That was the inspiration for a movie that has won Millers Flat pupil Mackenzie Reid an award in a film-making competition — and now she is contention for another award.
Mackenzie (14) has been named as one of 20 winners in the national Outlook for Someday Challenge.
She won for a film essay called "What is Happiness?", which sought "empowering answers to big questions about mental health", focusing on happiness and what it meant to Mackenzie, she said.
Last year, Mackenzie led a group of Roxburgh Area School pupils who also won an award in the same competition.
She said both last year’s and this year’s movies were themed around mental health issues, but her focus on happiness this year was deliberate.
"Last year’s movie addressed mental health issues in teens and many people told me that the movie moved them and made them cry. This year I wanted to make others smile, and chose to do my video essay about happiness and what it means to me and to others."
Mackenzie said she "roped her siblings and the family dog into acting in the movie with her" and a couple of good friends from school also helped out by acting in the short film.
Mackenzie’s film is now up for a people’s choice award in the film challenge.
To see the film go to www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/winning-films/ and to vote go to www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/about/film-challenge/
Voting closes on December 4.
