Tails

• Main Authors: Yeo, Feline, Lee, Grace Jia Wei, Monteiro, Grace Isabelle, See, Sherrie Li Yi
• Other Authors: Ian Dixon
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Other; Children; Loneliness; Friendship; Quirk; Short film
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/174436
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In the 18-minute coming-of-age drama "Tails," ten-year-old Wei battles loneliness in primary school, embarking on a journey of self-discovery through an unexpected friendship with an unlikely companion. When Wei, a ten-year-old boy discovers a lost and vulnerable lizard in his school toilet sink, he hides it in his locker to protect it from his boisterous classmates and the mysterious janitor, Uncle Willy. In his new lizard friend, who he names Giri, Wei discovers a newfound sense of comfort and companionship that had eluded him before, and it propels him to question the substance of his current friendships. One day, when Wei witnesses his friends traumatising a family of snails, his facade shatters. He pleads with them to stop, but this cry only prompts them to reveal their knowledge of his clandestine bond with Giri, resulting in further teasing and ridicule. As Wei escapes the situation and turns to Giri for comfort and validation, he finds his locker empty, and void of life. Desperate and determined, Wei sifts through bin after bin, overturning each one in his frantic search for his lost friend. In his search, he suddenly spots the mysterious janitor gathering what seems to be leaves and twigs. As Wei quietly follows Uncle Willy back to the janitor’s closet, he is greeted with a strange yet marvellous sight—an insect haven where he finds his beloved lizard safe and sound. Uncle Willy's eccentricity and quirkiness serve as an inspiration for Wei, and in a sincere exchange, Uncle Willy encourages Wei to embrace his authentic self and all his quirks, even if it means standing alone, and reunites him with Giri. Wei shares his journey of self-discovery during his class's show and tell, finally being honest about his deep affection for Giri, who symbolises the quirky yet authentic aspects of himself. As he shares, he beckons his classmates to embrace their uniqueness without fear of rejection, believing that it's our individuality that defines us and fosters genuine connections.