My Friend Michael Jones

15m • Drama • 2018

Michael Jones (MJ) is the ridicule of his high school peers. His obsessive compulsive need to fingertap doorframes before entering and avoid cracks in the pavement make him a target for relentless bullying.

Chief among his tormentors is Selena. When MJ discovers a secret that threatens Selena’s standing within her devout Samoan family and popular school clique, the two teenagers form an unlikely bond through a shared passion for music and dance. When a series of events reveals Selena’s true persona to the entire school, MJ must try and overcome his own affliction to stand up for his new friend.

Set in Ōtara, New Zealand, My Friend Michael Jones features an eclectic ensemble of Pasifika characters dealing with issues relating to anxiety disorder, bullying, LGBTQI and suicide prevention.