'An ADHD Perspective,' by Karina Morris

Karina MorrisImage taken 'An ADHD Perspective,' by Karina Morris

An ADHD Perspective, a short documentary directed by student filmmaker Karina Morris, is a finalist at the 20^th Annual MY HERO International Film Festival. The documentary is based on Morris’ personal experience of ADHD, whilst also highlighting some of the ways that family and friends of a person with ADHD can best support their loved one.

Morris has been involved in various film projects for more than seven years, though usually as a producer. In the past, Morris shared with MY HERO, she has felt that some of her projects have left her dissatisfied because they did not quite turn out as she had hoped. “In all honesty, this film marks a significant redemption for me,” she explained, “[it] stands as a testament to my growth and is a source of pride.” Not only did Morris use new styles of editing and create short animated sequences for the first time in making An ADHD Perspective, but she used the very experiences of ADHD that can make completing a project like this difficult. She explained to MY HERO:

[As] for the film itself, my focus was all over the place. The best part of the film was the fact that it used my personal representation of ADHD.

Using her own experiences in creating her film allowed Morris to share a unique insight into how ADHD can affect those with the disorder. Morris, for instance, is particularly sensitive to sound and can detect both very high and low frequencies with ease. Hearing low frequencies, however, is particularly challenging. “It makes my skin crawl and overall gives me a hard time to do anything,” she told MY HERO. In the film she represents this by using more high frequencies than low, until a section in which the words ‘Attention Test’ appear on the screen. The audience are then told that if they fail the ‘attention test,’ it must be their own fault and they should simply try harder. This is something that people with ADHD detest hearing, Morris explained, as it diminishes the very real difficulties they can have with concentration and completing tasks.

Karina MorrisImage taken from 'An ADHD Perspective,' by Karina Morris

This is not the only challenge that people with ADHD often must face. On how the idea for this film arose, Morris said:

How I came up with the idea was just me sitting in class, thinking. I thought back to a memory of my health class. In this class, we were educated on the body and mind (i.e. mental disorders and illnesses). We were talking about ADHD, so I commented, “Oh yeah, I have ADHD.” The people looked at me confused. I tried explaining [that] I've been diagnosed for almost a decade, but they argued that I’m not hyper. They kept saying that I can’t have ADHD because I’m passive and docile. It irked me in a negative way, and I thought, “Do most people think this way?” So, I wanted to make a documentary-experimental film to educate and bring you into the mind of my ADHD.

Whilst some of her classmates did not fully understand what it means to have ADHD, fortunately, Morris’ school are extremely supportive to those who might be struggling and implement lessons on mental health and wellbeing into their curriculum. It was Morris’ student support counsellor that put her in touch with Maddison Lowrie and Suzanne Stephens, the two interviewees in the film. Morris’ school support counsellor is not the only staff member that has offered her support. Her film teacher has also helped her navigate challenging times over the years, particularly those when she wanted to give up and quit filmmaking altogether. “I will forever be grateful to him,” Morris said, “and I’m glad he is a teacher, since he is literally the best teacher I ever had.”

In the film, Maddison Lowrie outlines some of the ways that people can better support a person with ADHD. On whether she herself has any general advice or tips from her own experience, Morris told MY HERO:

“The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” This quote means that the chosen bonds will be stronger than the familial bonds. And if those chosen bonds are family, then it makes it better, doesn’t it? [The] reason I use this quote is because it's true in all aspects. You will always find someone that gets you, even if it takes a while. I found my people, and I know it might seem hard some days, trust me I know. To whom reads this:

You're doing an amazing job, even if people don’t understand you, or your passions. You're doing a wonderful job.

You can watch An ADHD Perspective here.

About the MY HERO International Film Festival:

The My Hero Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to showcasing films that celebrate the power of the human spirit. The festival provides a platform for filmmakers to share inspirational stories of everyday heroes. Thanks to generous sponsors, prizes are awarded to elementary, middle school, high school, college and professionals in a variety of categories including documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more.

The festival aims to inspire audiences to recognize the heroism in their own lives and encourage positive actions in their communities. Learn more.

Join us in celebrating 20 years of The MY HERO International Film Festival on November 16, 6pm @ the Ann and Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School in Santa Monica, California. Find out more HERE.