Identity SHORT FILM (Award Winning Inspirational Short)

Follow the filmmaker:
@kjadames
"Living in a world where everybody wears masks due to lack of self-identity, a brave girl encounters the truth that sets her free"
"Identity" is a project made for the youth in schools.
Inspirational Student Short film shot on a Canon 7d mostly with a 24-70mm 2.8L lens
Written and Directed by: KJ Adames
Produced by: Stella Davis
Girl: RUTHY CEPEDA
Professor A: Jaime Taveras
Chess teacher: Jonathan Castano
Shot on a Canon 7d
sound recorded on an h4n
Thanks to UCF Film department.
Post your thoughts below. Share this with the youth.
Instagram: @kjadames
Facebook: / kjadames
Twitter: @kjadames

[@Sunwakka]

I really like the part where a girl in the hallway changes masks when she goes over to another group of friends. Very good visual storytelling!

[@death2denemy]

Me too..

[@gracie3616]

Same omg

[@thevoiceofidris]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4vIg4ewhaeEq68

[@floridian4072]

Yes!!! Just to fit in. I caught that!!

[@kikiblipblop3047]

2:28

[@lilxtasy4936]

*casually scrolling down the comment section to find answers for my homework*

[@Alex-ps6lm]

SAME XD

[@Alex-ps6lm]

Your school is middle school right?

[@mayoleano8432]

LMAOOO YOUR PLAYING YOU TOO? MY TEACHER ASSIGNED THIS TODAY

[@Alex-ps6lm]

dumb rat :O SAME!

[@mayoleano8432]

【WeirdoAle】 YOU IN MIDDLE SCHOOL TOO THEN?

[@geraldineapiado5018]

One of the reason why we suffer from self identity crisis was we are trying to copy someone else life ,including personality ,behavior and mindset . So ,we have to remove our mask and be authentic in order to find ourself . Thumbs up with this short film .very inspirational

[@kayleeslater6345]

I love the part where that one girl goes to join the group conversation, and she switches masks... I can definitely relate to that! In high school I felt as though i needed to modify my personality depending on who i was talking to. I understand that isn't the way it should be now, but back then it felt much different. As drastic as this sounds, high school was sort of like a four-year social experiment all in itself, like the hunger games or something. Once I got out, life was so different. But being in there, it tests you... Its hard when you don't know who you are.

[@nikkimirhosseyni9535]

That was my favorite part. :)

[@TheKaineHill]

Kaylee Slater That's my favorite part too! :D

[@jingem9406]

It's like the movie saw they bring a group of strangers and torture them. Except in this case it's not physically it's mentally which is in my opinion way worse and is way harder for it to heal rather than a broken bone or a cut.

[@shaymary5247]

Hey Miles Esp. for those who develop PTSD! It's a very sad world out there!!

[@shaymary5247]

Kaylee Slater VERBATIM!!

[@lisadoyle2284]

I am 45 years old and have just learned to take off my masks and be my true self. If I could go back in my past and talk to myself, the one thing I would tell myself is to take off these masks and enjoy life. It's not important for everyone you meet to like you. It is more important to like yourself. Don't be like me and wait until you are older to take off these masks. Be true to yourself. If people don't like you for who you are, move on. Spend more time with the people who do like you for who you are.

[@im.not.typical91]

thanks your comments made me accept who I am

[@eutiehachi9459]

+Lisa Doyle Thank you so much! That is what I needed to hear!

[@lisadoyle2284]

Eutie hachi I am so glad. Hang in there, when you start liking yourself, things get better, and you deserve to love yourself!

[@moogeumal3989]

I like and marking your word's. Thank's a lot.

[@angieespinal574]

Lisa Doyle am 11 and i still dont like myself i feel like i have a life of someone and its not mine but thank you. For this comment thx

[@jesseonvenus]

2012: no 2013: nuh uh 2014: nope 2015: still no 2016: you still here? 2017: so how you doing? 2018: Almost there! 2019: just a little longer! 2020: *watch this video for homework*

[@justaweirdo3792]

yes lmao

[@bjornmanalo1819]

Yeah me too

[@razecrownsolus7586]

Same

[@ilyessoussia7166]

2024 for .. watching for homework lmao

[@soph-so1wj]

I kinda wish for month our school would give us uniforms, plain masks, and something to cover our hair so you can see it. Like something to make us all look the same and we aren't aloud to know who is who. We have to try and meet people and talk to them. Let's see what people think about each other when physical appearance doesn't have any role to play.

[@nat-hk7pj]

You should recommend it!

[@bethchapman5055]

do you like somewhere where they don't have uniform?? cause I live in UK and we have uniform on my school and I do find that people are not picked on for what they were cause we all were the same .

[@ameliagething7284]

+Beth Chapman me to I go to a blue school

[@HibaAydeed]

+Disoriented Jelly Fish sounds like the hijab to me :D

[@CottonKerndy2000]

+Beth Chapman Pretty much every public school here in the US doesn't have strict uniform guidelines. We just can't wear things that expose or have drug messages etc.

[@justablink3630]

I'm just here to thank everyone on the comment section for explaining this for my assignment lmao

[@jlyrics6141]

Me too.

[@zasun6939]

Same

[@justaweirdo3792]

Samee

[@qwxsr3666]

fr💀hahaha

[@taijaio5151]

me too😖

[@justinm693]

So three things. 1. What do all the colors represent? Yellow = Beauty Red = Popularity Blue = Smart? Black = Strange? Gold = Cool Green = Geek?, or Nerd? Purple = Unpopular? Violet = Ugly? white = Different, or Unique (These are only my interpretations and guesses at the symbolism. Feel free to comment on them if you disagree.) 2. If the white mask symbolises difference, or being unique, and there's only the one white mask- Why wear a mask at all? 3. Some people commented on how there should have been a life changing event that caused her to remove her mask. However I think that the sequence of events in the video all added up to that life changing moment at the end. Why? REASONS: NOTE: Im aplying all these reasons to the girl in the white mask 1. From the scene at the begining we can already tell she suffers from bullying. 2. We know that she is very observant. Meaning she is allways looking around at others and their masks trying to see why she is different. 3. Her art work is all about pain and suffering: Like- the people with masks the faceless people being alone 4. One key event that lead to her discovery was her teaches lesson. Wearing a mask is basicly the same thing as being one of those slaves bound in the cave. 5. When she is learing about chess her teacher describes the role and purpose of a pawn. When she picks up a pawn at the end she is realizing she shares the same life as the pawn does. 6. Just before she flees to the bathroom you can tell (from her actions, behavor, and the sinister music) that she is under traumatic stress. All the previous events are leading her to question if wearing the mask is what she really wants to do. 7. The final clue was her about to leave the bathroom. She knows her mask is damaged. (The mask breaking symbolizes her loosing her composure or perhaps her starting to free her self from the self that others are seeing.) Once her mask was damaged she had two options. One: Leave the bathroom and pretend nothing happened. OR Two: get rid of her mask entirely She chose to get rid of her mask entirely because she finally realised it wasn't doing her any good. I apologise for the really long comment. I really liked this video and I just felt the need to analyze and explain it to those who were maybe confused about it. Please note that there are just my views and opinions on the meaning of the symbolism. Like with most symbols there can be more than one meaning behind them. Good Job to the makers of the video. I realize this is serveral years old but please know that it continues to inspire others regardless of how old it is. ... March/ 27/ 2021 EDIT: I just came back to this video and was reviewing my old comment, and as I was doing so, another possible interpretation for the white mask came to mind. I think that most likely, the white mask symbolized the fact that the girl didn't feel like she fit in with any of the other groups. Throughout the video, she would look at all the other groups and pay attention to them. She would watch the things they did, and the way that they acted, but she never actually joined any of them. She didn't even so much as walk up to any of them and speak to them. So, the question is, why pay so much attention to the other groups if she had no interest in joining them? She was obviously interested enough in the other groups to observe them, but she never actually acted on that interest. If I had to guess, I'd say that she wanted to join them, but something held her back. As for what that something is, I'd say that she felt like she probably doesn't belong with the other groups. She probably thought things along the lines of, "I am different. We are not the same. I don't really fit in with that group." And I think the color system for the masks was deliberately designed to show this system of belonging. People with similar colored masks would group up with other people who wore the same mask. We also saw in the video that people would switch masks when interacting with different groups, and the mask they switched to was the same color as the group they were interacting with at the time. And then we have the white mask, the only mask without a clearly defined color. The white mask can be considered a blank slate. It can be exchanged for an actual color if the wearer so desires to, but as it is it is essentially colorless. It doesn't match any of the other colors. Another interesting detail is the patterns on the white mask. Those patterns are made up of a wide variety of different colors, and those colors match the colors of the other masks. This is probably done deliberately to show that the girl does have some shared interests with the other groups, or at least to show that they have some similarities, but the girl isn't just a single color. She is a dynamic and unique individual, and can't be categorized by any one color. There isn't any single color that encompasses and defines who she is. To give up her mask for a single color mask would mean to give up part of who she is, simply for the sake of blending in with the rest of a group. Throughout the video, it feels like the girl is being pressured to choose a group. She keeps searching for that one group that she fits in with, that one group that is just like her, but she doesn't find it. She is the only white mask. It is almost as if her mask is a burden to her. This might explain her choice of artwork. And finally, when her mask cracked, it was like the hold that her mask had on her was breaking... Until finally, she was able to free herself from her mask. She was no longer weighed down by who she was and who other people were. She was simply herself, and she was proud to be her own person. There is a very obvious change in her behavior once she is without a mask. All that pain and uncertainty are gone, and she no longer feels the need to observe the other groups. Instead, everyone else has their eyes on her. As for whether or not that is a good thing or a bad thing, that is open up for debate. But at the very least, giving up her mask seems to have had a positive effect on the girl. ... February/ 5th/ 2022 EDIT 2: I wanted to go through the comments and add people's questions and my responses here so that everything is in a centralized location and so that people don't have to scroll through the entire comment section to find all the relevant information to my original post, but apparently KZbin has a character limit for how long any single comment can be. So instead, I'll briefly mention a few note worthy comments to look for down below. 1. Dennis Keane's comment on the core of the film and my counter proposal for the core of the film. 2. Ashton Hades theory on the purpose of playing the events in reverse to their chronological order, and my response for why I agree with their theory. 3. Ross Curington (AStRaTeGiSt)'s question where they asked "What do you think is meant by "Today I found the truth" and at the end says, "The truth found me"." and my response about shifting perspectives. 4. 73percent pointed out how "The teachers had no mask on".

[@juanbecerra5428]

Thanks for the info

[@denniskeane3177]

the core of the film is, dont afraid to be diffrent

[@jinxkinks4171]

If I were too be I would be blue it is true :)

[@djoakeydoakey1076]

Pretty good assesment. Good job

[@pastelpepe]

Justin M *Unpopular

[@CristianKirk]

"Be yourself"... old philosophy that doesn't really mean anything. No one can be themselves, because everything and everyone is connected to everything and everyone else. Nothing can be something just on its own, intrinsically. Society, culture, our whole environment will always define our identity because that's how an identity is formed in the first place, and there's nothing we can do to avoid it. All we can do is learn to think and reason taking everything we can into consideration, questioning the dominant values and our own is a good place to start. But never assume that there's something inside you that needs discovery or that represents "the truth of yourself", what you need is to discover the whole world out there... and the more you discover, the more you know, the more you think, the more you change into a better version of yourself.

[@CristianKirk]

The things that are important yo you, your values, also come from society. If you would have born in a different place, in a different time, your values would be different, it can not be other way. This is what comprises human evolution.

[@saravaldes2047]

I do agree with you but we all seriously need to stop blaming society for everything, WE ARE society and if we want a change we need to do it ourselves, not just sit back and wait for someone to be brave enough to stand up.

[@jingem9406]

I totally agree couldn't have said it better

[@lauralovesquinsy]

Thank you for answering like half of all my life questions and how to find myself. I am so grateful to you stranger

[@harrystacey4889]

CristianKirk I don't think it's right to say that our environment defines our identity. What if a teenager is told all through high school that she is a loser/ nobody/ failure in life... Does that define who she is? This could be totally untrue, but if she believes what you believe, that her surroundings tell her who and what she is... she is completely manipulated by other peoples perceptions of her rather than the true reality of who she is as an individual person. I think it's true to say that our environment influences our identity (if we let it) but to say that it defines who we are is a bit too far... It's no different to going to a zoo and then getting confused about whether or not your an elephant or human.

[@Larkawolfsgirl]

This is a lesson we all need to learn. Our society tells us who to be and how to fit in, when what we need the most is to show the world who we truly are inside.

[@gracenote108]

No, it's your own mind telling you how you should be. It's our own mind that feeds us these seemingly palatable ideas about what would be good for us.

[@Larkawolfsgirl]

That is true, but society (especially commercials) try to manipulate our mind into thinking we need to act a certain way.

[@gracenote108]

Larkawolfsgirl That's because people don't ask the right questions, or any questions for that matter when performing any physical, emotional, or mental activity. Using commercials for examples, if you saw a new electronic gadget with newer and better features than what you currently have, our heart tugs at the idea of getting it. The question to ask is, WHY is our heart tugging at the idea? From answering that question, you get other questions. Answering those questions and so forth that will ultimately take you to the root of your personality: your values, beliefs, ego structure, etc. This requires real honesty and sincerity on our part. In my experience and opinion, most people have an identity crisis without being aware of it. "Too many people spend money they earned..to buy things they don't want..to impress people that they don't like.” (Will Rogers). That's the sad truth. Just being a little introspective and thoughtful will prevent you from living a blind life.

[@HannahAllgood]

nayius you know you are right

[@sefat-e-noornabila8973]

love u

[@marindaaddison435]

That moment you realize everyone is so fake and you just can't take it anymore

[@avrildune9993]

+Marinda Addison Yep....

[@lilygleason9804]

True

[@littleflowers7678]

you just realized that

[@oindriladutta6013]

But u r fake urself too..

[@lcrochetlovechild7047]

M A yep im there so you cant beat them join them

[@MrDanNoob]

the girl who CHANGED which mask she wore was especially smart, especially when she was a subtle thing, it really tugged at me, we change our personality to fit in with those around us to protect our own self esteem, because we need to feel accepted. :) anyone about to go to college (high school for you lovable Americans) ;) should pick Communication and culture. it touches upon this subject very deeply :)

[@baileythompson7002]

Did anyone else notice that the girl who was all by herself and felt so alone was the one with the prettiest mask? It has different colors and designs. The people who were in groups only had a solid colored mask. The people who are seen as outcasts or the ones who people do not want to hang around with are sometimes the people who you can learn the most from and who have the best personalities. They are the ones who are real and who are not afraid to let their true colors show. I love this film.

[@Sam-qr4ki]

Who else has to do this in 2020 for e school 😐

[@sharsh24]

Me but I didn’t do it cause I wasn’t able to the video on the chromebook

[@bigdilf3038]

@@sharsh24 sameeee

[@jeshyraorcullo5009]

Me same

[@merimeow7183]

Lol me

[@fiachuAnimation3537]

@Tp Free me UwU

[@bigtimefans100]

Everyone is masked, and they learn about Plato's Allegory Of The Cave, how one of them was brave enough to go over the dark wall. The girl's story is like Plato's Allegory Of The Cave- they are both consisting showing true dauntlessness. She steps out and is no longer afraid. "This is the truth. This is who I am...unmasked."

[@ayaali3388]

Are you still live

[@wensenzhang]

That's not how chess works... all pawns can become any piece they want if they try hard enough. Pawns are also the most powerful in a sense, as no piece can trade with a pawn without bringing themselves to a material disadvantage. The only thing they can't become is the the king, who is the weakest on the board as the only thing you can do with a king is protect him.

[@billhughes5638]

+Wensen Zhang True, but I think when considered in the context of the video, a young teen just beginning to take their first real footsteps in life, a pawn is, then, only a pawn until they continue to learn and master the game. It is THEN they may become greater than they began.

[@f2mel2]

+Wensen Zhang Now that's optimism.

[@sapphireshores9708]

+Bill Hughes Throw me to the wolves and i'll come back leading the pack.

[@emmajacobs253]

+Sapphire Shores was that a BMTH reference?

[@sapphireshores9708]

+Awkward Em how did u know :3

[@fp5219]

"BE YOURSELF"---one of the most hardest thing to do.

[@cccarly123]

this gave me goosebumps

[@PUSHFUTURE]

Glad I was able to provoke a feeling.

[@marapprech]

i was kind of waiting for her to get beat up or something at the end of the video, because they were talking about Plato and his allegory of the cave, and in that allegory, the guy who sees the outside of the cave (and takes "his mask"/blindfold off) goes back in to tell the others, and they kill him because they would not acknowledge the real and absolute world that plato called "the world of ideas".. but i kind of like this ending better, it tells you that you should not be afraid to take of your maks, people might stare at first, but your life will be brighter (therefor the change of weather, and yes, i have so absolutely overanalyzed this video :))

[@icedcoffeemondays]

This is so touching, people hide who they really are, and sometimes are even excluded. She left that mask behind because without the mask is the truth and her real self.

[@miffyymoon]

I'mwearing so many masks that I've forgotten what my real face looks like

[@carissa4551]

Oh gosh. Same

[@phoesmi5911]

PHANDOM

[@lexithompson6246]

+danisnotahamster DANYUL

[@YodanboogerLives]

+danisnotahamster Okay, check it out one time. It's a well known, well respected idea in philosophy, neuroscience and psychology that you don't have a "real face". The very idea that you have of a "self" is an illusion. This is not a trippy, woowoo, blow your mind, crazy shower thought. This is something prominent thinkers and neuroscientists like Bruce Hood and Sam Harris tell us. Obviously, you exists and you have distinct behaviors and attitudes but that doesn't mean what you think it does. The idea is that we are all basically completely deluded about the nature of our consciousness.

[@lexithompson6246]

I know but they have a photo of dan

[@iamKristena]

I feel like this every day.

[@christalbryant2912]

Bravo! For me this is a true depiction of a NEW born again believer in Christ Jesus.

[@caramelunicorn8023]

i absolutely agree hey!

[@_reformed_4151]

Christal Bryant m'jesus

[@George-rz6iv]

Wow....... great work! You are a inspiration !

[@PUSHFUTURE]

Thank you!

[@TheRake]

do you mind if i use clips from this video for a promotional music video? i dont need to monetize it and will give you full credit

[@ShaunaZamarripa]

What I love about this is how her mask was already unique, already one of a kind, in a sea of faces that were all the same, in an ocean of conformists. She wanted so desperately to break free. Had she not accidentally broken her mask, she wouldn't have removed it. We all wear masks...of pride...of confidence...of self-assurance....that we don't really feel on the inside. It isn't until we take these masks off that we become who we are meant to be. This? This is perfect. Not only applicable to high school, but SO far beyond. Very inspiring, very well thought out short. Loved it.

[@gabrieldesmedt3376]

I think that the message of the short film, "Identity," is that you should be yourself, and masking your identity doesn't help anything. I think this because of a few reasons. First of all, she takes off her mask in the end because of all the events that happened during the day, including Plato's allegory of the cave. This metaphor shows that the people wearing masks are like the slaves, chained to the wall. When she takes off her mask, she is the one freed from the cave. Second of all, she starts smiling when she takes off her mask. This shows that she is happy when she escapes the limits of the mask. Third and finally, the masked people are losing their form of identity. In the scene where you see a poster saying "This is what beautiful looks like," with a person with a yellow mask, the yellow-masked people are looking at the poster and generalizing that to themselves. They are losing their identity, because they are thinking of themselves only in a social identity context, and then making themselves their group identity.

[@EragonTheHeartOfSora]

This was great but the only thing is... In the analogy of the cave, the freed prisoner goes back into the cave to enlighten his fellow prisoners that the world of shadows they see is not the real world, but the chained prisoners kill the enlightened/free one because they couldn't handle the truth... the prisoners didn't want to be saved from the puppeteers who casted the shadows on the wall because they were scared and only believed in the physical (fake) world. Digressing, being different is great (I loved the nature of this short) but I just felt like ppl needed to know how the analogy ended.

[@kpopgreatvideos]

EragonTheHeartOfSora Yeah , it was Plato's Cave , Philosophy is interesting shit ya know :DDD

[@williamgeorge5953]

Thanks

[@mlizeng]

I normally don't say these kinds of things very often, but wow. I actually really connected with this and never thought I'd find such powerful material that I could truly relate to in such a way. It's short, but is such an incredibly multi-faceted, layered, detailed production chock-full of symbolism within its hidden meanings. When that student went to change their current mask to fit in with another crowd, representing the ways we put on different façades around others... just wow. An absolutely beautiful production.

[@ayaali3388]

Are you still live

[@User-to7nb]

sorry. I super glued the mask to my face.

[@taajah]

😂😂

[@silver1637]

That sounds like something I would do tbh XD

[@noticed999isrealyetl7]

+SilverAnimations yeah right in 2000 years

[@78taramarie]

+Noticed999isrealyet l nigga don't question people's possibilities

[@RugratsNickAtNite]

Psalm 139:13-18 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand- when I awake, I am still with you

[@themisfitt4364]

*takes off mask for the first time *eyeliner on her eyes

[@mohammadazizulislamasif4558]

then it should be too much white also. Because, if we cover any part of our skin for a long time, it becomes much whiter than other parts. *Only try to get the message and don't judge :-|. That's what it is about😒

[@filmfilmer8372]

Woah. I loved the part at 2:31 where the girl changed her mask when she switched who she was talking to. It was so deep & so true.

[@nijularshed2853]

this movie tells so much about peoples identity.how people have different masks,one they show to everyone, under that, one they show to their friends, under that, one they show to their family and under that,one they show only to themselves.I love the part where that one girl goes to join the group conversation, and she switches masks... I can definitely relate to that! In high school I felt as though i needed to modify my personality depending on who i was talking to. I understand that isn't the way it should be now, but back then it felt much different.MORAL: be yourself and show your true behaviour to everyone. this helps in building more social values

[@sirakyemanetewelde6338]

I can i answer my questions please i don't understand the film what is Provide three separate points.

[@epicriku9162]

I've actually met the people who made this. They came out to my school.

[@PUSHFUTURE]

I did?

[@epicriku9162]

You and afew other people came our and talked bout this.

[@PUSHFUTURE]

What school?

[@epicriku9162]

If you don't know nvm m8. My bad.

[@PUSHFUTURE]

Epicriku91 No worries. Best of luck out there!

[@averyjohnstone4592]

I love how so many people have an assignment on this in the comments

[@isobellilielpraciyaoya5016]

This story is teaching us that we dont have to hide our face cuz the different is our beauty We all has a our own beauty we don't have to change anything the things you have to do rights now is feel grateful at what you have not changing not anything

[@Queenixx]

In the first 4 minutes i was like "i don't get it" and then she took off the mask and smiled and looked suprised and i was like "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! MY GOSH THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!"

[@outlaweda]

Oh you must be living on a rock on those years. To me, it felt like a 5 minute cliche video and pretty boring

[@Queenixx]

well...you obviously didn't get the message.

[@katrollins9833]

Queenixx I didn't. can you help me?

[@Queenixx]

kat rollins i hope i interpreted this right xD well look, as the title says, it's about identity. all those people wear masks because they don't want to show who they really are. in the hallway you can see a bunch of people wear the same mask. These ones shall be constituted the people who are always together (like i don't know, probably you know a clique like that too at your school) at 2:29 you can see a girl take off her mask and still wears another one; to fit in this group where the people wear brown masks. in that, she changed her indentity, she changed her acting; to fit with that specific group, she isn't herself anymore. it's like...i bet you know a guy or girl who is completely different in front of other people, but if she/he is alone with you, she/he is pretty much more him/herself than usual. The teachers don't wear any masks because they don't give a shit if the students like them or not. They are the way they always are (at least in this short movie ^-^) When the girl has this breakdown, she runs to the bathroom and takes off her mask. At the first time of her life, she sees herself, the way she is. She found out who she really is. And she decides to never hide behind a mask, to never hide her identity, again. I guess this movie wants us to show that we shouldn't neither. That we should always be the ones we want to be.. To never act like somebody else, to be yourself, to never wear a mask.. Hope you understand now -(i am very bad at explaining to other people ^^' and sorry if i made mistakes in this text, English is not my first language and >.> i am usually not the best in my English class ^^')-

[@outlaweda]

Queenixx Oh shut up Queeni

[@CitronnelleCiphy]

Halfway in and I'm still surprised the teacher isn't wearing a mask. You have no idea, kids...

[@stayhappy4165]

Someone commented saying that the teachers are not wearing masks because they are mature and know that hiding behind masks is useless. They also mentioned that the working world is nothing like high school and when you grow out of high school, you'll understand.

[@TheChickenRiceBowl]

Stay Happy Funny, considering adults are usually the ones with the most intricate masks.

[@stayhappy4165]

well TheChickenRiceBowl I thought about that too but somebody else commented that and so yeah.. A lot of adults have intricate masks like you said

[@penguin22penguin22]

@@stayhappy4165 yeah but like some teachers are bad that's why

[@ze-prestooo]

*This is like the story of a movie without the body.* *It's like the beginning and conclusion combined. This video shows that the beginning and conclusion are the most important of a story.* THANK ME LATER!!

[@ze-prestooo]

Hope it helps.

[@valkyrieulquiorra118]

Everyone wears and has their own masks. You just need the right people who would help you see right through it

[@candiigurl7893]

I know this may not be a christian related film, but I can tell you that it definitely helped deliver a message; I showed this my youth group that I teach last year on finding out who you are and your identity and they had to have loved it just as much as I did, and still do. Just wanted to let you know that your work is being appreciated from all sides. Good Job.

[@ARMY-hk7rr]

Dont waste your time in a toxic friends that's why i dont have a group in school, accept me for who i am, no pretentions at all thank God for molding me and ahow me my path

[@eilishewilkinson3010]

A inspiring short film with so much meaning behind it. People to to stop hiding behind the the mask of what they think they should be. Its time for people to realise being different is beautiful. Its what makes us human.

[@ayaali3388]

Are you still live

[@Jazztheplant]

Loved the concept and point it shows how teenagers and even some adults go trough. The switching of mask, the putting on of a mask in front of other peers. But the part I like the most was showing that the teacher had no mask to put on , and also the unveiling of her mask at the end to show her true identity. It's an amazing short film the I can relate to. I've been watching a a marathon of these because I just discovered them on KZbin, I'm really thinking about making my own now.

[@marinabirch7930]

I absolutely love this .. Five years later and its still getting out and making an impact. It is truly amazing.

[@PUSHFUTURE]

Thank you Marina! Make sure to subscribe to the channel. I will be posting a video soon talking more about the topic.

[@robynvanhorn]

wow I have always been different from my peers . its a difficult road but so much better than being a cookie cut person . I have been called weird ,strange, crazy , kooky ect and when people say this to me I thank them . its a compliment ( they don't mean it to be a compliment and it upsets them when I receive it that way :)

[@Think_For_Yourself_]

It's telling us to think for ourselves and not just go along with societal rules, norms, customs, regulation, authortity, and laws simpy just because you were born into them and not to blindly follow them just because that is the way things have been done for generations. We as individuals should question and challenge what is deemed the norm, fair, and just. Think about it this way it the past women could not vote or own property. Nowaday we think those were ignorant laws. We may say to ourselves yeah but it is very obvious to see it is unjust but during the time before women had those rights and especially many generations before it was unthinkable to give women these rights. Same thing with the laws today! Think for yourself and do not allow athority or society do the thinking for you!

[@aeroscope]

I do agree to an extend but society can't function if everyone thinks like that. It is important that some people should think like that and be a radical, but some needs to think less in order to execute what radicals have come up with. Just like the chest pieces have different functions. It sounds sad, but this is how the real world works and some people don't like to be a radical but follow orders.

[@joellemartin4466]

too bad the mask wasn't porcaline when she dropped it it could have shattered resembling her breaking away . Very well done though.

[@thevoiceofidris]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4vIg4ewhaeEq68

[@silentthundermimeministry1481]

loved this!!! thank you ...keep creating...you are making a change in someone's life!

[@PUSHFUTURE]

Thank you! Please be on the look out for my new film. Follow me on IG @kjadames

[@NelsonHernandez-kk3xp]

The beginning kind of creeped me out since I'm watching this at 3 a.m

[@Dollificent]

Same, it literally is exactly 3 am

[@purple1puppies]

+Dollificent omg same

[@thefandomfish3071]

3:25 omg!!!

[@Femmeglowup-12f]

I've learned a lot that this story is applicable in real life how we hide ourselves to just fit in, in the world full of standards and judgement.

[@staceyc2681]

When the girl was running to the bathroom I was like "yup, period."

[@AnuragPradhan101]

hahaa .....

[@BrendaMidamba]

+Stacey Chan hahaha

[@emmaniklasson5609]

it wasn't funny

[@AnuragPradhan101]

+Emma Niklasson It depends on your mentality ! haha.. BIOLOGY normal ,Lay person- - Awkard

[@tacogimp7297]

Emma Niklasson fuck you bitch

[@yesv11]

I've been going to therapy because of this "mask" i've been wearing myself. It's difficult to take off when, like you wrote, society defines your identity. So many feelings were rushing through me while watching this video. It was exceptional. Thank you for posting!

[@ScienceandSpaceX]

It is excellent storytelling of how 'she' finds the truth and how the 'truth' finds her later. The story is about the intervening period between these two events.

[@PurpledaisyShasta]

Everyone wears a mask. Some try to be what they aren't and others just want people to see them as something different. This video shows us that we should accept who we are and remove our masks

[@benjamintang2374]

Perspective is a ongoing argument that never stops: people always have a different view on an issue or topic. When people open their minds into perspective, they gain interpretations of the world and the society around them, yet they are blind to only themselves. Many aspects of life can be viewed differently, creating several unique perspectives; a single perspective is only able to create a one dimensional view of what people wish to see. Although opposing viewers may believe “Identity” by Kahlil Abrames illustrates that perspective influences identity because people live their life just to impress others, in actuality, the director utilizing chess pieces and Plato’s allegory to portray that symbolism influences identity. Throughout the short film “Identity,” the author best utilizes chess pieces to portray the masks hide society’s identity to benefit those who hold more power. Admittedly, Plato’s allegory may play a significant role throughout the short, but the chess have a larger role in defining the mask because the masks represent people’s blindness towards themself, just like the pawn: always following orders from other and not showing their own identity or perspective. In fact, explicitly told within the film: “The front row consists of kings, bishops, queens, pretty much the people in charge of the company. The second row is made up of pawns. The pawns are the least important and what the authority use to protect themselves.” To clarify, the film speaks about how pawns (or the students) are used to other people advantages in chess. In addition, the chess pieces symbolize the society within the film as stated by Jazzmin Fotherby in Identity (A short film) - Textual Analysis: “ The girl is shown to be playing with a pawn, and the background voice is talking about how pawns are used to other people advantages in chess. This pawn symbolised her in society.” (09fotherbyj.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/identity-a-short-film-textual-anaylsis/) Throughout the short film “Identity,” in the “Allegory of the Ccave”, a single point of view is shown to limit the expression of genuine knowledge and ability, but as a society, people can accomplish much more. Kahlil Adames thoroughly depicts the purpose of multiple perspectives throughout his short film “Identity” by utilizing how diverse and complex the human mind can be when unveiling multiple perspectives, similar to revealing what can be hidden underneath a plain mask. Even though people may hide behind a mask, society still sees their flaws, and if society unmasks themself, at least they are no longer hiding behind an invisible wall. People without a mask are the ones who are genuine and who are not afraid to let their true colors show. A perspective may be found anywhere and anyone has it; however, little actually possess perspective. Perspective teach people different views according to situation to aid society in a better understanding, while a perspective limits our knowledge to only being able to experience a fraction of what life holds. Perspective is a broken mirror because people looking to it begin to see the cracks and flaws that describe humanity.

[@danielwang817]

In modern society, most people define perspective as a point of view and neglect the second part of perspective called relative perspective, or being able to look at a situation from a broad view point. Humans who employ both parts of perspective in their everyday lives boast a more profound understanding of life than people who do not. Essentially, perspective, like eyes, allows humans to view situations in a personal and idiosyncratic manner and strengthens connections between them. In fact, multiple sources encourage the utilization of perspective in everyday life, but few can touch the depth of Adames’ inspirational short “Identity,” which portrays a school of individuals wearing face masks and a girl who at first also follows the mask norm, but soon breaks out of it and takes her mask off, clearly emphasizing the power of perspective as a whole and its effect on one’s true identity. Although some may conjecture that Adames’ character development demonstrates that point of view aids persona, in actuality, the director utilizes symbolism to illustrate that perspective influences identity. Kahlil Adames symbolically employs masks to emphasize that possessing a personal perspective strengthens identity. In other terms, the iconographic usage of face masks in “Identity” reveals that point of view aids persona. For instance, a textual analysis of Adames’ precisely states the importance and symbolism of the masks: “The masks are very important in this short film as they signify the importance of individualism and open the audience’s eyes to the every day life, in which we all try to conform to set norms and values of the society” (Patrycjaborykaa2, “Textual Analysis of ‘Identity’ (KJ Adames)”). To clarify, the masks in Adames’ short film symbolize the covers humans utilize to hide their perception from the world for the fear of judgment, which influences their identity to fit with the current trends of society instead of being original. The director employs this symbol in multiple ways throughout the entire film. For example, in the hallways of a school in “Identity,” a group of people with yellow masks proudly stand next to a poster depicting a girl wearing the same mask with a striking label: “This is what beautiful looks like” (Adames, 2:14). Simply stated, the poster emphasizes that an individual figuratively wears masks to align his point of view and identity with society’s perspective on how a person should identify as rather than embracing them. However, many express that the symbolic utilization of masks in “Identity” emphasizes that following popular norms results in more respect due to the high number of acquaintances the mask-wearing characters possess; however, since the masks represent hiding true identities, the mask-wearers do not form close bonds with one another as they do not fully understand each other. Evidently, a more secure insight reveals that Adames uses the masks’ symbolism to convey that personal perspective influences identity, a concept all successful people comprehend. Ultimately, society’s most prominent achievers all possess a personal outlook on life without attempting to follow others, allowing them to alter humanity and express their true identity fearlessly. Furthermore, the creator of “Identity” also manipulates Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” to illustrate the powerful relationship between perspective and individuality but utilizes relative perspective instead of a point of view. Simply stated, Kahlil Adames uses the symbolism of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” to emphasize that relative perspective also influences identity. In fact, in the inspirational short, an instructor describes the lives of the slaves in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” in a manner that alludes to this very idea: ”All their life, from their childhood, they have been chained up in such a way that they cannot move their bodies, and all they can see in front of them is a dark wall because they have never been outside of this cave: all they know about life is this dark wall. However, one day, a slave is released, and he discovers a whole new world outside of the cave” (Adames, 1:31). Basically, in Plato’s work, the trapped slaves symbolize people with unknown identities due to the lack of knowledge that shapes their persona from their narrow perspectives, and the released slave symbolizes someone who has a broader perspective and an enlightened identity from the information he has absorbed from the outside world. Adames employs both of these icons to emphasize that individuals with wide-ranging perspectives also understand their identity better than those with a narrow viewpoint. Moreover, Adames also utilizes the released slave in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” as a symbol for his protagonist: “The slave in Plato’s Allegory represents the girl breaking free of the mask society imposes on her, just as the slave is enlightened in the story” (O’Neill, ”Introduction to Textual Analysis: Identity (K.J. Adames)“). Essentially, Adames also utilizes the symbolism of the enlightened slave in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” to demonstrate that having a larger overlook on life eliminates society’s interference with identity, emphasizing that perspective influences individuality. On the other hand, many believe that Adames dominantly employs Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” to reveal that society’s judgments blindfold people, proven by the symbolic meaning of the cave and the slaves; however, this claim does not profoundly consider Adames’ emphasis on the released and enlightened slave and therefore does not correctly interpret his usage of the allegory. Clearly, all evidence suggests that Kahlil Adames utilizes the symbolism of the “Allegory of the Cave” to show that relative perspective influences identity more than other tactics such as character development and allegorical figures. Ultimately, along with Adames, multiple filmmakers also utilize the concept that an overall outlook on a situation affects an individual’s true self as it repairs the lack of originality in this contemporary civilization for a very vital reason: possessing a relative perspective must become a pop-cultural norm, or the decline of a truthful identity will eliminate all creativity in humanity and inevitably lead to the apex of human development. In conclusion, Adames implicates that individuals alter their perspectives for the pleasure of others, masking their identities. The film also demonstrates that when one unmasks his or her identity, he or she will embody a sense of pride and happiness, showing that perspective elevates life. People who possess perspective create strong bonds with one another as their ability to empathize results in harmony. If all individuals possess perspective, the world will bloom with creativity and originality because people would be focused on bringing unique ideas to society and supporting each other. To conclude, an individual’s perspective behaves like a lens among many other billions in this world, displaying a small view on society. Choosing to look through others’ lenses allow for a broader view on society, but if everyone only looks through their own lens, humanity will never be able to comprehend the complexity and prodigiousness of this contemporary civilization.

[@RandyR]

Very few including me is to be totally open and honest. Most of the world don't seem to really care and they couldn't handle it. I have rarely seen the world as divided as it is now. Be yourself, or try to be. People pleasing is a total waste of time. There will always be those that like you and others that hate you.

[@krokrokrenzvlog3471]

I’m HERE BECAUSE OF OUR SUBJECT AND SCROLLING TO THE COMMENT TOF FIND AN ANSWER HAHA LMAO DEC, 9 2020 hahah

[@dhritibhattacharjee9123]

Same fr, the comments really help lmao

[@ameliarodrigues1360]

You guys lucky. In india, we have no auch projects. School z lame

[@Sameoldfitup]

"Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace." Oscar Wilde.

[@ellanegley117]

i love Oscar Wilde quotes "to love yourself is the beginning of a lifelong romance"

[@amirmirza8956]

It is hard but trust me being original is what gives you true freedom within yourself. Be original be free

[@mramitsingh001]

This Film Is Soo Powerful And Influential ...i can Literallyy Feel A Current of Shockwaves running Thru My Body n my Mind Constantly contemplating every single second of it to its Deep Core Meaning Which the Film Wants Us to See..its Soo Great..n its Really Powerful Message dat dey hv sent..!! LOVED both the Lectures of a Professor..it says alot dan Wat meets the Eye..!!

[@janithkumarage2533]

This is an incredible short movie which gives very important message to the society. All of us in society are wearing a mask with the aim of hiding our true identity. We fear for think and act differently beacuse of others' judgements. All of us have the same problem. Untill one person get the confidence to remove his mask and show his true identity to the world this social disaster is ongoing. Everybody should be like the girl in this video. Anybody cannot spend a happy life with a mask cause wearing mask means he or she spending their lives based on the judgements of people in the society. Think every time are the things you about to do and the things you want to do are the same. It wil be able to remove your mask from the face forever.

[@listenyourself2359]

This short film holds all problems of solution Know yourself,create yourself,love yourself...............

[@leefletcher6406]

I love how everyone's mask is plain and hers is the most beautiful and decorative

[@sebass1271]

sure its decorative but the decoration is actually garbage

[@friendlybleach8518]

This is so deep and I really love it. The people who created this are so creative and understanding. This video really describes how the world is. I always wear 20 ''masks''. Even when I'm alone.

[@alysawheeler4907]

I feel blessed that I only really have one identity. I am me. To your face, to my family and my friends, in my mirror

[@duanefreeman3152]

honest beautiful awesome work

[@LPSArtemis88888]

This is beautiful...

[@mirandaboyer8740]

its about finding out who you want to be in life. what you want to do in life. seeing your true potential.

[@ayanahtheawesome2997]

Amen, this is what I need to do. But it's so hard; but you know I really am gonna try because of this vid.

[@monadrian13]

I was waiting for her and others to gather up and dance like Jabbawockeez

[@fauzillajoannes4294]

lol😝😜😅

[@princess1peach]

me2

[@pc6461]

Mon Cruz 😃😂

[@A4171GK12HN]

cannot see life behind the wall - that is how I felt when I finished High School and I suspect others feel as well. All I ever knew basically was life in the structured school system. and then struggled for a while to figure my way into real life outside of it not sure I can completely say I have figured myself out completely though

[@sarahwalker8935]

We all use mask in this world. We try to fit in with people. One mask is for family, and another with your lover. We where different masks with different people. But taking those masks off, we stand out. You're you then.

[@fluffycrazypuppies5828]

Wow... that was... amazing.. wow..

[@teoml1789]

The meaning of this is so deep , wish there were more people to understand it .

[@l.ellei.sorensen4121]

...I was thinking their masks were ugly. Not hers...

[@tarajames1298]

I agree

[@noumanarian3454]

r8

[@miaferrari136]

I think that's the point, hers is so unique and different

[@megankswiss5079]

if I had a mask in class I would be sleeepppp XD

[@BlubbryVM]

How's that going for you now? 😂

[@rohanpatel8283]

@@BlubbryVM lol ikr

[@tanyarastogi1110]

Teehee

[@nikolaili9468]

First of all, it is a fantastic short film. It catches every emotion in the body and keeps getting my empty feelings out. All my feelings are flying out of my body and my identity is getting real. The point of showing a group of "beautiful people" isnt right. You can be beautiful in anyway. In your body, in your head and in your toes. - Yellow poster And the woman that switches her mask to match the personality of their friend groups. We switch our identity to adapt to the people we are nearby. That isn't nessacary in anyway.

[@char4180]

so true

[@char4180]

you put exacly what i was thinking into words, i could never have accomplished such a feat. props to you man, you're a real one. :) I LOVE YOU

[@kat27435]

Incredible short film first off Great concept and Love the ending when she shows her true identity

[@ambervancil]

This is awesome!

[@nalakahettiarachchisafedrive]

All are not living in true life, all are not act as who really you are. all are behind the true life. in the story the girl could understand who she is and she decided to come in to true life. then she was happy and relax. I have an amazing group of colleagues who know me inside out, how ever moving into company I still find it difficult to be the person I want to be so I can impress others. I wish society would relax and not judge a person for being who they want to be,

[@haisu3568]

Beautiful...OKAY WHO'S CUTTING ONIONS IN HERE?!

[@hannekeee8347]

Why is everyone here for their homework- . I'm here for social studies lmao

[@sajadamjad4752]

I know there's a lot of symbolism in this movie already but I think I can step it up a notch. I think that this movie represents how we at a young age either learn about our differences and embrace them and learn not to hate the "enlighted ones" (The people who know how to live without a mask). Every person wears the type of mask that represents what they want to be but that goes against human nature. The people in the cave liked that this was all they knew they didn't want to know that there's a whole world outside because that's the unknown and if you know the least human psychology you know all fear whether rational or irrational is rooted in the unknown.

[@VOIDW1TCH]

If this isn't powerful, I don't know what is

[@arshadnihal791]

That was really amazing... well written and directed. My favourute part was when a girl was changing her current mask when she was about to meet some others... we fake our identities a lot.. thanks for this eye opener

[@ayaali3388]

Are you still live

[@Rubyzen]

I just found this film short today. .I immediately shared with my friends. What a very thought provoking film. Great visual interpretation of Platos work. My fav part is when the girl picks up the pawn and realization hits. Thank you for making this film .

[@rebeccathompson5291]

I love this short film. A hand to the director, too! As a Year 7, we watched this in class, and I fell in love with it. ln reply to some people saying that we should ideally all look the same to avoid prejudice, I am very contrasting. I mean, I don't wish we were all treated as being (physically) the same, but people should be able to express themselves. For example, my big sister wants to look like a boy, and I accept her completely as who they want to be. To show what they want to be and his they want to be treated, they cut their hair short and they now dress either very boyish Or in skirts. While I believe all colours and clothes should be unisex, everyone finds it so much easier to get to know and be comfortable around people who are open with who they are and want to be. Everyone has the right to be who they want to be, whether people judge you or not. The girl who removed her mask could represent someone who is gay, or bisexual or transgender or asexual or aromantic or depressed or suicidal or pansexual or panromantic, but the thing is, it DOESN'T MATTER. We're all human. We're all people. And in the end, Plato's Allegory goes much further than to represent a philosopher. The Allegory if the Cave is so much bigger than that, whether he meant it that way if not.

[@ayaali3388]

Are you still live

[@dharmeshtailor4797]

Amazing film! I can only imagine..how much planning this took! Great work all around.

[@mikebasil4832]

What an amazing short film. Thank you for posting it. 👍🏻👍🏼👍🏽👍🏾👍🏿

[@nikkinorman4254]

Great video, this is true. But some people are just afraid of being judged.

[@samanthamarie5761]

No matter how much we are told to be ourselves... the society we live in does not allow that. We are punished for being who we really are under all our masks. We live in a day and age that does not allow others to marry who they want. Love who they want. Look the way they want. The only place that is safe to be who we truly are is in this "cave". It's beautiful to think we try to be who we are, but I think it will never happen unless we are all more compassionate towards each other.

[@crystalwolf3838]

i love the use and symbolism of masks here especially the part in the hallway where a girl changes her mask as she approaches a group of teens showing how people change themselves depending on who they talk to

[@helainak.9363]

Wow. I love how they change their masks when "changing their identity." That was actually very inspirational

[@your1voicechick.480]

This is creepy and cool mixed good job!

[@mayafonseca3295]

carl grimes?

[@your1voicechick.480]

From walking dead :D

[@mayafonseca3295]

:D))

[@kyle32ful]

Maya Fonseca it's not actually him

[@mayafonseca3295]

kyle edwards obviously

[@whyyougottabesorudedontyou5185]

Just one step can make a huge difference

[@ChristopherFraser2]

Woah! Well written, filmed, edited, and color-corrected! I also really loved the moral of the film.

[@ailinos]

I really gotta stop watching all this deep stuff on KZbin and go back to my Cat Videos :P

[@veecouncil7277]

Right tho I don't even know how I got here!

[@phoenixflame1696]

Me too I don't even know how I get here :/

[@dnw009]

Now that you two or 3 are actually here/were here why not give it some thought? At best you grow as a human being at wurst you're no wurse of then when u just got to this video. You don't have to do anything though, im just suggesting it.

[@ayannalewis6197]

I originally logged on to look for a music video...

[@discordedpinkie215]

Go ahead. I need to go cry in my bed. o-o

[@u.kw1461]

Nostalgic Just thought of this film and really wanted to watch it again. Really strong theme behind it that's executed clearly and simply

[@twiladance2act]

Beautiful