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 "Fellings" 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 sits in his room and talks to his stuffed animals.

He says OKAY, LET ME RECAP.
YOU, PROFESSOR PORKINGTON ARE
SAYING THAT DR. DOG EARS
HERE HAS BEEN TAKING YOUR SPOT
IN THE STUFFY PILE.
[EXHALES]
WHILE YOU, DR. DOG EARS, SAYING
THAT PROFESSOR PORKINGTON
ALWAYS GETS THE BEST SPOT.
THIS IS A TOUGHY.
A COUPLE OF MY PALS ARE HAVING
AN ARGUMENT.
AND THEY ASKED ME TO HELP
THEM SORT IT OUT.
I'M TOUCHED THAT MY FRIENDS
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.
SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE WE
CARE ABOUT
FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER AND THEY
NEED HELP
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
BUT IT CAN BE HARD.
TAKE MY FRIEND EMMETT, TWO OF
HIS FRIENDS
GOT INTO A FIGHT.
AND EMMETT TRIED TO BREAK
IT UP.
ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN.

(music plays)

An animation rolls as Akin tells the story.

Akin says AT SCHOOL TWO OF EMMETT'S
FRIENDS GOT INTO A FIGHT.
THEY FIRST ARGUED WITH WORDS.
BUT THEN IT GOT PHYSICAL.
HE THOUGHT THAT FRIENDS
SHOULDN'T FIGHT.
HE WAS ALSO WORRIED THAT HIS
FRIENDS WOULD GET HURT.
GETTING IN THE MIDDLE.
AND TELLING THEM TO STOP.
HIS FRIENDS WERE SHOCKED.
[YELLING]
BUT THEY STOPPED FIGHTING.
AFTER A WHILE ALL THREE
FRIENDS
STARTED PLAYING SOCCER
TOGETHER.
EMMETT FELT BRAVE.
[FANFARE]

(music plays)

Akin EMMETT YOU ARE ONE SPECIAL
PERSON FOR DOING WHAT YOU DID.
AND I'M HAPPY TO BE TAKING
A BREAK.
I'M PUTTING THE BREAKS ON
BREAKING UP
MY FRIENDS BREAK UP.
AND I CAN'T IMAGINE A
BETTER BREAK THAN
TALKING ABOUT EMMETT'S
FEELINGS.

He walks to his backyard and says HEY DUANE!

Duane says HEY AKIN.

Now Akin sits in his backyard with Duane.

Duane is in his thirties, with short straight black hair and wears jeans, a bright orange T-shirt and an unbuttoned purple shirt.

Akin says EMMETT BROKE UP HIS FRIENDS
WHO WERE HAVING
A PHYSICAL FIGHT WITH
EACH OTHER.
NOW THAT TAKES COURAGE.

Duane says EMMETT SOUNDS LIKE A
WONDERFUL FRIEND.
HE CARED A LOT ABOUT THE
SAFETY AND WELL BEING
OF THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
IT CAN BE BOTH CHALLENGING
AND SAD WHEN PEOPLE
THAT WE CARE ABOUT ARE
IN CONFLICT.
WE FIND OURSELVES FEELING LIKE
WE'RE CAUGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AND EMMETT
WAS ACTUALLY
CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT
TRYING TO SEPARATE THEM.

Akin says HE REALLY WAS.
AND YOU COULD TELL THAT HE
WANTED HIS FRIENDS
TO STOP ARGUING.

Duane says TRYING TO SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS
THROUGH A CONFLICT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
TRYING TO HELP RESOLVE CONFLICT
BETWEEN OUR FRIENDS,
NOW THAT CAN BE TRICKY.
WE MAY WANT TO START BY
TRYING TO COMMUNICATE
USING 'I' STATEMENTS AND EVEN
TAKING A BREAK WHEN
THEY NEED TO, COOLING OFF AND
THEN TRYING TO REVISIT THAT
CONVERSATION IF THAT'S
WHAT WILL HELP.

Akin says WHAT'S AN 'I' STATEMENT?

Duane says AN 'I' STATEMENT IS JUST
A FORMULA THAT CAN
HELP YOU TO EXPRESS
YOUR FEELINGS.
SO INSTEAD OF SAYING
'YOU, YOU, YOU!'
WHICH MIGHT MAKE SOMEBODY
LESS LIKELY TO COMMUNICATE,
YOU CAN START BY SHARING,
'I FEEL'.
THEN YOU GET A CHANCE TO
UNDERSTAND
WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

Akin says HOW CAN EMMETT HELP HIS FRIENDS
BECOME FRIENDLY AGAIN
WHEN THEY'RE ARGUING.

Duane says TRYING TO TALK THROUGH OUR
FEELINGS MAY NOT ALWAYS
BE EASY TO DO.
SOMETIMES TALKING TURNS
INTO ARGUING
WHEN WE HAVE EMOTIONS.
ARGUING CAN TURN TO HURT
FEELINGS.
AND HURT FEELINGS CAN TURN TO
PHYSICAL ALTERCATIONS AS WELL.
THAT'S WHEN EMMETT MAY WANT TO
CONSIDER TRYING TO MEDIATE
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN
HIS FRIENDS.
A MEDIATOR IS SOMEONE WHO
HELPS YOU GO BACK AND FORTH
IN A CONVERSATION, THAT WAY BOTH
PEOPLE ARE HEARD EQUALLY.

Akin says IS THERE ANY OTHER ADVICE
YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE EMMETT?
EMMETT SHOULD REMIND HIMSELF
THAT IT'S NOT HIS
RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP HIS
FRIENDS RESOLVE THEIR CONFLICT.
AND CERTAINLY PUTTING OURSELVES
IN BETWEEN THEM
MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE
SAFEST IDEA.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO
GET AN ADULT INVOLVED
IF YOU EVER NEED HELP.

Akin says HERE'S AN 'I' STATEMENT
FOR YOU,
I BET I'M FASTER
THAN YOU.

They race outside.

[RACE CAR DRIVES BY]

(music plays)
[FANFARE]

(music plays)

Now Akin moderates an imaginary conversation between a stuffed dinosaur and a stuffed monkey.

Akin says UH, HA.
YOU DON'T SAY.
I'M JUST GATHERING INFORMATION.
I'M REALLY INSPIRED BY EMMETT
AND I WANNA HELP
MY FRIENDS MAKE UP.
DON'T GO ANYWHERE.
WE CAN ALL USE FRIENDS TO
TALK TO.
AND IT'S OKAY IF WE GET INTO A
DISAGREEMENT.

He walks in the basement and meets his friends.

He says RIGHT GUYS?

His friends say RIGHT!

Akin says EMMETT BROKE UP A FIGHT THAT
HIS FRIENDS WERE HAVING,
HOW DOES THAT STORY
MAKE YOU FEEL?

Libby is in her early teens, with long straight blond hair and wears jeans and a striped purple sweatshirt.

She says I THINK IT'S GOOD BECAUSE
SOMETIMES IT'S REALLY HARD
TO BREAK UP A FIGHT WITH
YOUR FRIENDS.
BUT I ALSO FEEL BAD FOR HIM
BECAUSE SOMETIME'S IT'S
REALLY HARD.

Jashean is in his early teens, with slightly long braided brown hair and wears jeans and a powder blue sweater.

Jashean says IT MAKES ME FEEL BAD
BECAUSE FRIENDS SHOULDN'T BE
FIGHTING AND FRIENDS SHOULD BE
FRIENDS.

Akin says WHEN YOUR FRIENDS ARE
FIGHTING, WHAT DO YOU DO?

Libby WELL AT FIRST I TRY AND
SEE IF THEY'LL MAKE
IT UP ON THEIR OWN.
AND IF THEY DON'T,
I TRY AND HELP, AND
SOMETIMES THAT'S KINDA HARD.

Aiesha is in her early teens, with long straight brown hair in an half updo. She wears bright orange trousers and a powder blue sweater.

Aiesha says WELL IT KINDA DEPENDS ON
WHAT THE PROBLEM IS
BECAUSE IF THEY'RE LIKE
VERBALLY ARGUING THEN
IT'S NOT THAT BAD BUT IF THEY'RE
PHYSICALLY FIGHTING, THAT'S A
VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION.
I WOULD GO TELL A
TRUSTED GROWN UP.

Akin says WHEN YOU'RE FRIENDS ARE
HAVING A PHYSICAL FIGHT
IT CAN BE DANGEROUS TO GET
IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT?

Jashean says I THINK IT'S DANGEROUS TO
GO IN THE MIDDLE
BECAUSE WHAT IF YOUR FRIENDS ARE
FIGHTING, YOU TRY TO GO
STOP IT AND THEN YOUR FRIENDS
HIT YOU IN THE EYE.
AND YOU LIKE GET A BLACK EYE.

Akin says IF EMMETT WERE HERE, WHAT
WOULD YOU TELL HIM?

Libby says I WOULD TELL HIM THAT IT WAS
REALLY GOOD THAT
HE BROKE UP HIS FRIENDS AND
NOW THEY'RE PLAYING
BACK TOGETHER.
AND THAT NEXT TIME IF THAT
EVER HAPPENS AGAIN
JUST MAKE SURE THAT HE DOESN'T
PICK SIDES.

Aiesha says WHAT I WOULD SAY TO HIM
IS THAT IT'S OKAY IF THAT EVER
HAPPENS AGAIN.
JUST SEPARATE THEM AND LET
THEM CALM DOWN.

Jashean says I WOULD SAY GOOD JOB BECAUSE
YOU DID THE RIGHT THING
AND WENT IN THE MIDDLE AND
STOPPED YOUR TWO FRIENDS
THAT WERE FIGHTING.

Akin says I KNOW WHAT WE CAN TELL HIM.
WAY TO GO EMMETT!

(music plays)

Back in his room, Akin says PERFECT TIMING!
DUANE'S ADVICE ON BEING A
MEDIATOR INSPIRED ME
TO GIVE IT A SHOT.
I'M ABOUT TO TELL MY PALS HERE
ABOUT 'I' MESSAGES.
NO NOT THE THING ON YOUR
PARENT'S PHONES.
IT'S A HELPFUL SKILL WE CAN USE
TO TALK TO
SOMEONE WE'RE HAVING A
DISAGREEMENT WITH.
IT'S OKAY YOU CAN LISTEN IN.
NOW THE WAY THIS WORKS IS THAT
INSTEAD OF STARTING THE
SENTENCE WITH 'YOU', START IT
WITH 'I FEEL'.
OR 'I THINK', THIS WAY YOU BOTH
KNOW HOW EACH OTHER FEELS.
AND YOU AREN'T HURTING EACH
OTHER'S FEELINGS.
OKAY, GOOD LUCK.
SO PROFESSOR, INSTEAD OF SAYING
'YOU HAVE BEEN TAKING
MY SPOT IN THE STUFFY PILE!'
TRY SAYING 'I FEEL LIKE MY SPOT
IN THE STUFFY PILE
IS BEING TAKEN AND IT MAKES ME
FEEL CONFUSED'.
AND YOU, DOCTOR, INSTEAD OF
SAYING 'YOU ALWAYS GET
THE BEST SPOT'.
TRY SAYING 'I FEEL LIKE WE
SHOULD SHARE SPOTS
MORE OFTEN'.
SO REMEMBER THE NEXT TIME YOU
WANNA TALK TO SOMEONE
ABOUT A PROBLEM, TRY 'I'
MESSAGES INSTEAD OF
'YOU' MESSAGES!

(music plays)
In the basement, they all cheer, throw the stuffed animals up in the air and say HIP, HIP, HOORAY!
HIP, HIP, HOORAY!

Akin says OH, JUST ONE SECOND.
WE'RE CELEBRATING TWO FRIENDS
TALKING IT OUT
AND LEARNING TO SHARE.
SPEAKING OF SHARING, THANK YOU
EMMETT FOR SHARING
YOUR STORY.
AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
TIME WITH US.
THE MORE WE SHARE, THE MORE
WE CARE!

Akin's Friends pick him up to give him a cheer.

Akin says UHH, OH, HIP, HIP HOORAY!
[POTS CRASHING]

(music plays)

Music plays as the end credits roll.

Copyright 2020, Riverbank Pictures.