A child says, WHEE!

[Upbeat theme music plays, giggling]

Text reads, “TVOkids.” “Apartment Eleven Productions.” “Original.”

[Upbeat music plays]

Tristan wears his black hair buzzed on the sides and short on top. He wears a bright yellow tank top and black slacks as he dances in a room with dance bars along a wall and in front of windows.

A narrator says, MEET TRISTAN.
HE MOVES TO THE BEAT OF
DANCE HALL MUSIC.

Tristan bites into bread.

The narrator says, MMM.
CAN I HAVE SOME?

Tristan says, SO GOOD.

The narrator says, LOOKS LIKE
THEY'RE READY. ARE YOU?

WELL, LET'S GO!

[Vroom]

An animated sun waves. Photographs of children appear on a colourful brick wall. Text beneath the waving sun reads, “Sunny’s Quest.”

[Upbeat theme song plays, needle scratching on record]

Red text under Tristan reads, “Tristan.”

Tristan says, HI, I'M TRISTAN.

I'M ELEVEN YEARS OLD AND
I'M FROM MONTREAL, QUEBEC.
I'M CANADIAN-JAMAICAN,

A red dotted line moves from Montreal, Quebec in Canada to Jamaica.

Tristan says, AND THESE ARE
MY PARENTS, BRUCE AND AMANDA.

Blue text under Amanda reads, “Mom.” Green text under Bruce reads, “Dad.”

Tristan points to Jamaica on a globe beach ball. Red text on the animated map reads, “Jamaica.”

Tristan says, LET ME SHOW YOU
WHERE MY DAD WAS BORN.
RIGHT THERE.

JAMAICA IS THE BIGGEST
ENGLISH SPEAKING ISLAND
IN THE CARIBBEAN.

The green, black and yellow flag of Jamaica flaps.

Tristan says, THIS IS MY FLAG. EACH
COLOUR HAS ITS OWN MEANING.

BLACK STANDS FOR THE
DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE
NATION; YELLOW, NATURAL WEALTH
AND THE BEAUTY OF THE SUN; AND
GREEN AGRICULTURE AND HOPE.

Tristan and his father open a glass door and enter a restaurant.

[Bell rings]

Tristan says, THIS IS HOW MY
PEOPLE MAKE JAMAICAN PATTIES.

FIRST THEY TAKE THE DOUGH AND
PUT THE BEEF INSIDE OF IT AND
PUT IT IN THE OVEN.

I CAN'T WAIT TO EAT MINE.

HEY.

A man behind a counter in the restaurant wears a white apron over a green, yellow, and black shirt. He wears a brown ball cap.

The man says, HI TRISTAN.

Tristan says, TWO BEEF
PATTIES PLEASE.

The man says, NO PROBLEM.

Tristan says, THANK YOU.

The man says, YOU'RE WELCOME.

[Crinkling]

Tristan says, THIS IS MY
FAVOURITE JAMAICAN SPOT.
I WAS COMING HERE FOREVER.

Tristan bites the patty.

[Crunch]

Tristan says, MMM.

THIS IS COCO BREAD. I LIKE
IT BECAUSE IT'S SOFT AND
BUTTERY AND REMINDS ME
OF MY JAMAICAN HERITAGE.

THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD.

His father says, YEAH.

IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY I LOVE TO BE JAMAICAN.

[Ding]

A barber pole spins outside of a barber shop. A man with short black hair cleans a seat as Tristan and his father enter the shop. The man wears a black shirt and blue jeans.

[Brushing]

Tristan says, WHAT’S UP, MIKEY?

Yellow text beneath Mikey, the barber, reads, “Mikey.”

Mikey says, WAH GWAAN?

Tristan’s father says, WAH GWAAN?

Tristan sits in the barber chair. Green text beneath him reads, “Wah Gwaan?” Pink text beneath that reads, “What’s Up?”

[Upbeat music continues]

Tristan explains, WAH GWAAN
MEANS WHAT'S UP IN ENGLISH.

MIKEY MAKE ME FLY.

Mikey says, I ALWAYS MAKE
YOU FLY.

[Buzzing, scissors snip]

Mikey says, YOU LOOK CRISP.

Tristan says, THANK YOU.

WHICH MEANS IN JAMAICAN
PATOIS THAT I LOOK GREAT.

[Slide whistle]

Blue text beneath Tristan reads, “You look crisp!” Yellow text beneath it reads, “You look great!”

Tristan says, JAMAICAN PATOIS
IS AN ENGLISH-BASED CREOLE
LANGUAGE WITH WEST
AFRICAN INFLUENCES.

THANK YOU.

BYE.

Mikey says, SEE YA.

[Chimes, upbeat music plays]

Tristan stands in a blue bedroom. He walks to a bookcase.

Tristan says, THIS IS MY ROOM.

OVER HERE ARE, IS MY FAVOURITE
BOOK COLLECTION.

HERE ARE MY BLOCKS.

THIS IS A HOUSE THAT I STARTED
BUT I DIDN'T PUT THE ROOF ON YET.

I BUILT A GLOBE FROM A THREE-D
PUZZLE AND RIGHT HERE IS JAMAICA,
UP TOP HERE AND I HAVE THIS SO
I DON'T FORGET WHERE JAMAICA
IS AND ESPECIALLY MY FLAG.

Tristan waves a small Jamaican flag.

Tristan says, I LIKE MY PROJECTORS
THAT PROJECT ON THE SCREEN.

SOMETIMES WHEN I GO TO BED
I PUT THEM ON TO MAKE ME
MORE RELAXED.

THESE ARE MY HATS.

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE HAT BECAUSE
IT MAKES ME LOOK LIKE A REAL...

Tristan struggles to put on a hat with artificial braids hanging from the sides.

[Laughing]

Tristan says, IT MAKES ME FEEL
LIKE A REAL RASTA.

Blue text reads, “Rasta equals Rastafarian.”

Tristan says, WHEN I'M OLDER
I WOULD LIKE TO BE AN ACTOR
OR AN ENTERTAINER AND IF
THAT DOESN'T WORK OUT,
I WOULD LIKE TO BE A REAL
ESTATE AGENT BECAUSE YOU
GET A LOT OF MONEY AND YOU
GET THE FIRST PICKS OF THE
HUGE HOUSES.

THIS IS MY BEST FRIEND ERICA.

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MY DUET
PARTNER.

Tristan and Erica’s black jackets have their names sewn on the back of the neck. Erica wears her red hair pulled away from her face. She stands with her hands on her hips beside Tristan.

Erica says, HI.

Tristan says, TOGETHER WE
HAVE WON MANY AWARDS
AND TROPHIES IN
DANCE COMPETITIONS.

[Scraping, , banging, upbeat music plays]

He says, OVER HERE, THIS IS MY
FAVOURITE MEDAL BECAUSE THIS
IS THE BIGGEST ONE HERE. THIS
ONE I GOT FOR MY DUO PARTNER.

THIS IS MY SECOND FAVOURITE ONE
BECAUSE IT'S COOL HOW THE V GOES
AROUND MEDAL.

OVER HERE IS MY TROPHY.
THE FIRST PLACE AWARD.
I GOT IT WITH MY DUO AGAIN.

THESE ARE ALL MY MEDALS
FOR SOCCER AND DANCING.

Photographs show Tristan dancing solo and dancing with Erica.

Tristan says, BOYS DANCE TOO.

I THINK BOYS SHOULDN'T BE
AFRAID TO DANCE MORE.

JAMAICANS HAVE BEEN DANCING
FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

SO BEING A GREAT DANCER
IS IN MY BLOOD.

DANCE HALL IS ONE OF MY
FAVOURITES. IT ORIGINATED
IN THE FORITIES WHEN JAMAICANS
WERE GOING TO DANCE HALLS
TO CELEBRATE WEDDINGS AND
OTHER EVENTS.

[Slide whistle]

Tristand and Erica dance in front of a mirror. Orange text reads, “Dance Hall.”

Tristan says, REGGAE HAS A BIG
INFLUENCE ON IT TOO AND IT ALL
GOT POPULAR IN THE SEVENTIES.

THAT WAS A REALLY LONG TIME AGO.

Megan wears her dark brown hair loose. She wears a black t-shirt and black pants. Pink text beneath her reads, “Meghann.”

Tristan says, THIS IS MY DANCE
INSTRUCTOR, MISS MEGHANN.

[Thumping]

An animated blue present box wiggles. The present opens and the animated sun rises and blows into a party horn. Yellow text reads, “Sunny’s Surprise!”

[Upbeat music continues]

Blue text beneath Tristan’s mother reads, “Tristan’s Mom.”

She says, I'M SO PROUD OF MY SON.

HE WORKS SO HARD AT EVERYTHING
HE DOES AND HIS PASSION FOR
DANCE IS JUST AMAZING.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR HIM TO GET
THIS VIDEO.

Miss Meaghan gives Tristan a tablet. On the screen of the tablet, a man wears a green touque with a white and black shirt. Orange text beside him reads, “City.”

City says, HEY TRISTAN, THIS IS CITY,
THE HIP-HOP ARTIST FROM THE
NATION'S CAPITAL, OTTAWA.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MADE ME
SUCCESSFUL TODAY IS REALLY BEING
A VERY CONSISTENT AND
PERSEVERING THROUGH WHATEVER
OBSTACLES THAT COME MY WAY.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF THAT YOU
CAN OVERCOME THESE HURDLES.

SEE YOUR ART FORM AS A WAY
FOR YOU TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.

MAYBE I'LL BE IN ONE OF YOUR
VIDEOS DOING A LITTLE TWO
STEP. I CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING.

The animated sun dances.

[Slide whistle]

City smiles and says, SO, I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT DAY. I KNOW IT'S
GONNA COME.

Tristan says, THANK YOU FOR
THE MESSAGE, CITY.

THAT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO ME
AND TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE ON
MY SIDE.

NOW WHENEVER I DANCE I'LL THINK
OF THAT MESSAGE BECAUSE IT'S A
DEEP KIND MESSAGE TO SAY.

[Whooshing, background shouting]

Tristan and Luca stand in front of playground equipment surrounded by fallen leaves. Luca wears his dark brown hair short. He wears a black jacket. Text beneath him reads, “Luca.”

THIS IS MY BEST FRIEND, LUCA.

Luca waves and says, HEY.

WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A VERY
LONG TIME AND WE'VE BEEN PLAYING
BASEBALL TOGETHER BUT MOST OF
ALL WE LIKE PLAYING IN THE PARK
AND PLAYING ON THE MONKEY BARS.

LET'S GO LUCA!

Tristan climbs a climbing wall on the equipment. Luca follows him.

Luca cheers, WE CAN DO THIS.

Tristan and Luca go down a twisting red slide.

[Slide whistle]

Tristan says, PLAYING IN THE PARK
IS SO FUN. I CAN PLAY ALL DAY.

Tristan slides down a blue slide.

[Slide whistle]

Tristan rides a scooter as Luca roller blades beside him and in front of him.

[Rattling]

Tristan says, LUCA AND I HAVE
BEEN BEST FRIENDS TOGETHER
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

WE SHARE FOOD TOGETHER, WE PLAY
TOGETHER AND HE KNOWS ALL OF MY
SECRETS BUT WHAT I LOVE MOST
ABOUT OUR FRIENDSHIP IS THAT HE
SUPPORTS MY PASSION FOR DANCE.

LUCA, YOU CAN'T CATCH ME.

[Slide whistle, vroom]

Tristan says, THANKS FOR STOPPING
BY AND DON'T FORGET BOYS
DANCE TOO. BYE.

[Slide whistle]

[Upbeat theme music plays]

End credits roll.

“Narrator: Catherine Verdon.
Producer: Sabine Daniel.
Written and Directed by Vincenzo Giannelli.
Original Music: Eric Lemoyne.

Co-Executive Producer: Mindy Laxer.
Executive Producer: Jonathan Finkelstein.

An Apartment Eleven Production. Produced in association with TVOkids.”

A child says, WHEE!

Text reads, “TVOkids.” “Apartment Eleven Productions.” “Original.”

[Giggling, squeaking]