(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)

In his room, Akin inflates a balloon then lets go of it.

[BALLOON INFLATION]
[BALLOON DEFLATION]

He says WELCOME TO THE FEELING ZONE.
SORRY IF I'M NOT MY USUAL,
UPBEAT ON MY FEET SELF.
SEE, A CLASSMATE'S HAVING A
BIRTHDAY PARTY.
FEELS LIKE EVERYONE GOT INVITED
BUT ME.
I FEEL LIKE THE PERSON HAVING
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
DOESN'T LIKE ME.
AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL
KINDA DOWN.
SOMETIMES IT CAN FEEL THAT WE'RE
TREATED UNFAIRLY BY PEOPLE.
LIKE SOMEONE IS HARDER ON US
THAN THEY ARE ON OTHERS.
AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY.
IT CAN BE A PARENT, A FRIEND OR
EVEN A TEACHER.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS IT CAN MAKE
LIFE REALLY HARD.
JUST ASK MY FRIEND DIANA.

(music plays)

An animation rolls as Akin tells the story.

Akin says AT SCHOOL DIANA FEELS LIKE HER
TEACHER DOESN'T LIKE HER.
TO DIANA IT SEEMS LIKE SHE'S
ALWAYS GETTING IN TROUBLE.
AND OTHER KIDS AREN'T.
SOMETIMES HER FRIENDS WILL TALK
TO HER DURING CLASS.
AND DIANA WILL BE THE ONE WHO
GETS INTO TROUBLE
WHEN SHE ANSWERS BACK.
DIANA THINKS THAT'S
VERY UNFAIR.
AND IT MAKES HER ANGRY.
SHE FEELS LIKE SHE NEVER GETS
PICKED FOR FUN THINGS.
AND FEELS PICKED ON BY
HER TEACHER.
BECAUSE OF HER SITUATION, DIANA
IS NERVOUS
ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL BECAUSE
SHE DOESN'T
WANT TO GET INTO TROUBLE.

(music plays)

Now Akin sits by a bonfire in his backyard with his buddy Duane.

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

[FIRE CRACKLING]

Akin says HEARING DIANA'S STORY MADE ME
FEEL LESS ALONE.
AND DIANA, WE'RE JUST GETTING
WARMED UP TO TALK
ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS.
RIGHT DUANE?

Duane says RIGHT AKIN.

Akin says DUANE, DIANA'S FEELING A LOT
ABOUT THE WAY SHE'S
BEING TREATED BY HER TEACHER.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF
HER STORY?

Duane says I'M VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT DIANA.
SHE FEELS PICKED ON
BY A TEACHER
AND IS NERVOUS ABOUT
GOING TO SCHOOL.
TEACHER'S SHOULD BE CARING,
ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTIVE.
AND SCHOOL SHOULD BE
A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL.
DIANA MADE A BRAVE DECISION
WHEN SHE CHOSE TO
SPEAK UP ABOUT THIS AND
I HOPE THAT SHE CONTINUES
TO RAISE HER VOICE UNTIL SHE
GETS THE SUPPORT THAT SHE NEEDS.

Akin says WHERE SHOULD DIANA LOOK
FOR SUPPORT?

Duane says FOR STARTERS, DIANA NEEDS
TO SPEAK WITH A TRUSTED ADULT
ALSO KNOWN AS AN ADULT
ALLY. LIKE A PARENT
OR A GUARDIAN.
EXPRESSING OUR FEELINGS
CAN BE A GREAT WAY
TO WORK THROUGH OUR
EMOTIONS.
BUT SOME CHALLENGES REQUIRE
THE SUPPORT OF AN ADULT ALLY
AND THIS SOUNDS LIKE
ONE OF THOSE TIMES.

Akin says DIANA'S TEACHER MAKES HER
REALLY NERVOUS
SO TALKING TO THE TEACHER
MIGHT BE HARD FOR HER.

Duane says GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S
SHARED, I WOULDN'T BE
SURPRISED IF IT WAS DIFFICULT
FOR DIANA TO SPEAK
WITH HER TEACHER ON HER OWN.
IT'S STILL IMPORTANT HOWEVER TO
OPEN UP THE LINES OF
COMMUNICATION WITH THE TEACHER
SO THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS
HOW DIANA FEELS.
I WONDER HOW DIANA WOULD FEEL
ABOUT ASKING A PARENT,
OR A GUARDIAN OR AN ADULT ALLY,
TO SPEAK WITH THE TEACHER
FOR HER.

Akin says THAT'S GOOD ADVICE BUT THIS
SITUATION IS TOUGH.
WHAT IF IT DOESN'T WORK?

Duane says IF NEITHER DIANA NOR HER ADULT
ALLY ARE SATISFIED WITH
THE OUTCOME OF TRYING TO WORK
WITH THE TEACHER,
I WONDER HOW THEY WOULD FEEL
ABOUT BRINGING THIS TO
THE ATTENTION OF THE
VICE-PRINCIPLE
OR MAYBE THE PRINCIPLE.
OR EVEN SOMEBODY AT THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I HOPE THAT DIANA CONTINUES
TO SPEAK UP UNTIL
SHE FEELS THE SAFETY AND COMFORT
AT SCHOOL
THAT EVERYONE DESERVES.

Akin says THANKS DUANE, NOW LET'S
ENJOY THE FIRE.
[FIRE CRACKLING]
[DEEP BREATH]

(music plays)
[FANFARE]

(music plays)

Now Akin meets with his friends in the basement.

Akin says THANK YOU DIANA.
BEING SINGLED OUT CAN BE TOUGH.
BUT TURNING...
TO YOUR FRIENDS...
CAN HELP.
SO DIANA'S HAVING TROUBLE WITH
HER NEW TEACHER.
HOW DOES THAT MAKE
YOU FEEL?

Stella is around 12, with long blond hair in pig braids and wears glasses, black jeans, and an off white sweatshirt with fringes.

She says WELL IT MAKES ME KINDA
SAD BECAUSE IT'S NOT VERY FAIR
THAT SHE HAS TO BE AFRAID TO GO
TO SCHOOL
BECAUSE HER TEACHER ISN'T
TREATING HER EQUAL
TO EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE CLASS.

Kalina is in her early teens, with long curly brown hair in a ponytail and wears jeans, a green T-shirt and an unbuttoned flannel shirt.

She says IT ALSO MAKES ME FEEL PRETTY
SYMPATHETIC TO DIANA BECAUSE
SCHOOL'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN.
AND SHE'S NERVOUS FOR SCHOOL,
THEN THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING.

Akin says IT SOUNDS LIKE DIANA'S GETTING
IN TROUBLE AT SCHOOL A LOT.
ELI, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO GET
IN TROUBLE AT SCHOOL?

Eli is around 10, with short curly brown hair and wears jeans and a bright blue sweater.

He says IT MAKES ME FEEL NERVOUS AND
EMBARRASSED BECAUSE
SOMETIMES IT'S IN FRONT OF
THE WHOLE CLASS
OR YOUR FRIENDS.
AND THEN I FEEL LIKE, I LIKE
I WANNA GO, I WANNA MAKE AN
EXCUSE TO GO TO THE
BATHROOM.

Akin says WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHEN
SOMEONE'S BEING
UNFAIR TO YOU?

Stella says WELL IT DOESN'T FEEL THAT GREAT
BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE
PEOPLE ARE PICKING FAVOURITES
AND THEY AREN'T TREATING YOU
THE SAME AS OTHER PEOPLE.
AND THEY AREN'T TREATING YOU
THE WAY YOU'D WANT
TO BE TREATED.

Akin says HOW DOES IT FEEL TO NOT GET
PICKED FOR SOMETHING
YOU WANT?

Eli says IT REALLY MAKES ME FEEL SAD
BECAUSE AT SCHOOL
I WAS PLAYING HOCKEY AND I
WANTED TO BE ON A TEAM
WITH ALL MY FRIENDS.
BUT THE OTHER TEAM PICKED ME.
SO I ASKED THE OTHER TEAM IF I
COULD BE ON THEIR TEAM.
AND THEN THEY SAID NO.

Akin says WHAT ABOUT YOU KALINA?

Kalian says YOU FEEL LIKE, THEY LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE
BUT NOT YOU.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK IT
FEELS LIKE.

Akin says DIANA WAS HAVING TROUBLE
WITH HER TEACHER.
BUT NOT ALL TEACHER'S ARE
UNFAIR, RIGHT GUYS?

Stella says YEAH, I'VE HAD A LOT OF GOOD
TEACHERS
AND EVEN IF THEY WEREN'T BEING
NICE, THEY'RE STILL
TRYING TO TEACH YOU AND
HELP YOU LEARN.

Kalian says TEACHER'S CAN BE REALLY NICE.
AT MY SCHOOL, THERE ARE BARELY
ANY UNFAIR TEACHERS.

Eli says I HAD A LOT OF GOOD
TEACHERS.
AND ONE TEACHER, SHE
DID MOVIE DAY
AND WE HAD POPCORN
AND JUICE BOXES.
AND THEY WERE REALLY GOOD.

Akin says ELI, IF DIANA WERE HERE WHAT
WOULD YOU TELL HER?

Eli says I WOULD TELL HER TO ASK
HER MOM TO
TALK TO THE TEACHER
ABOUT THE UNFAIRNESS.
BECAUSE THAT SHOULD
NOT HAPPEN.

Akin says WHAT ABOUT YOU
KALINA?

Kalian says TALK TO YOUR PARENTS.
IF YOUR TEACHER DOESN'T GIVE
YOU SUPPORT,
THEY WILL. THEY'LL HELP YOU
THROUGH THE WAY.

Stella says I WOULD TELL HER TO TELL HER
PARENTS BECAUSE
THEY CAN ALWAYS HELP AND TALK TO
YOUR TEACHER
SO YOU COULD GET IT SORTED OUT.

Akin says I KNOW WHAT GRADE WE'D
GIVE DIANA.

They all say A PLUS, PLUS, PLUS!

(music plays)

Back in his room, Akin holds a board and says IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF
THE DAY.
AND IT'S TIME TO MAKE A LIST.
NO, IT'S NOT A TO-DO LIST OR A
GROCERY LIST.
IT'S A BRRRRRR...
'AKIN GREAT JOB WAY
TO GO'! LIST.
IT'S A WORKING TITLE.
OUR DAYS CAN BE FULL OF STRESS
OR WORRY.
AND SOMETIMES WE CAN ONLY FOCUS
ON WHAT WENT WRONG.
THAT'S WHY AT THE END OF EVERY
DAY I MAKE A LIST OF
THREE THINGS I DID THAT
I'M PROUD OF.
COMING UP WITH JUST THREE THINGS
HELP ME FOCUS ON THE
GOOD AND NOT THE BAD.
LET'S SEE. ONE, MY FRIEND DIANA
SHARED HER STORY WITH ME.

He writes down the items on the board.

(music plays)
[MARKER SQUEAKS]

He says TWO, I TALKED ABOUT HER FEELINGS
WITH MY FRIENDS.
AND THREE, I MADE A NEW
FRIEND, YOU.

(music plays)
[MARKER SQUEAKS]
[EXHALES]

Akin says THAT'S BETTER.
NEXT TIME YOU'RE HAVING A
ROUGH DAY.
JUST MAKE A LIST OF THINGS THAT
YOU'RE PROUD OF.
YOU MIGHT FIND OUT THE THING
YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF
IS YOU!

(music plays)

Akin dances with his friends in the basement.

Akin says I REALIZED THAT IT'S OKAY THAT
I DIDN'T GET INVITED
TO THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.
IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT, I'VE
DECIDED TO THROW
THE VERY FIRST 'HOW DO YOU
FESTIVAL'!
IT'S A PARTY FOR DIANA.
WE ALL HOPE SHE'LL BE SHOWN THE
UPMOST RESPECT
GOING FORWARD.
AND FOR YOU, FOR TAKING
YOUR TIME
AND HANGING OUT WITH US TODAY.
PARTY TIME!!

They all dance and have fun.

(music plays)
[LAUGHTER]

Music plays as the end credits roll.

Copyright 2020, Riverbank Pictures.