About this Short Film
Potential, a film by Hashem Shadid from Heatherwood School (Australia, 2024), is a short work that explores themes of autism and cognitive processing disability in a school context. Calm and observant, it reflects on group interactions, teachers and teenagers, and the different ways people learn and communicate. The film does not offer easy answers but invites viewers to consider ability, support and belonging within everyday school life. Presented in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival, Potential sits alongside other works that celebrate the talents, experiences and achievements of people with disability, and contributes to a broader conversation about inclusion and understanding.
Film Details
Country:
Australia
State:
Victoria
Category:
School Documentaries
Genre:
interview
Festival Year:
2024
Filmmaker:
Heatherwood School
Film Transcript
I just think the students in our school show they're very creative students. Um, how do you think, Cate? Because, well, every student is different and they show their intelligence really in innovative ideas.
If all the animals in the world had to show their intelligence or ability by climbing a tree, a fish would think it was… I genuinely believe, what do I see from the students when I'm working with them? Potential. I mean, how… [ __ ] you say potential? Potential. Yes, exactly.
Why they work with team—or in what ways do the students in our school show their intelligence? Our students in our school show their intelligence in lots of different ways. So when they're showing their intelligence we're talking about a lot of their strengths that they have and, once again, from experiences they've had in their life and things that they're good at. So students in our school, they learn in different ways, right? In different ways to develop their brain—how do they do that? A lot of our students are visual; that means they need to look. They learn by looking.
Why did you ask the teachers how we show our intelligence? Because the film is based on kids with disability. They can—what's their ability in doing things? That's the reason why it's all about providing all those opportunities to make sure every student achieves their full potential and goes on to be successful in whatever they choose to do in afterlife at Hwood. Thanks, Sharon.
Well, I think that the students at our school know that if they're interested in something, we will help them the best way we can to find something that they like to do and then teach them how to do it. Thank you, good luck with your movie. Thank you and your project. I think you're doing a really good job. We try our best. I think you should do more of it.
Yeah, yeah. I think maybe back in the day we made films. Sean said to me, "I'm a good—I'm a good interviewer," and he said that Sean's a good photographer. "You're a very good photographer," he said. "We should do a news situation."
I think you should do a news crew. You remember back—um—I think it was like last year, the year before they had that fake news situation; that was wonderful. I love that and the way they did the design. Yeah, I loved that. Yeah, I like that too. I know other schools have got their own TV studio in the school. Wouldn't that be fantastic? We should— I, I, I… you know the funny thing is I bet Anthony didn't sign up for the whole pie-to-the-face situation; like he was just like, "What are you going to do with me?" But I think it's a good idea to have a news reporter for each week. I think that's good. I think that would be wonderful.
You know how we used to have—when I was in Year 7—I remember Year 2s used to go into Year 7 and 8 assembly and give them the news, like the highlights of the week. I remember that. That was fantastic. We should have somebody doing a little quick movie so that we can put it up on our cameras. Oh yeah, wouldn't that be good? Yeah, that would be news for the week. That'll be right. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
You know one time I was dreaming—it was similar to news but it was actually like a court and judge situation for school purposes. That would be good. And it was always—and I'm pretty sure it was always—Paul or Bram that was the judge, like Judge Judy. Yeah, that's actually a good idea. I think that's such a good— to have—black something—they'll be good. Dress cool up in the judge's outfit with the wig and the fancy frills. Yeah, that'll be good. Somebody's just going to randomly run up behind him then just—he's— that'll be good. Thank you, boys. Good luck.
How do you think you show your intelligence? I show my intelligence when a teacher gives me a task in class and I try my best to [ __ ].
Filmmaker
Heatherwood School is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Heatherwood School.
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3 comments
I thought I shouldve done something nice to school since it was my last year of school I am in year 12
Great work. I definitely recommend the film.
Great work. Highly entertaining and informative.