involves a lot of tactile stuff, and I can make my fingers into sensitive centres. I also have very sensitive ears.
What is your greatest achievement? I think just learning how to move around places and learning Braille. I've had some people say that I'm one of the quickest people to ever learn the alphabet — it took me like half a year or something. I was about nine. Now I'm really good at it; I can read really fast. How long does it take you to read a book? Well, it depends on how interesting it is, the size of it and how interested I am in the book. I read aloud to my brother at night when he's trying to sleep; it took us just under a month to read the first book.
How would you describe your journey? Some people just don't understand what it's like to be blind and can be really mean about it. But that's the way the world works — people are going to discriminate against people like me. You just kind of keep holding on and have faith. I mean, I was born like this and if someone has a problem about it then I don't care. It's who I am. I'd say my bad vision has helped shape who I am. So I guess my journey is one of trials and tribulations, but I just keep carrying on and stay strong. That's what I do.
Filmmaker
Seaview High School is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Seaview High School.
Thank you for sharing your inspirational story. We liked finding out about braille - F7 I8 I1 at Claremont Special School.
Im so happy to see Amys journey and its so inspiring because my brother is blind and will be coming to Seaview in 2 years. My brother goes to school at sasvi and he can remember the presentation night where Amy was a year 7 graduating. Its amazing to see how far she has come. Well done and i hope you win
Great look at Amys perspective on her life. Well done guys