UTS alumna receives Human Rights Award
Not-for-profit organisation Bus Stop Films, co-founded by Media Arts and Production alumna Genevieve Clay-Smith, has been awarded the 2016 Community Organisation Award at the Australian Human Rights Commission's Human Rights Awards.
For eight years, Bus Stop Films has advocated for inclusion in the film industry and provided opportunities for people with disabilities to study and undertake filmmaking.
The Human Rights Award is latest in a long list of accolades for Clay-Smith. In 2015, she was named NSW Young Australian of the Year, and, closer to home, was the UTS Young Alumni Award recipient.
In 2009, her short film Be My Brother (which was the catalyst for founding Bus Stop Films), took out Tropfest – the world's largest short film festival.
0:03
(buoyant and playful music)
0:22
Richard: Call him off! I won't ask again...
0:27
call him off.
0:29
CALL HIM OFF!
0:36
Richard: I never miss.
0:45
Richard: It is approximately 12 o'clock, so far the bus hasn't arrived.
0:57
Renard! This is Bond! I've killed Electra, she's dead...
1:03
and I'm coming out and I'm GONNA KILL YOU!
1:13
Someone's dollar on the ground.
1:16
Whoever dropped that, should be more careful with their money.
1:38
There's a woman, sitting on the bench.
1:42
She's wearing a shirt and some pants.
1:47
She has a brown bag.
1:49
She's quite attractive.
1:51
But not as attractive, as others I've seen.
2:00
She just looked at me.
2:03
Now she's looking away.
2:05
She's moving over to the side of the bench.
2:08
She's scratching her head, and putting her hand down on her lap.
2:13
(she laughs quietly.)
2:14
Richard: What's so funny?
2:16
Amanda: What?
2:17
Richard: Are you laughing?
2:18
Amanda: No, no.
2:23
Do you always talk about people right in font of them?
2:26
Richard: All the time!
2:28
I'm Richard.
2:32
Amanda.
2:38
Richard: You're engaged.
2:40
Amanda: Ah, yes. I'm engaged.
2:43
Richard: I would like to get engaged, to my girlfriend.
2:51
Richard: Julia.
2:53
Richard: How long have you been engaged for?
2:55
Amanda: Six months.
2:57
Richard: Amanda...
2:59
Where are you off to this morning?
3:02
Amanda: I'm going to work.
3:04
Richard: I would like to go to work.
3:06
Amanda: Well... you'll have to get yourself a job then won't you.
3:09
Richard: Yes, but... yes, but I wouldn't get one that I actually liked though.
3:17
But soft... But soft!
3:22
What light through yonder window breaks.
3:25
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
3:28
Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon!
3:34
Now, who was that?
3:38
Amanda: Um... was that Shakespeare?
3:41
Richard: Very good, now who's this?
3:43
Nah, nah, nah Betty,
3:45
we're not having another cat in this house!
3:48
I have enough trouble with Cleopatra! She did a woopsie in my beret!
3:54
Amanda: Frank Spencer.
3:56
Richard: Very good now. Now who's this?
3:59
That's not my father, just my reflection...
4:02
In another voice: No, look water...
4:06
You see? He lives in you.
4:10
As Mufasa: Hmmm Simba!
4:12
As Simba: Father?
4:14
As Mufasa: Simba, you have forgotten me...
4:17
As Simba: No! How could I?
4:18
As Mufasa: You have forgotten who you are, and so, have forgotten me.
4:23
Look inside, in yourself Simba. You are more than what you have become.
4:28
You must take your place in the circle of life.
4:32
Amanda: The Lion King!
4:34
Richard: Very good now! Your turn!
4:36
Amanda: Oh, no, you don't want my voice on that thing.
4:40
Richard: Yes. I do!
4:46
Amanda: Oh, OK. Oh Betty... the cat's done another woopsie in my hat.
4:51
Richard: You mean, in your beret.
4:55
Amanda: In my beret!
4:58
Richard: That wasn't very good.
5:00
Amanda: No, I can't do impersonations!
5:03
Richard: No. But you should have said something about yourself, like...
5:09
My name is Richard, I am the most extremely good looking man in the world.
5:16
All my women and all my girls love me.
5:19
They're hubba, hubba, hubba and they're hot.
5:21
I am, in love!
5:23
Hey, you want to record something?
5:26
Boy: No thanks!
5:27
Richard: Too bad! Just did!
5:31
(sound of the tape recorder being rewound)
5:33
(sound of it being stopped.)
5:34
(boy's voice on recorder): "No thanks!"
5:37
(It's rewound again)
5:38
(Richard's voice on recorder): "I am, what I am. I can't change it."
5:41
"My brother, he doesn't understand."
5:44
"He thinks that he doesn't want to be near me."
5:47
"I always seem to embarrass him."
5:49
"And I don't like to be ignored!"
5:57
Amanda: You should tell him that.
6:00
(the sound of a bus pulling up)
6:02
Richard: This is mine.
6:03
Amanda: Oh, Oh OK, well, it was really nice to meet you.
6:06
Richard: Likewise, Oh, a goodbye message before I go?
6:10
Amanda: OK, Ah, my name is Amanda... I am the most... attractive woman in the world...
6:16
and, what's your brother's name?
6:18
Richard: Damien.
6:19
Amanda: Damien, you have a very entertaining brother!
6:23
Richard: Why thank you!
6:25
I've taught you well.
6:26
Amanda: Take care.
6:29
Bus Driver: G'day mate, how you going?
6:31
Boy: Hi, can I get 90 cents thanks?
6:34
Bus Driver: Mate, you got anything smaller than twenty?
6:36
Boy: No I just got this out of the ATM just then...
6:37
Bus Driver: Mate, I'm not changing it, I can't change it.
6:39
There's a shop down the road.
6:41
Boy: I don't have any other money...
6:43
Bus Driver: Well mate, I'm not gonna change it, you're going to have to get off.
6:46
Boy: I need to catch this bus.
6:48
Bus Driver: Mate, I only get twenty dollars in change, so if I change that...I can't you know?
6:51
Boy: Yeah but I don't have any other-
6:53
Bus Driver: Oh look at this, champion.
6:56
Bus Driver: Thanks mate. You know that bloke?
7:18
(Amanda's voice on the recorder): "Damien, you have a very entertaining brother."
7:24
Richard: "Why thank you"
7:26
Amanda's laughter
7:27
Richard: "I've taught you well"
7:29
Amanda: "Take care."
7:30
(the tape recorder switches off.)
Recently, Clay-Smith has also launched Impact Culture, a product that aims to help workplaces become more disability confident and inclusive. It includes a three-part comedy series, The Face of Inspiration, which was written and directed by Clay-Smith.
You can find out more about Clay-Smith at UTS:Newsroom.
Photographer: Kevin Cheung