About this Short Film
When Sticks Become Snakes, created by students at Kellyville High School, is a short Australian film from 2024 exploring anxiety and mental health in a school setting. Through striking images and intimate moments it reflects on the experience of being young and dealing with inner tension and fear. The film uses the motif of snakes to suggest the small and large ways worries move through daily life. Suitable for the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival, it contributes a young voice to conversations about individual resilience, access to support and the many faces of disability and difference in education. Quiet, thoughtful and empathetic.
Film Details
Film Transcript
B. Oh Craig, sweetheart, be careful. Yeah, yeah, they haven't warmed up yet, Craig. % capture record — it's true: 100% capture record. Never underestimate the potential for disaster when dealing with the public, especially in groups.
She's in her safe space, poking her head out, so we got to nip this in the butt before she warms up. All right, it's not going to come over here, is it? I think up some an anxious — well, that's me then. What, what do you need? Where are you going? She's gone back in. I'll be your brother, who 100% capture record still intact. He seems nice.
Mr Mar, we spoke on the phone last week. Well, you, you are the next of kin. Look, Mia, um, my life is an i. All right, I, I, I don't do we, so it's actually Maya with a Y and I don't do e — it's only until the 15th, three days of next month.
Thought you would have wanted to get rid of those. So how's the big bad snake business going? Had a group of bushw walkers on a track today, you know, all huddled together, me and their pants over a little red belly. Oh they're Brave if you ask me. You still scared of the snakes? Yeah. See, I don't think you're really that brave.
The bush Walkers, they were afraid; they could have gone back, left the scene, but no, they stayed. Now that's Brave. Why don't you take my room tonight? Well, I'll take the couch. Har. This is a safe space. One, I promise: three things you can touch, two things you can spell. It's okay. Please, please Mom. Big breast, big breast. Bak beans, please; they just sticks. You one thing you can taste — toothpaste. Brave told you, yeah.
Filmmaker
Kellyville High School is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Kellyville High School.
