(music plays)

A caption reads "TVO Kids and Riverbank pictures original."
[LAUGHTER]

(music plays)

Wearing a mask, Akin walks in his room.

Akin is in his early teens, with slightly long braided brown hair and wears jeans and a yellow sweater.

Akin's room is full of colourful furniture, has different colour walls, a black and white checkered floor, pink curtains, and a neon sign that reads "Feelings" behind a couch.

He says OH HEY, IT'S ME AKIN.
THE HOST OF HOW DO YOU FEEL?
I'M SURE YOU'RE FEELING A LOT
THESE DAYS.
WE ALL ARE, AND THAT'S OKAY.
I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT MY
FRIENDS AND I FILMED THE SHOW
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, SO EVEN
THOUGH WE'RE NOT WEARING MASKS,
OR PHYSICALLY DISTANCING, IT'S
STILL VERY IMPORTANT.
SO IF YOU'RE IN A SITUATION
WHERE YOU NEED TO
PHYSICALLY DISTANCE, BUT YOU
CAN'T, PUT ON YOUR MASK.
IT'LL HELP KEEP YOU AND YOUR
FRIENDS SAFE.
WHICH FEELS GREAT!
ENJOY THE SHOW!

In animation, the opening of the show rolls.

As the sun comes up between the mountains, colourful letters with different mood facial expressions form the name of the show. It reads "How do you feel?"

A song goes SOME DAYS YOU MIGHT BE HAPPY
AND SOME DAYS YOU MIGHT BE MAD
OTHER DAYS THEY START OFF
RIGHT
BUT THEN YOU WENT UPSET
BUT IT'S OKAY
CUZ WE WANNA KNOW
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
YEAH, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

(music plays)

Akin walks in his room. The room is decorated for a party.

Akin says YOU'RE JUST IN TIME!
I WAS SO EXCITED FOR TODAY
I COULD BARELY SLEEP LAST NIGHT.
I'M THROWING A DANCE PARTY FOR
MY FRIENDS.
WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN
UNIQUE MOVES
AND OUR OWN UNIQUE
BODIES.
THAT'S A GOOD THING!
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO
LOOK THE SAME.
MY FRIENDS ARE DIFFERENT SHAPES,
SIZES, COLOURS AND ABILITIES.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET TO
APPRECIATE HOW
COOL THAT IS.
AND THAT IS WHY I'M THROWING
THIS PARTY.
I HOPE MY FRIENDS HAVE FUN.
[RADIO TUNING]
ESPECIALLY ZOEY!

(music plays)

Akin says SHE'S HAVING A HARD TIME.
[ECHO]

She grabs a microphone and says CHECK, CHECK.
CHECK, CHECK.

(music plays)

An animation rolls as Akin tells the story.

He says RECENTLY, ZOEY HAS BEEN FEELING BAD
ABOUT HER BODY.
MAKING MEAN COMMENTS.
CALLING ZOEY FAT AND CHUBBY.
[LAUGHTER]
THEY MAKE FUN OF THE FOOD SHE
BRINGS FOR LUNCH
AND TELL HER SHE'S NOT HEALTHY.
AT FIRST ZOEY THOUGHT IT
WAS A JOKE.
BUT THE KIDS KEPT
BRINGING IT UP.
AND IT REALLY HURT ZOEY'S
FEELINGS.
NOW SHE FEELS LIKE SHE NEEDS TO
WEAR BIG SWEATERS
TO HIDE HER BODY, AND NOT SHOW
ANYONE
WHAT'S IN HER LUNCH.
[SCHOOL BELL]
IT'S HARD FOR ZOEY TO GO TO
SCHOOL
BECAUSE SHE WORRIES THAT KIDS
WILL BE MEAN TO HER.

(music plays)

In the backyard, Duane plays with his RC car.

[RC CAR MOTOR]

Duane is in his thirties, with short straight black hair and wears beige trousers, a blue T-shirt and an unbuttoned plaid shirt.

Akin says AHH, SO CLOSE!

Duane says HEY AKIN, YOU
WANNA TRY?

Akin says THANKS DUANE, BUT I'M NOT
REALLY IN THE MOOD
TO RACE RIGHT NOW.
ZOEY'S STORY MADE WE
FEEL SAD.
SHE'S SUCH A CARING FRIEND
AND THOSE KIDS AT SCHOOL
MADE HER REALLY UPSET.

Duane says I'M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE
HURTFUL AND DISRESPECTFUL
WAY THAT ZOEY'S BEING TREATED
AT SCHOOL.
SHE DESERVES TO BE TREATED
WITH CARE AND RESPECT.
WITH ALL THE TIME THAT WE
SPEND IN SCHOOL
IT'S TOUGH TO IMAGINE HOW
IT MIGHT FEEL
TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE
MIGHT SAY ABOUT YOU
WHILE YOU'RE THERE.

Akin says WHY WOULD THOSE KIDS TELL
ZOEY THAT SHE
WASN'T HEALTHY?

Duane says WELL MANY PEOPLE HAVE AN
IDEA OF WHAT THEY THINK
HEALTHY LOOKS LIKE.
BUT HEALTHY BODIES COME IN
ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.
AND NOBODY HAS A RIGHT
TO JUDGE US.

Akin says MAKES WE FEEL SAD ABOUT ZOEY
TRYING TO HIDE
WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE.
AS HER FRIENDS, WHAT CAN
WE DO TO HELP?

Duane says WELL SOMETIMES WHEN
PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF US
IT MIGHT LEAD US TO
QUESTION OUR
SELF ESTEEM.
BUT WE CAN BUILD OUR
SELF ESTEEM BY
SURROUNDING OURSELVES WITH
POSITIVE PEOPLE AND EVEN
POSITIVE THOUGHTS.
I WONDER WHO ZOEY COULD SURROUND
HERSELF WITH SO THAT
SHE COULD THAT SHE
COULD GET SUPPORT.

Akin says WHAT SHOULD ZOEY DO IF
THE KIDS PICKING ON HER?

Duane says IT SOUNDS LIKE ZOEY'S BEEN
EXPERIENCING
SOCIAL BULLYING.
SOCIAL BULLYING IS WHEN A
GROUP OF PEOPLE
CHOOSE TO HURT SOMEBODY.
IT HAPPENS ON PURPOSE AND IT
HAPPENS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I WONDER IF ZOEY WOULD FEEL
COMFORTABLE SPEAKING WITH
A PARENT, A GUARDIAN OR A
TEACHER ABOUT GETTING
SUPPORT AND LETTING THEM KNOW
HOW THE KIDS AT SCHOOL
HAVE BEEN TREATING HER.
SHE DESERVES ALL THE SUPPORT
THAT SHE NEEDS AND I HOPE
THAT THE ADULTS IN HER LIFE,
PROVIDE THAT FOR HER.

Akin says NEXT TIME I SEE SOMEBODY
GETTING TEASED LIKE ZOEY,
I'M GONNA STAND UP
FOR THEM.

Duane says ME TOO!

Akin says DEAL. NOW LET'S GIVE
THIS THING A TRY.

Duane tosses him the remote and says OKAY.

Akin says OKAY.

Duane says GOOD JOB. CAREFUL.
[RC CAR MOTOR]

(music plays)
[FANFARE]

(music plays)

Now Akin joins his friends in the basement. They are crafting gifts for Zoey.

Akin says HEY GUYS! CAN I JOIN?
OHHH! A SNAIL, MY FAVOURITE
GASTROPOD.
IS THAT A 'Z' FOR ZOEY?
SHE'S GONNA LOVE IT.
HOW DID YOU GUYS FEEL, LISTENING
TO HER STORY?

Curtis is around 7, with short light brown hair and wears an orange, white, and blue sweater.

He says I FELT SORRY FOR ZOEY BECAUSE
SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

Talia is around 12, with slightly long braided brown hair and wears a red sweatshirt.

She says I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR ZOEY
BECAUSE, JUST BECAUSE SHE
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEM
DOESN'T MEAN SHE SHOULD BE
TREATED DIFFERENTLY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE
EVERYONE.
BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT JUST
BECAUSE YOU DON'T
LIKE SOMEONE, YOU GET TO
BE MEAN TO THEM.

Calvin is around 11, with slightly long straight light brown hair and wears a blue and orange jacket.

He says I THINK THAT EVERYBODY'S EQUAL
AND THE KIDS CALLING HER RUDE
NAMES LIKE 'CHUBBY' AND 'FAT'
UM, WAS VERY RUDE OF THEM.

Akin says IF YOUR FRIEND WAS BEING
TEASED ABOUT THEIR BODY,
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Talia says FIRST, I WOULD GET MY
FRIEND AND GO
SOMEWHERE PRIVATE,
AND TELL THEM
THAT WHATEVER THE BULLIES
SAID, WHOEVER, SAID
THAT IT'S NOT TRUE AND THEY
SHOULD EMBRACE
HOW THEY LOOK.

Calvin says FIRST I WOULD SAY,
'BACK OFF' AND THEN
I WOULD, LIKE I'D TRY TO
GET THEM TO STOP
THEN I WOULD TELL THE
FRIEND THAT
'EVERYBODY'S EQUAL, YOUR
BODY DOESN'T
LOOK BAD AT ALL'.

Akin says WHAT DO YOU DO TO FEEL
BETTER WHEN YOUR FEELINGS
HAVE BEEN HURT?

Curtis says I WOULD USUALLY GO
TO MY ROOM
AND TALK TO MYSELF.
AND SAY THAT 'I WAS OKAY'
AND WHOEVER DID IT
I WOULD TALK TO THEM
THE NEXT DAY.

Akin says WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
TO THEM?

Curtis says I WOULD SAY TO
THEM THAT,
'THEY REALLY HURT MY FEELINGS'
AND THAT THEY SHOULD TRY
TO BE NICER TO PEOPLE.

Calvin says WELL WHAT I WOULD,
IF IT'S AT SCHOOL,
I WOULD WALK AWAY.
IF IT'S AT HOME, I WILL WAIT
UNTIL IT ALL BLOWS OVER.
AND WHAT I'LL DO TO KILL
TIME IS JUST,
WELL ONCE I PICKED UP AN
ELASTIC AND THEN STARTED
TRYING TO HIT A LIGHT
SWITCH.
OR I THINK IT WAS A
THERMOSTAT,
[LAUGHS]
AND IT TOOK MY MIND
OFF OF IT.

Akin says IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D
LIKE TO TELL ZOEY?

Curtis says I WOULD TELL HER THAT
I'M SORRY.
BECAUSE THE KIDS WERE REALLY
BEING MEAN AND HURTING
HER FEELINGS.

Akin says WHAT ABOUT YOU TALIA?

Talia says I HOPE THAT ZOEY WILL
NOT LET ANYONE
TELL HER WHAT TO DO IN LIFE,
LIKE NOT LET ANYONE
TELL HER WHAT TO CHANGE OR WHAT
NOT TO CHANGE
BECAUSE IT'S HER LIFE AND SHE
CAN LIVE IT HOWEVER SHE WANTS.

Akin says WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HER
CALVIN?

Calvin says I WOULD SAY THAT EVERYBODY'S
BODY SHAPE IS EQUAL
AND YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL
ASHAMED OF YOUR
BODY SHAPE, AND THAT'S
ABOUT IT.

Akin says THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING SO
KIND TO ZOEY.
TALKING ABOUT IT
FEELS GOOD.
WHAT?

Talia, Curtis, and Calvin hug Akin and say GROUP HUG!!

(music plays)

Back in his room, Akin measures himself against the door frame and says ZOEY'S STORY GOT ME WONDERING.
WHY DO WE FEEL SAD AND BAD
ABOUT OURSELVES SOMETIMES.
WELL SOMETIMES IT'S OTHER PEOPLE
PICKING ON US.
BUT OTHER TIMES IT'S US
PICKING ON US.
WHEN WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO
OTHER PEOPLE
IT CAN MAKE US FEEL LIKE WE
AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE FRIENDS
WITH MORE TOYS,
COOLER GAMES, AND BETTER GRADES
THAN US.
IT'S A NORMAL PART OF LIFE.
BUT INSTEAD OF COMPARING
OURSELVES TO EVERYONE
UNDER THE SUN, WE SHOULD TRY TO
SHINE A LITTLE SUN
ON OURSELVES.
[BELL]
'HOW'S AKIN FEELING?'
'WHAT AM I GOOD AT?'
THE ONLY PERSON WORTH COMPARING
YOURSELF TO,
IS YOU.
SO LOOK INSIDE, YOU'LL
LIKE THE VIEW.

(music plays)

Now Curtis and Talia race with the crafted toys and say
GO! GO! NORBERT! SHELLY!
SO CLOSE!
[CAR ENGINES]
(ALL)
COME ON!
ALMOST THERE! AHHH!

Akin says SHELLY THE SNAIL MAY HAVE WON
THIS RACE
BUT I THINK AT THE END
OF THE DAY,
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER WE'RE
BIG OR SMALL,
FAST OR SLOW, BECAUSE OUR BODIES
ARE ALL DIFFERENT.
AND THEY'RE AWESOME JUST THE
WAY THEY ARE.
YOU KEEP DOING YOU.
AND WE'LL MEET BACK HERE
AGAIN SOON.
BYE!

The kids jump at him for another group hug.

(music plays)

Akin says NOT AGAIN!!

[LAUGHTER]

Music plays as the end credits roll.

Copyright 2020, Riverbank Pictures.