First Day (TV series)

First Day is an Australian drama television miniseries for children which premiered on ABC Me on 30 March 2020. The series originated as a short film of the same title which aired in 2017. The miniseries retells elements of the short film. The series was filmed in Adelaide, South Australia including on location at Marryatville High School.

First Day
First Day title card
GenreDrama
Written byJulie Kalceff
Directed byJulie Kalceff
Starring
  • Evie MacDonald
Country of originAustralia
Original language(s)English
No. of series1
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Jan Stradling
  • Bernadette O'Mahony
Producer(s)
  • Kirsty Stark
  • Kate Croser
  • Kate Butler
Running time24 minutes
Production company(s)
DistributorAustralian Children's Television Foundation
Release
Original network
Picture format576i (SDTV)
Audio formatStereo
Original release30 March (2020-03-30) –
2 April 2020 (2020-04-02)

The series is written and directed by Julie Kalceff and stars Evie MacDonald as twelve year old transgender girl, Hannah Bradford, as she adjusts to high school at the start of a new year. She must navigates the social and personal issues of her early teenage years, while also dealing with the pressures of her gender identity, which is largely private at the beginning of the series. Overriding themes include the focus on identity and belonging, and the exploration of transgender rights. The series was produced by Epic Films and Kojo Entertainment, in association with the South Australian Film Corporation and the Australian Children's Television Foundation. It received principal development and production funding from the Australian Government and Screen Australia. Jan Stradling from the ABC and Bernadette O'Mahony from ACTF served as the executive producers of the series.

First Day and the associated short film have received a positive reception for its representation of diversity in transgender children. The short film won an award for diversity from MIPCOM and won a Prix Jeunesse Gender Equity Prize in 2018.

Plot

Hannah Bradford is a twelve year old transgender girl beginning her journey towards the end of primary school, and the beginning of high school.[1] She must learn how to navigate her new environment, while also dealing with the social pressures of finding where she belongs while transitioning.[1][2] As she begins high school, she presents herself as female in public for the first time.[2][3] Hannah befriends Olivia, Jasmine and Natalie, who she doesn't immediately disclose her gender identity to. However, she struggles with being bullied by Isabella, a classmate from her primary school, who threatens to reveal her secret, and taunts her with her previous name. Hannah lives with her mother, Amanda; and her father, Steve, who try to protect her from the harm of external situations, which sometimes leads to disagreement and conflict.

Cast and characters

Featuring
  • Evie MacDonald as Hannah Bradford, a confident twelve year old transgender girl, who has interests in taekwondo.

Other cast
  • Joanne Hunt as Amanda Bradford, Hannah's mother.[4]
  • Brenna Harding as Ms. Fraser, Hannah's high school Mathematics teacher.[4]
  • Anthony Brandon Wong as Mr. Nguyen, the principal of Hillview High School.[4]
  • Mark Saturno as Steve Bradford, Hannah's father.[4]
  • Ethan Gifford as Jack Bradford, Hannah's older brother.[4]
  • Elena Liu as Olivia, a friend of Hannah's who she bonds with on her first day of high school.[4]
  • Nandini Rajagopal as Natalie, a new friend of Hannah's.
  • Arwen Diamond as Jasmine, a new friend of Hannah's.
  • Isabel Burmester as Isabella, a former primary school student who recognises Hannah.[4]
  • Jake Childs as Sarah, a classmate of Hannah's struggling with her own gender identity.

Production

First Day was first commissioned in 2017 as a stand-alone episode.[1] The one-off drama was created through Screen Australia and ABC Children's Girls Initiative, which was created as a funding program to strengthen Australian female producers.[5][6] The short film screened as part of International Day of the Girl.[5] Evie MacDonald starred in the special as Hannah Bradford, and became the first transgender actor to star in the lead role of an Australian scripted television drama.[2] MacDonald was eleven years old at the time of filming and had not previously acted.[3][7] Julie Kalceff wrote and directed the project.[6] Kalceff was motivated to increase visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community through telling a story about a transgender teenager.[7] She believed it was important to have a transgender girl play Hannah, which resulted in MacDonald's casting.[7]

In June 2019, a miniseries based on the original short film was ordered by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to air on ABC Me.[5] The series was financed through the South Australian Film Corporation and the Australian Children's Television Foundation.[5] Also titled First Day, MacDonald and the original creative team were named to return to the production, which would be told as a four-part series.[5] Kalceff was attached to the project as the writer and director, along with producers Kirsty Stark, Kate Croser, and co-producer Kate Butler.[5]

The series was filmed in Adelaide and led by Kalceff, who served as the writer and director for all episodes.[1] Filming began in July 2019 in South Australia, with a local crew.[8] Kalceff stated she was excited to tell the original story in more detail.[8] The series was produced by Epic Films in association with Kojo Entertainment, and international sales of the series were handled by ACTF.[8] The full series premiered on 30 March 2020 on ABC Me.[1]

Episodes

Short film (2017)
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"First Day"Julie KalceffJulie Kalceff11 October 2017 (2017-10-11)
Hannah finishes primary school and anxiously begins high school, presenting herself for the first time as a female. She meets the principal of the Hillview High School, Mr. Nguyen, who is inclusive of Hannah's needs, but informs her that she must initially use the sick bay toilets while at school. On her final day of primary school, Hannah is confronted by Isabella, who teases her. On the first day, Hannah meets Olivia, who she develops an immediate bond with. She is upset to encounter Isabella, who recognises her and continues to bully her. However, Hannah recognises that Isabella is also experiencing her own struggles, and offers her a new start at a friendship.

Miniseries (2020)
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
21"Episode One"Julie KalceffJulie Kalceff30 March 2020 (2020-03-30)
Hannah and her mother, Amanda, meet with Mr. Nguyen, the principal of Hillview High School, to discuss Hannah's enrolment. He vocalises his intent to be inclusive of her gender diversity, but informs her that she must initially use the sick bay toilet instead of the female toilet. Before her first day, Hannah's anxieties grow, and she worries that other students may discover that she is transgender. When she arrives at school, Hannah is overwhelmed; before she meets Olivia, who helps her search for her class. Hannah is comforted when she realises she has found friends in Olivia, Jasmine and Natalie. She is relieved when her classmates accept her excuse for using the sick bay toilets. While exiting the toilet, Hannah is seen by Isabella, a former bully from her primary school, who recognises her and is surprised by her new appearance. Isabella threatens to reveal Hannah's secret.
32"Episode Two"Julie KalceffJulie Kalceff31 March 2020 (2020-03-31)
Hannah confides in Mr. Nguyen about her concerns surrounding Isabella, who she continues to be threatened by. Hannah is angered when her parents won't allow her to attend a sleepover at Jasmine's house, as her friends don't know that she is transgender. She attends the party, but is embarrassed when she has to leave rather than stay overnight. The next day, Hannah invites Olivia to her house and tells her that she is transgender. Olivia promises not to reveal Hannah's secret, but feels strongly that she should be allowed to use the female toilets at school. Hannah fears that her parents won't let her attend the school camp, so chooses not to inform them about it. At school, a message is circulated online revealing Hannah's secret in a distasteful manner.
43"Episode Three"Julie KalceffJulie Kalceff1 April 2020 (2020-04-01)
Hannah is forced to deal with the public outing of her gender identity on social media. She is hesitant to return to school, but decides to face her fears after receiving support from her classmates and friends. Jasmine expresses her resentment about Hannah not disclosing her private information and decides to end their friendship. Isabella pleads with Hannah to tell Mr. Nguyen that she didn't post the message online, but she also continues to bully Hannah. Mr. Nguyen allows Hannah to use the girl's toilets upon her return before Hannah discovers hate speech graffitied in the stalls. After speaking with her brother, Hannah decides to attend the school camp and ask her parents.
54"Episode Four"Julie KalceffJulie Kalceff2 April 2020 (2020-04-02)
Hannah and her classmates depart for school camp. Once they arrive, Hannah's friends throw her a surprise birthday party in the dorm. Hannah shares stories about her life and her past with her classmates around the campfire, and Sarah is inspired. Sarah confides in Hannah about her own gender identity, and Hannah vows to help her. Isabella continues to bully Hannah, until Hannah realises that she isn't afraid of her anymore. Hannah asserts that she is proud of her identity, and no longer has anything to hide. Hannah faces her fears about being judged and goes swimming with her friends.

Awards and nominations

Short film
Year Award Category Recipient / Nominee Result Ref.
2018 FAN Chile Audiovisual Festival for Kids Best Children's Series (Fiction) First Day Won [1]
Prix Jeunesse International Children's Television Festival Gender Equity Prize First Day Won [9]
MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards Kids' Programming First Day Won [2]
Mardi Gras Film Festival Best Screenplay and Audience Award First Day Won [1]

Reception

The short film won a diversity award from MIPCOM, who stated that the prize was awarded for "promoting understanding and acceptance" of transgender children who are transitioning, which was depicted through the character of Hannah beginning high school.[2]

Reviewing the full series in 2020, David Knox of TV Tonight described it as "the most inclusive, most authentic kid's drama since Dance Academy".[4] He praised Kalceff for her delicate handling of conflict in the series, as well as MacDonald for the nuance in her performance.[4] Knox stated that he would have liked to see the series explore issues in further detail.[4]

Works cited

References
  1. Knox, David (4 March 2020). "Airdate: First Day". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  2. Knox, David (18 October 2018). "ABC ME transgender story wins diversity award". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  3. Jones, Jesse (1 August 2017). "Melbourne trans girl to make acting debut in film about gender". Star Observer. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  4. Knox, David (27 March 2020). "First Day". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  5. Knox, David (25 June 2019). "Two new kids series for ABC". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  6. Knox, David (26 July 2017). "5 projects funded in ABC ME's Girls initiative". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  7. ACTF, p. 17
  8. Knox, David (9 July 2019). "Cameras roll on First Day". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  9. Knox, David (1 June 2018). "ABC Children's shows win international awards". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
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