Beyond Popularity

About this Short Film

Our film tells the story of Bella, a kind-hearted person with a disability. She’s blind and although the film starts as a positive view, it quickly saddens when she mentions it. Gabriella is the bully of the story, and her aim is to make Bella ashamed. But Gabriella doesn’t stop there, as after Penny, Bella’s best friend is prompted by a fellow classmate, she turns her away transforming her into an entirely different person and pulling her away from her best friend. But Bella doesn’t let that stop her, showing kindness through every action. Penny, influenced by Gabriella starts to fail in school and not do as well as she used to, and on top of just being mean, people start to turn away and look to Bella instead. The classmates are realising it’s not just about what’s on show, it’s the inside that really matters. Still, Penny and Gabriella continue with their ways, until an accident occurs on school camp. Bella is distressed and desperately calls on her classmates for help. And they refuse, advising Bella to do the same. But Bella doesn’t care. They’re her classmates and she can’t just stand there doing nothing. She’s got to save them. So, in that way, Penny and Gabriella are rescued, Gabriella turns back from her evil ways, and Bella realises her disability isn’t really a disability after all. Our film shows a blind person’s journey through friendships and bullies and ending in a positive light. We hope it inspires people to look deeper than the surface and that it’s the inside that really matters.