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Transcript: Auto Service Technician
A child says, WEE!
T.V.O. Kids and Riverbank Pictures Original.
[Child giggles, upbeat music plays, pop]
Text reads, “T.V.O. Kids presents.”
[Energetic music plays]
Akeylah and Brody stand in front of a screen, which shows a sparking blowtorch. Akeylah wears a dark grey tunic. Her short black hair is tightly braided. Brody’s dark brown hair is short. He wears a light brown shirt and grey pants.
Akeylah and Brody say, WELCOME TO TRADING SKILLS!
Akeylah says, THE SHOW WHERE WE TAKE TURNS TRYING A SKILLED TRADE. I'M AKEYLAH.
Brody says, AND I'M BRODY.
Video footage behind Akeylah shows a welder and a mechanic.
Akeylah says, A SKILLED TRADE IS A JOB THAT REQUIRES A SPECIAL SKILL.
Akeylah and Brody say, THERE ARE LOTS OF SKILL TRADES.
Brody says, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THE PERFECT TRADE FOR YOU.
Akeylah says, MAYBE THERE'S A TRADE THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
[Whooshing]
Brody says, SO COME WITH US INTO THE TRADES ON TRADING SKILLS.
Title: Trading Skills.
Brody turns a blue wrench in a car engine. Beside him, Akeylah turns a screwdriver. They both back away from the engine.
[Wrench cranking]
Brody says, GIVE IT A TRY, ANNA.
Behind the steering wheel, Anna smiles. Her grey, curly hair is short. She wears grey overalls and a grey and white plaid shirt.
[Car starter rattling, upbeat music plays]
Anna says, NOTHING.
Brody says, WHAT IF WE ATTACH A THINGY TO THE SPINNY THINGY?
Akeylah says, OR, OR, WE CAN ATTACH A WHATCHAMACALLIT TO THE THING THAT GOES, BRRR, BRRR.
Brody says, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS ENGINE. BUT NO LUCK SO FAR.
Akeylah says, WE MAY NEED TO TURN TO THE TRADES FOR THIS ONE.
Anna says, MIGHT I SUGGEST AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN?
Akeylah and Brody ask, WHAT'S AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN?
Brody says, WAIT.
Akeylah says, JINX! YOU CAN'T TALK ANYMORE.
Anna explains, THEY INSPECT, DIAGNOSE, REPAIR AND SERVICE CARS. MY FRIEND NHU, WHO IS AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN, SHE'S WORKING ON SOME REALLY COOL CARS.
In a garage, Nhu Nguyen, an auto service technician, closes the hood of a car. Her long black hair is in a ponytail, and she wears a black T-shirt and grey pants.
Akeylah says, PERFECT. BRODY, SINCE YOU'RE AT A LOSS FOR WORDS, I'LL TAKE THIS ONE.
Brody holds a sign that reads, “Good luck!”
[Bell dinging]
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
Akeylah walks towards a large building with cars in a large showroom on the main floor. A sign reads, “PFAFF Reserve, Leasing, Tuning.”
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah narrates, I WENT TO PFAFF TUNING, WHERE NHU WORKS ON CARS THAT GO FAST.
Akeylah says, HEY NHU.
Nhu says, HEY AKEYLAH, HOW'S IT GOING?
Nhu and Akeylah fist bump.
Akeylah says, I'M GOOD. THIS PLACE IS EPIC.
Nhu says, ISN'T IT AWESOME? I LOVE IT HERE.
Akeylah says, ALRIGHT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN?
Nhu says, SO TO BE AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIX ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS ON THE CARS. WE'RE TALKING ENGINES, TRANSMISSIONS, SUSPENSIONS.
Nhu works on the underside of a car.
[Wrench cranking]
Nhu says, YOU'VE GOT BRAKES, YOU'VE GOT TIRES, YOU'VE GOT ELECTRICAL, INTERIOR, HVAC, THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS TO KNOW.
Akeylah says, SOUNDS LIKE FIXING CARS IS AUTOMATIC FOR YOU.
Nhu says, SURE IS. ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED?
Akeylah says, I'M READY TO RIP.
Nhu says, LET'S GET YOU GEARED UP.
Akeylah puts on work gloves and a dark blue shirt.
[Zipper zipping, upbeat music plays]
Akeylah says, LET'S GO.
Nhu says, SO NOW WE SERVICE THIS CAR.
Akeylah asks, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SERVICE A CAR?
Nhu says, DEPENDS ON HOW LONG THE CAR HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD. THE MORE THE CAR HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD, THE MORE WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT. IT'S LIKE AN OLD PERSON, YOU KNOW, LIKE, WE JUST NEED MORE LOVE.
FOR THIS ONE, WE'RE JUST DOING AN OIL CHANGE AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT TIRES TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH RUBBER ON THERE AND BRAKES TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH MATERIAL TO STOP WHEN WE NEED IT TO.
Akeylah asks, OKAY, WHAT'S FIRST?
Nhu says, THE OIL CHANGE. SO WE'RE GOING TO START BY DRAINING THE OIL. SO I'VE GOT A DRAIN PLUG UP HERE.
An arrow points to the drain plug.
[Wrench cranking]
Akeylah asks, WHAT DOES OIL DO IN AN ENGINE?
Nhu says, IT LUBRICATES AND COOLS ALL OF THE PARTS. THEY'RE METAL PARTS MOVING AT THOUSANDS OF R.P.M., AND THEY TEND TO GET REALLY, REALLY HOT. AND WITHOUT THE OIL, THEY WOULD START TO WEAR.
Text reads, “R.P.M. equals Revolutions per minute!” Nhu takes the drain plug off the car and oil pours into a metal tub. Akeylah watches open-mouthed.
[Popping, laughing]
Nhu says, AND SO THIS PROTECTS THE ENGINE.
Akeylah says, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT EVEN MOVING.
[Wrench cranking]
Nhu says, ISN'T THAT COOL?
Later, they stand beside the car.
Nhu says, OKAY, AKEYLAH, LET'S GET THIS CAR DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO RELEASE THE LOCKS. CAN YOU PUSH DOWN?
Akeylah and Nhu each push a lock down, and the car lowers to the floor.
[Air hissing, upbeat music continues]
Akeylah says, DOWN YOU GO.
Nhu says, OKAY, STOP. LET'S GO PUT SOME FRESH OIL IN THIS CAR.
Akeylah says, LET'S DO IT.
Akeylah narrates, NEXT, NHU SHOWED ME HOW TO CHANGE THE OIL IN A SLICK WAY.
Nhu says, OKAY. HERE WE GO, AND WE'LL GO NICE AND EASY SO IT DOESN'T OVERFLOW OR BACK OUT.
Nhu pours the oil.
[Glugging]
Akeylah says, GLUG, GLUG, GLUG. DO YOU USE THE WHOLE THING OF THIS?
Nhu says I ACTUALLY USE TWO. I START WITH ONE, AND I RUN THE CAR TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS HOT AND THERMOSTAT IS OPEN, AND THEN I ADD THE OTHER ONE SLOWLY TO GET MY LEVEL SET PROPERLY.
Akeylah says, THAT'S A LOT OF OIL.
Nhu says, IT IS A LOT OF OIL. PERFECT. EXCELLENT ASSISTANT.
Akeylah says, THANK YOU.
Nhu says, REALLY GOOD APPRENTICE.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
Akeylah and Nhu enter a room with toolboxes and a shiny metal engine.
Akeylah narrates, WE ENTER THE ENGINE ROOM, WHICH IS A SEPARATE SPACE SO IT STAYS C-L-E-A-N, CLEAN.
Nhu says, SO THIS IS WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS, AND TO FIX AN ENGINE, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW AN ENGINE HOW AN ENGINE WORKS.
THIS HERE IS A PORSCHE FLAT 6 ENGINE. WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT IT IS THE PISTONS AND CYLINDERS GO OUT HORIZONTAL TO EACH OTHER RATHER THAN IN A V-PATTERN, LIKE HOW OTHER ENGINES ARE CONFIGURED.
Akeylah asks, WHAT ARE PISTONS AND CYLINDERS?
Nhu says, LET ME SHOW YOU. SO HERE WE HAVE A CONNECTING ROD, THE PISTON, AND THE CYLINDER. SO THE CONNECTING ROD GOES ON THE CRANKSHAFT.
Arrows label the parts as Nhu picks the parts up.
[Popping, clanking]
Nhu says, THE PISTON GOES ON TO THE CONNECTING ROD, AND THEN THE PISTON GOES UP AND DOWN IN THE CYLINDER. SO THE CYLINDER GOES ON LIKE THAT, AND THIS IS WHERE THE PISTON WOULD TRAVEL UP AND DOWN. ON TOP OF THAT GOES THE CYLINDER HEAD. SO ONCE THE CYLINDER HEAD GOES ON TOP OF THE CYLINDER, WHEN THE SPARK PLUGS IGNITE WITH THE FUEL IN THERE, IT CREATES AN EXPLOSION…
[Explosion]
Nhu continues, WHICH PUSHES THE PISTON DOWN, TURNS THE CRANKSHAFT, WHICH TURNS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT TURNS THE WHEELS.
Akeylah says, AN ENGINE IS POWERED BY EXPLOSIONS?
Nhu says, IT REALLY IS. IT'S TIMED EXPLOSIONS IN SEQUENCE WITH EACH OTHER, AND THEY'RE MADE SO THAT YOU DON'T EVEN FEEL A THING.
Akeylah says, THAT'S A LOT TO LEARN.
Nhu says, IT IS, AND I NEVER STOP LEARNING, BUT I REALLY LOVE IT.
Akeylah and Nhu walk to a blue sandblasting machine.
Akeylah narrates, WE MADE OUR WAY TO THE SANDBLASTING ROOM, WHERE SPECIAL CAR PARTS ARE CLEANED.
Nhu says, SO THIS IS OUR SANDBLASTER. HAVE YOU EVER SANDBLASTED BEFORE, AKEYLAH?
Akeylah says, I'VE SEEN SAND, AND I'VE HAD A BLAST, BUT NOT THE TWO TOGETHER.
Nhu says, NOT THE TWO TOGETHER? ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS WHERE WE WILL REJUVENATE PARTS LIKE THIS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS SUPER DIRTY.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT IN THE SANDBLAST BOX, BUT WE'RE NOT USING SAND, WE'RE USING ALUMINIUM OXIDE BECAUSE THIS PART IS ALUMINIUM, WHICH IS REALLY SOFT, AND ALUMINIUM OXIDE WILL NOT PIT THE PART. WILL YOU PUT THIS IN THE SANDBLAST BOX FOR ME? PERFECT.
Akeylah puts the part into the sandblaster.
[Clanking]
Nhu says, AND WE USE COMPRESSED AIR. OKAY, SO LET'S LOCK THE BOX.
[Locks clinking]
Nhu says, YEAH, EXACTLY LIKE THAT. SUCTION ON.
[Sandblaster whirring]
Akeylah puts her hands in gloves attached to the machine and reaches in. She picks up a sandblaster and sprays the part.
Nhu says, HANDS IN. ISN'T THAT COOL?
Akeylah says, SO COOL! IT FEELS LIKE I'M SPRAY PAINTING OR SOMETHING.
Nhu says, IT'S ACTUALLY SUPER SIMILAR TO THAT, BUT INSTEAD OF PUTTING SOMETHING ON, YOU'RE TAKING STUFF OFF.
[Spraying]
Nhu says, ALRIGHT. LET'S FLIP IT AROUND AND GET THE OTHER SIDE.
[Clanking, spraying]
Akeylah says, THIS IS A BLAST!
[Spraying]
Akeylah says, AND DONE!
[Spraying stops]
Nhu says, AWESOME. LET'S SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. OKAY, LET'S OPEN THIS UP.
[Locks clicking]
Nhu says, OKAY.
Nhu takes out the part.
[Chiming]
Nhu says, LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT. ISN'T THAT AWESOME LOOK HOW CLEAN IT IS.
Akeylah says, WOW! NOT BAD FOR A FIRST TRY.
Nhu says, NOT BAD AT ALL.
Akeylah says, I WISH I COULD SANDBLAST MY ROOM.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
Nhu and Akeylah each sit on a stack of tires.
Akeylah narrates, I WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT NHU'S JOURNEY INTO THE SKILL TRADES.
Akeylah says, SO NHU, HOW DID YOU BECOME AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN?
Nhu says, I WANTED TO GET INTO CARS WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AS SOON AS I STARTED DRIVING. BUT AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I COULD TAKE IT. LIKE, WHAT I'M DOING NOW WASN'T, IT WASN'T EVEN A DREAM THAT I HAD THEN. AND SO WHEN I WAS 30, I FOUND MYSELF QUESTIONING WHAT I WANTED TO DO FOR THE NEXT 35 YEARS OF MY LIFE UNTIL I RETIRED.
SO I FOUND A SHOP THAT WOULD TAKE ME AND TEACH ME WITH ZERO EXPERIENCE. SO AT SIX MONTHS, I SIGNED UP FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED I WAS OKAY. I'M LIKE, I THINK I CAN DO THIS.
THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN ONTARIO, AND ALL OF THE COLLEGES ARE REALLY GREAT. SO I SPENT ABOUT THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN SCHOOL. I WROTE MY CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION, WHICH IS THE RED SEAL, WHICH IS VALID ACROSS CANADA.
Akeylah asks, WHAT'S A RED SEAL?
Nhu says, SO THE RED SEAL IS A CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION FOR THE TRADES. ALL OF THE TRADES HAVE A RED SEAL CERTIFICATION AFTER THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING AND THEIR TESTING. AND IT IS VALID AND APPLICABLE ACROSS CANADA, SO I CAN TAKE MY RED SEAL CERTIFICATION AND WORK ANYWHERE IN CANADA.
Akeylah says, I HEARD YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL CERTIFICATION.
Nhu says, I DO, I DO. I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT. I AM IN NORTH AMERICA'S FIRST CLASS OF PORSCHE-CERTIFIED CLASSIC TECHNICIANS, AND THE WORLD'S FIRST WOMAN TO BE PORSCHE CLASSIC CERTIFIED.
Akeylah asks, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BEING AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN?
Nhu says, I LOVE BEING VISIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY MIGHT TRY SOMETHING OR THAT THEY COULDN'T TRY SOMETHING. I NEEDED THAT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, SO I FEEL LIKE, I FEEL PRIVILEGED TO DO THAT FOR OTHERS.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah says, LET'S KEEP THE MOTOR RUNNING. WHAT ELSE DO AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIANS DO?
Nhu says, HERE AT PFAFF TUNING, WE RESTORE CARS, WE BUILD ENGINES, WHICH IS MY FAVOURITE PART, AND WE DO SOME TUNING, MAKE THE CARS FASTER AND LOUDER. IT'S KIND OF LIKE TUNING A GUITAR WHERE WE MAKE SURE THE CAR IS WORKING AND SOUNDING THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD.
Akeylah tunes an electric guitar.
[Guitar strings strumming, whooshing]
Akeylah sits in the driver’s seat of a car.
Akeylah says, MY GOAL TO LEARN ABOUT FIXING CARS IS GEARING UP, BUT LET'S TOP ON THE BRAKES FOR A MOMENT AND CHECK OUT THE HISTORY OF AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIANS.
Akeylah shuts the car door and honks the horn.
[Door slamming, horn blaring]
In black-and-white video footage, Brody stands in front of a screen and turns a hubcap like a steering wheel. On a screen behind him, two people ride in a car.
[Upbeat music plays, motor puttering]
Akeylah narrates, THE FIRST CARS WERE INVENTED IN EUROPE IN THE 1800’S. BACK THEN, THERE WEREN'T ANY AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIANS, SO FOLKS HAD TO HIRE A DRIVER WHO KNEW HOW TO FIX IT.
Brody pretends to fix car parts.
[Horn honking, hissing]
Akeylah narrates, IN THE EARLY 1900S, IT BECAME POSSIBLE TO MAKE CARS FASTER AND CHEAPER, WHICH MEANT MORE PEOPLE WANTED THEM. SINCE CAR PARTS BECAME MORE AVAILABLE, IT WAS EASIER TO LEARN HOW TO FIX ONE.
IN 1907, THE FIRST CAR ROLLED OFF A NEW PRODUCTION LINE IN OSHAWA, BRINGING CAR MANUFACTURING TO ONTARIO.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
At PFAFF, Akeylah rolls a tire towards a car.
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah says, I GOT THE TIRE.
Nhu says, AWESOME, LET'S PUT THIS ON. OKAY, WE LINE UP THE STUDS WITH THE HOLES IN THE WHEEL.
Nhu lifts the tire.
[Clanking]
Nhu says, OKAY, SO HERE WE HAVE FOUR REGULAR WHEEL NUTS AND ONE THAT IS SPECIAL. IT'S A LOCKING NUT AND IT COMES WITH A SPECIAL KEY. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THESE.
[Clanking]
Nhu screws in the locking nut.
Nhu says, BUT FIRST, WE'LL START WITH THE LOCKING ONE AND THAT ONE, THAT'S OPPOSITE THE VALVE STEM. IF YOU WILL HELP ME PUT THE REST OF THEM IN.
Akeylah carefully puts a wheel nut into the key.
Nhu says, OKAY. AND WE'LL DO THIS IN A STAR PATTERN. SO I STARTED HERE AND YOU'LL GO ACROSS FROM IT. SO IF YOU WILL PUT THAT ON, RIGHTY-TIGHTY.
Akeylah says, RIGHTY-TIGHT, LEFTY-LOOSEY, RIGHT?
Nhu says, YES. PERFECT. AND NOW THAT THE WHEEL IS KIND OF STABLE, DO YOU HAVE THE REST OF THE NUTS?
Akeylah says, RIGHT HERE.
Nhu says, PERFECT. LET'S START THOSE AND THEN WE CAN USE THE HAND TOOL TO MAKE THIS GO FASTER.
Akeylah turns a nut.
Nhu says, SO WE GO IN A STAR PATTERN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOES IN STRAIGHT AND NOT LIKE COCKED.
Akeylah asks, WHAT'S THIS TOOL?
Nhu holds up a ratchet.
[Popping, upbeat music continues]
Nhu says, SO THIS IS MY RATCHET, AN EXTENSION AND MY ACTUAL SPECIAL ALUMINIUM SOCKET, WHICH ARE SPECIAL FOR THE ALUMINIUM NUTS SO THAT THEY'RE NOT DAMAGED.
Akeylah says, STAR PATTERN, RIGHT?
Nhu says, EXACTLY.
Akeylah puts the rest of the nuts in the tire.
Akeylah narrates, AFTER TIRELESSLY CHANGING A TIRE, THERE WAS ONE MORE STEP TO HELPING THIS CAR BE ITS BEST SELF.
Akeylah and Nhu wash the car with hoses.
[Water spraying, lively music plays]
A person drives the tuned-up car out of the PFAFF garage. Akeylah plays her electric guitar in the driveway.
[Engine purring]
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
Akeylah and Brody stand by the car's open hood in their garage.
Akeylah says, IT TURNS OUT THAT THINGY WE NEEDED TO ATTACH WAS A CONNECTING ROD.
Brody says, NOW THAT IT'S CONNECTED, LET'S SEE IF SHE PURRS. GO FOR IT, ANNA.
[Engine rumbling]
Anna gives a thumbs-up sign.
Akeylah says, I'M REVVED UP WITH EXCITEMENT AND KNOW HOW.
Brody says, REALLY PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND LEARN TO SKILL TRADE.
Akeylah says, NEXT TIME, WE'LL SWITCH GEARS AND CHECK OUT A DIFFERENT TRADE. MAYBE IT'LL BE THE TRADE THAT TAKES...
Both say, ...YOU TO THE TOP.
Brody says, JINX.
Brody says, BYE. SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
Akeylah holds a sign that reads, “Goodbye!”
[Upbeat music plays]
End credits. Hosts: Akeylah James, Brody Agmon. Co-host: Anna Paul. Tradesperson: Nhu Nguyen. Written and directed by Johnny Mitchell. Produced by Francis Mitchell, Johnny Mitchell, David Mitchell. Co-producers: Emma Fox, Anthony Gullace. Executive producers: Richard Bergmann, Thomas Kritsch. Music by: Joseph Shabason, Christine Bougie. Special thanks to Pfaff Tuning. Produced in association with T.V.O. Kids. Executive producer, T.V.O.: Kirsten Hurd. Production executive, T.V.O.: Austin Guervara Mastretta. Riverbank Pictures. Copyright 2024 Riverbank Pictures.
T.V.O. Kids and Riverbank Pictures Original.
[Child giggles, upbeat music plays, pop]
Text reads, “T.V.O. Kids presents.”
[Energetic music plays]
Akeylah and Brody stand in front of a screen, which shows a sparking blowtorch. Akeylah wears a dark grey tunic. Her short black hair is tightly braided. Brody’s dark brown hair is short. He wears a light brown shirt and grey pants.
Akeylah and Brody say, WELCOME TO TRADING SKILLS!
Akeylah says, THE SHOW WHERE WE TAKE TURNS TRYING A SKILLED TRADE. I'M AKEYLAH.
Brody says, AND I'M BRODY.
Video footage behind Akeylah shows a welder and a mechanic.
Akeylah says, A SKILLED TRADE IS A JOB THAT REQUIRES A SPECIAL SKILL.
Akeylah and Brody say, THERE ARE LOTS OF SKILL TRADES.
Brody says, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THE PERFECT TRADE FOR YOU.
Akeylah says, MAYBE THERE'S A TRADE THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
[Whooshing]
Brody says, SO COME WITH US INTO THE TRADES ON TRADING SKILLS.
Title: Trading Skills.
Brody turns a blue wrench in a car engine. Beside him, Akeylah turns a screwdriver. They both back away from the engine.
[Wrench cranking]
Brody says, GIVE IT A TRY, ANNA.
Behind the steering wheel, Anna smiles. Her grey, curly hair is short. She wears grey overalls and a grey and white plaid shirt.
[Car starter rattling, upbeat music plays]
Anna says, NOTHING.
Brody says, WHAT IF WE ATTACH A THINGY TO THE SPINNY THINGY?
Akeylah says, OR, OR, WE CAN ATTACH A WHATCHAMACALLIT TO THE THING THAT GOES, BRRR, BRRR.
Brody says, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS ENGINE. BUT NO LUCK SO FAR.
Akeylah says, WE MAY NEED TO TURN TO THE TRADES FOR THIS ONE.
Anna says, MIGHT I SUGGEST AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN?
Akeylah and Brody ask, WHAT'S AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN?
Brody says, WAIT.
Akeylah says, JINX! YOU CAN'T TALK ANYMORE.
Anna explains, THEY INSPECT, DIAGNOSE, REPAIR AND SERVICE CARS. MY FRIEND NHU, WHO IS AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN, SHE'S WORKING ON SOME REALLY COOL CARS.
In a garage, Nhu Nguyen, an auto service technician, closes the hood of a car. Her long black hair is in a ponytail, and she wears a black T-shirt and grey pants.
Akeylah says, PERFECT. BRODY, SINCE YOU'RE AT A LOSS FOR WORDS, I'LL TAKE THIS ONE.
Brody holds a sign that reads, “Good luck!”
[Bell dinging]
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
Akeylah walks towards a large building with cars in a large showroom on the main floor. A sign reads, “PFAFF Reserve, Leasing, Tuning.”
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah narrates, I WENT TO PFAFF TUNING, WHERE NHU WORKS ON CARS THAT GO FAST.
Akeylah says, HEY NHU.
Nhu says, HEY AKEYLAH, HOW'S IT GOING?
Nhu and Akeylah fist bump.
Akeylah says, I'M GOOD. THIS PLACE IS EPIC.
Nhu says, ISN'T IT AWESOME? I LOVE IT HERE.
Akeylah says, ALRIGHT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN?
Nhu says, SO TO BE AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIX ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS ON THE CARS. WE'RE TALKING ENGINES, TRANSMISSIONS, SUSPENSIONS.
Nhu works on the underside of a car.
[Wrench cranking]
Nhu says, YOU'VE GOT BRAKES, YOU'VE GOT TIRES, YOU'VE GOT ELECTRICAL, INTERIOR, HVAC, THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS TO KNOW.
Akeylah says, SOUNDS LIKE FIXING CARS IS AUTOMATIC FOR YOU.
Nhu says, SURE IS. ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED?
Akeylah says, I'M READY TO RIP.
Nhu says, LET'S GET YOU GEARED UP.
Akeylah puts on work gloves and a dark blue shirt.
[Zipper zipping, upbeat music plays]
Akeylah says, LET'S GO.
Nhu says, SO NOW WE SERVICE THIS CAR.
Akeylah asks, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SERVICE A CAR?
Nhu says, DEPENDS ON HOW LONG THE CAR HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD. THE MORE THE CAR HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD, THE MORE WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT. IT'S LIKE AN OLD PERSON, YOU KNOW, LIKE, WE JUST NEED MORE LOVE.
FOR THIS ONE, WE'RE JUST DOING AN OIL CHANGE AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT TIRES TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH RUBBER ON THERE AND BRAKES TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH MATERIAL TO STOP WHEN WE NEED IT TO.
Akeylah asks, OKAY, WHAT'S FIRST?
Nhu says, THE OIL CHANGE. SO WE'RE GOING TO START BY DRAINING THE OIL. SO I'VE GOT A DRAIN PLUG UP HERE.
An arrow points to the drain plug.
[Wrench cranking]
Akeylah asks, WHAT DOES OIL DO IN AN ENGINE?
Nhu says, IT LUBRICATES AND COOLS ALL OF THE PARTS. THEY'RE METAL PARTS MOVING AT THOUSANDS OF R.P.M., AND THEY TEND TO GET REALLY, REALLY HOT. AND WITHOUT THE OIL, THEY WOULD START TO WEAR.
Text reads, “R.P.M. equals Revolutions per minute!” Nhu takes the drain plug off the car and oil pours into a metal tub. Akeylah watches open-mouthed.
[Popping, laughing]
Nhu says, AND SO THIS PROTECTS THE ENGINE.
Akeylah says, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT EVEN MOVING.
[Wrench cranking]
Nhu says, ISN'T THAT COOL?
Later, they stand beside the car.
Nhu says, OKAY, AKEYLAH, LET'S GET THIS CAR DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO RELEASE THE LOCKS. CAN YOU PUSH DOWN?
Akeylah and Nhu each push a lock down, and the car lowers to the floor.
[Air hissing, upbeat music continues]
Akeylah says, DOWN YOU GO.
Nhu says, OKAY, STOP. LET'S GO PUT SOME FRESH OIL IN THIS CAR.
Akeylah says, LET'S DO IT.
Akeylah narrates, NEXT, NHU SHOWED ME HOW TO CHANGE THE OIL IN A SLICK WAY.
Nhu says, OKAY. HERE WE GO, AND WE'LL GO NICE AND EASY SO IT DOESN'T OVERFLOW OR BACK OUT.
Nhu pours the oil.
[Glugging]
Akeylah says, GLUG, GLUG, GLUG. DO YOU USE THE WHOLE THING OF THIS?
Nhu says I ACTUALLY USE TWO. I START WITH ONE, AND I RUN THE CAR TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS HOT AND THERMOSTAT IS OPEN, AND THEN I ADD THE OTHER ONE SLOWLY TO GET MY LEVEL SET PROPERLY.
Akeylah says, THAT'S A LOT OF OIL.
Nhu says, IT IS A LOT OF OIL. PERFECT. EXCELLENT ASSISTANT.
Akeylah says, THANK YOU.
Nhu says, REALLY GOOD APPRENTICE.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
Akeylah and Nhu enter a room with toolboxes and a shiny metal engine.
Akeylah narrates, WE ENTER THE ENGINE ROOM, WHICH IS A SEPARATE SPACE SO IT STAYS C-L-E-A-N, CLEAN.
Nhu says, SO THIS IS WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS, AND TO FIX AN ENGINE, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW AN ENGINE HOW AN ENGINE WORKS.
THIS HERE IS A PORSCHE FLAT 6 ENGINE. WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT IT IS THE PISTONS AND CYLINDERS GO OUT HORIZONTAL TO EACH OTHER RATHER THAN IN A V-PATTERN, LIKE HOW OTHER ENGINES ARE CONFIGURED.
Akeylah asks, WHAT ARE PISTONS AND CYLINDERS?
Nhu says, LET ME SHOW YOU. SO HERE WE HAVE A CONNECTING ROD, THE PISTON, AND THE CYLINDER. SO THE CONNECTING ROD GOES ON THE CRANKSHAFT.
Arrows label the parts as Nhu picks the parts up.
[Popping, clanking]
Nhu says, THE PISTON GOES ON TO THE CONNECTING ROD, AND THEN THE PISTON GOES UP AND DOWN IN THE CYLINDER. SO THE CYLINDER GOES ON LIKE THAT, AND THIS IS WHERE THE PISTON WOULD TRAVEL UP AND DOWN. ON TOP OF THAT GOES THE CYLINDER HEAD. SO ONCE THE CYLINDER HEAD GOES ON TOP OF THE CYLINDER, WHEN THE SPARK PLUGS IGNITE WITH THE FUEL IN THERE, IT CREATES AN EXPLOSION…
[Explosion]
Nhu continues, WHICH PUSHES THE PISTON DOWN, TURNS THE CRANKSHAFT, WHICH TURNS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT TURNS THE WHEELS.
Akeylah says, AN ENGINE IS POWERED BY EXPLOSIONS?
Nhu says, IT REALLY IS. IT'S TIMED EXPLOSIONS IN SEQUENCE WITH EACH OTHER, AND THEY'RE MADE SO THAT YOU DON'T EVEN FEEL A THING.
Akeylah says, THAT'S A LOT TO LEARN.
Nhu says, IT IS, AND I NEVER STOP LEARNING, BUT I REALLY LOVE IT.
Akeylah and Nhu walk to a blue sandblasting machine.
Akeylah narrates, WE MADE OUR WAY TO THE SANDBLASTING ROOM, WHERE SPECIAL CAR PARTS ARE CLEANED.
Nhu says, SO THIS IS OUR SANDBLASTER. HAVE YOU EVER SANDBLASTED BEFORE, AKEYLAH?
Akeylah says, I'VE SEEN SAND, AND I'VE HAD A BLAST, BUT NOT THE TWO TOGETHER.
Nhu says, NOT THE TWO TOGETHER? ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS WHERE WE WILL REJUVENATE PARTS LIKE THIS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS SUPER DIRTY.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT IN THE SANDBLAST BOX, BUT WE'RE NOT USING SAND, WE'RE USING ALUMINIUM OXIDE BECAUSE THIS PART IS ALUMINIUM, WHICH IS REALLY SOFT, AND ALUMINIUM OXIDE WILL NOT PIT THE PART. WILL YOU PUT THIS IN THE SANDBLAST BOX FOR ME? PERFECT.
Akeylah puts the part into the sandblaster.
[Clanking]
Nhu says, AND WE USE COMPRESSED AIR. OKAY, SO LET'S LOCK THE BOX.
[Locks clinking]
Nhu says, YEAH, EXACTLY LIKE THAT. SUCTION ON.
[Sandblaster whirring]
Akeylah puts her hands in gloves attached to the machine and reaches in. She picks up a sandblaster and sprays the part.
Nhu says, HANDS IN. ISN'T THAT COOL?
Akeylah says, SO COOL! IT FEELS LIKE I'M SPRAY PAINTING OR SOMETHING.
Nhu says, IT'S ACTUALLY SUPER SIMILAR TO THAT, BUT INSTEAD OF PUTTING SOMETHING ON, YOU'RE TAKING STUFF OFF.
[Spraying]
Nhu says, ALRIGHT. LET'S FLIP IT AROUND AND GET THE OTHER SIDE.
[Clanking, spraying]
Akeylah says, THIS IS A BLAST!
[Spraying]
Akeylah says, AND DONE!
[Spraying stops]
Nhu says, AWESOME. LET'S SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. OKAY, LET'S OPEN THIS UP.
[Locks clicking]
Nhu says, OKAY.
Nhu takes out the part.
[Chiming]
Nhu says, LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT. ISN'T THAT AWESOME LOOK HOW CLEAN IT IS.
Akeylah says, WOW! NOT BAD FOR A FIRST TRY.
Nhu says, NOT BAD AT ALL.
Akeylah says, I WISH I COULD SANDBLAST MY ROOM.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
Nhu and Akeylah each sit on a stack of tires.
Akeylah narrates, I WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT NHU'S JOURNEY INTO THE SKILL TRADES.
Akeylah says, SO NHU, HOW DID YOU BECOME AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN?
Nhu says, I WANTED TO GET INTO CARS WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AS SOON AS I STARTED DRIVING. BUT AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I COULD TAKE IT. LIKE, WHAT I'M DOING NOW WASN'T, IT WASN'T EVEN A DREAM THAT I HAD THEN. AND SO WHEN I WAS 30, I FOUND MYSELF QUESTIONING WHAT I WANTED TO DO FOR THE NEXT 35 YEARS OF MY LIFE UNTIL I RETIRED.
SO I FOUND A SHOP THAT WOULD TAKE ME AND TEACH ME WITH ZERO EXPERIENCE. SO AT SIX MONTHS, I SIGNED UP FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED I WAS OKAY. I'M LIKE, I THINK I CAN DO THIS.
THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN ONTARIO, AND ALL OF THE COLLEGES ARE REALLY GREAT. SO I SPENT ABOUT THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN SCHOOL. I WROTE MY CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION, WHICH IS THE RED SEAL, WHICH IS VALID ACROSS CANADA.
Akeylah asks, WHAT'S A RED SEAL?
Nhu says, SO THE RED SEAL IS A CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION FOR THE TRADES. ALL OF THE TRADES HAVE A RED SEAL CERTIFICATION AFTER THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING AND THEIR TESTING. AND IT IS VALID AND APPLICABLE ACROSS CANADA, SO I CAN TAKE MY RED SEAL CERTIFICATION AND WORK ANYWHERE IN CANADA.
Akeylah says, I HEARD YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL CERTIFICATION.
Nhu says, I DO, I DO. I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT. I AM IN NORTH AMERICA'S FIRST CLASS OF PORSCHE-CERTIFIED CLASSIC TECHNICIANS, AND THE WORLD'S FIRST WOMAN TO BE PORSCHE CLASSIC CERTIFIED.
Akeylah asks, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BEING AN AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIAN?
Nhu says, I LOVE BEING VISIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY MIGHT TRY SOMETHING OR THAT THEY COULDN'T TRY SOMETHING. I NEEDED THAT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, SO I FEEL LIKE, I FEEL PRIVILEGED TO DO THAT FOR OTHERS.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah says, LET'S KEEP THE MOTOR RUNNING. WHAT ELSE DO AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIANS DO?
Nhu says, HERE AT PFAFF TUNING, WE RESTORE CARS, WE BUILD ENGINES, WHICH IS MY FAVOURITE PART, AND WE DO SOME TUNING, MAKE THE CARS FASTER AND LOUDER. IT'S KIND OF LIKE TUNING A GUITAR WHERE WE MAKE SURE THE CAR IS WORKING AND SOUNDING THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD.
Akeylah tunes an electric guitar.
[Guitar strings strumming, whooshing]
Akeylah sits in the driver’s seat of a car.
Akeylah says, MY GOAL TO LEARN ABOUT FIXING CARS IS GEARING UP, BUT LET'S TOP ON THE BRAKES FOR A MOMENT AND CHECK OUT THE HISTORY OF AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIANS.
Akeylah shuts the car door and honks the horn.
[Door slamming, horn blaring]
In black-and-white video footage, Brody stands in front of a screen and turns a hubcap like a steering wheel. On a screen behind him, two people ride in a car.
[Upbeat music plays, motor puttering]
Akeylah narrates, THE FIRST CARS WERE INVENTED IN EUROPE IN THE 1800’S. BACK THEN, THERE WEREN'T ANY AUTO SERVICE TECHNICIANS, SO FOLKS HAD TO HIRE A DRIVER WHO KNEW HOW TO FIX IT.
Brody pretends to fix car parts.
[Horn honking, hissing]
Akeylah narrates, IN THE EARLY 1900S, IT BECAME POSSIBLE TO MAKE CARS FASTER AND CHEAPER, WHICH MEANT MORE PEOPLE WANTED THEM. SINCE CAR PARTS BECAME MORE AVAILABLE, IT WAS EASIER TO LEARN HOW TO FIX ONE.
IN 1907, THE FIRST CAR ROLLED OFF A NEW PRODUCTION LINE IN OSHAWA, BRINGING CAR MANUFACTURING TO ONTARIO.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
At PFAFF, Akeylah rolls a tire towards a car.
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah says, I GOT THE TIRE.
Nhu says, AWESOME, LET'S PUT THIS ON. OKAY, WE LINE UP THE STUDS WITH THE HOLES IN THE WHEEL.
Nhu lifts the tire.
[Clanking]
Nhu says, OKAY, SO HERE WE HAVE FOUR REGULAR WHEEL NUTS AND ONE THAT IS SPECIAL. IT'S A LOCKING NUT AND IT COMES WITH A SPECIAL KEY. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THESE.
[Clanking]
Nhu screws in the locking nut.
Nhu says, BUT FIRST, WE'LL START WITH THE LOCKING ONE AND THAT ONE, THAT'S OPPOSITE THE VALVE STEM. IF YOU WILL HELP ME PUT THE REST OF THEM IN.
Akeylah carefully puts a wheel nut into the key.
Nhu says, OKAY. AND WE'LL DO THIS IN A STAR PATTERN. SO I STARTED HERE AND YOU'LL GO ACROSS FROM IT. SO IF YOU WILL PUT THAT ON, RIGHTY-TIGHTY.
Akeylah says, RIGHTY-TIGHT, LEFTY-LOOSEY, RIGHT?
Nhu says, YES. PERFECT. AND NOW THAT THE WHEEL IS KIND OF STABLE, DO YOU HAVE THE REST OF THE NUTS?
Akeylah says, RIGHT HERE.
Nhu says, PERFECT. LET'S START THOSE AND THEN WE CAN USE THE HAND TOOL TO MAKE THIS GO FASTER.
Akeylah turns a nut.
Nhu says, SO WE GO IN A STAR PATTERN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOES IN STRAIGHT AND NOT LIKE COCKED.
Akeylah asks, WHAT'S THIS TOOL?
Nhu holds up a ratchet.
[Popping, upbeat music continues]
Nhu says, SO THIS IS MY RATCHET, AN EXTENSION AND MY ACTUAL SPECIAL ALUMINIUM SOCKET, WHICH ARE SPECIAL FOR THE ALUMINIUM NUTS SO THAT THEY'RE NOT DAMAGED.
Akeylah says, STAR PATTERN, RIGHT?
Nhu says, EXACTLY.
Akeylah puts the rest of the nuts in the tire.
Akeylah narrates, AFTER TIRELESSLY CHANGING A TIRE, THERE WAS ONE MORE STEP TO HELPING THIS CAR BE ITS BEST SELF.
Akeylah and Nhu wash the car with hoses.
[Water spraying, lively music plays]
A person drives the tuned-up car out of the PFAFF garage. Akeylah plays her electric guitar in the driveway.
[Engine purring]
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
Akeylah and Brody stand by the car's open hood in their garage.
Akeylah says, IT TURNS OUT THAT THINGY WE NEEDED TO ATTACH WAS A CONNECTING ROD.
Brody says, NOW THAT IT'S CONNECTED, LET'S SEE IF SHE PURRS. GO FOR IT, ANNA.
[Engine rumbling]
Anna gives a thumbs-up sign.
Akeylah says, I'M REVVED UP WITH EXCITEMENT AND KNOW HOW.
Brody says, REALLY PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND LEARN TO SKILL TRADE.
Akeylah says, NEXT TIME, WE'LL SWITCH GEARS AND CHECK OUT A DIFFERENT TRADE. MAYBE IT'LL BE THE TRADE THAT TAKES...
Both say, ...YOU TO THE TOP.
Brody says, JINX.
Brody says, BYE. SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
Akeylah holds a sign that reads, “Goodbye!”
[Upbeat music plays]
End credits. Hosts: Akeylah James, Brody Agmon. Co-host: Anna Paul. Tradesperson: Nhu Nguyen. Written and directed by Johnny Mitchell. Produced by Francis Mitchell, Johnny Mitchell, David Mitchell. Co-producers: Emma Fox, Anthony Gullace. Executive producers: Richard Bergmann, Thomas Kritsch. Music by: Joseph Shabason, Christine Bougie. Special thanks to Pfaff Tuning. Produced in association with T.V.O. Kids. Executive producer, T.V.O.: Kirsten Hurd. Production executive, T.V.O.: Austin Guervara Mastretta. Riverbank Pictures. Copyright 2024 Riverbank Pictures.
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