About this Short Film
‘Brains’ is a humorous and heartwarming short film created by students from BLENNZ. When a mysterious zombie stumbles into their classroom, the students struggle to understand what he wants. Some judge him because of the way he looks, sounds, and behaves, while others try to communicate and help him. As they get to know him, they discover that he isn't looking for brains to eat, he wants the chance to learn! Through friendship, patience, and understanding, the students learn that everyone is valuable and capable, regardless of how they look, communicate, or move through the world.
Film Details
Film Transcript
A zombie with ripped and bloodied clothes limps across a school field of impass's classrooms. Inside the blind's classroom, Ben Ahur, Jordan, Tegan and Precious are learning. The zombie staggers towards them, colliding with the glass door. Ahur opens the door for him. Are you the new guy? Excuse me. What?
The zombie notices Jordan playing the keyboard and lurches over to her. Oh, hello. Do you like my music? The zombie bangs on the keyboard. Oh, that's an interesting sound. Do you want me to teach you a chord? The zombie bangs the keys again. I'm afraid I don't understand. What kind of music is that? Precious leaps up. What's going on here? The new guy. It sounds like he's broken. He's not broken. He's speaking some kind of foreign language. He sounds Australian. Ben: He sounds dumb. He's trying to tell us something.
Here, use this. Gordon hands him an iPad. He bites it. Oh dear. See what I tell you, dumb zombie. He smacks the iPad. Are you lost? I think he's sick. Yeah, stuck in the head. That's not helpful. Are you hungry? I think he's hungry. Jordan offers him a nappy. He pushes it away. Ahur holds out a piece of bread. He takes it and chucks it down. Try this. It's a chocolate brownie. He sniffs it. He doesn't like chocolate. Definitely stuck in the head. Something's wrong with his head. He keeps pointing to it. He touches his face. Oh my gosh, his face is so swollen. There's bruises and cuts everywhere. Oh my god, he's a zombie. Don't be silly. Zombies are unreal.
The zombie taps on the iPad. Want brains? Need brains. He's a zombie. All right. Tegan hands him a brain. Where did you get that? The graveyard. Just kidding. Biology class. The zombie pushes it away. He doesn't want to eat brains. Maybe he wants what's inside of them. He wants to learn.
Claudia, the teacher, takes the zombie's hand and leads him to a table. Not so hard. Gently. She guides his hand gently across a page of braille. Cat. That's right. She teaches him maths using brightly coloured numeric shapes on a white pegboard. He reads the braille labels on the fridge, the toaster, the bathroom door, baby. The zombie swings his cane wildly in the air. Ahur touches his wrist lightly to bring the cane tip to the ground. He demonstrates how to use the cane properly, sweeping it side to side down the corridor.
Future Noah talks on his mobile while heading outside. He double takes. Another zombie wheels past him. Let's go. Two more zombies saunter past. Noah, you there? Noah's eyes widen. Did you hear me? Noah, what's going on? What is that sound?
Roger and Claudia sit at a table. The three new zombies approach. Roger grimaces. This wasn't covered in training.
Actress was for a precious critihana Roland Jordan to Ben Styles. Okor o sunnia aana Hayden Lola William Tran Robson makeup Tegan Roland Claudia Malloy original music Oidora O Hayden Liare DJ beats Sha and Jackson producer Jimma Shep director Hank Wright editor Skinny thanks Roger Hamlin Dwayne Telly Noah Holton.
Ocidor teaches the zombie keyboard. Can you play this? Oh my god. This is impossible. You gotta be kidding me. Brains.
Filmmaker
Blennz Homai Campus School is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Blennz Homai Campus School.
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‘Brains’ was created by us, a group of blind and low vision high school students from BLENNZ. Inspired by our own experiences, we wanted to tell a story about the importance of understanding people before judging them. Many of us have experienced being judged because of the way we look, talk, move, or behave. Through the character of the zombie, we explored how assumptions can prevent people from seeing someone's true potential. - Very Proud of my class, mahi pai!