Corban learned how to overcome his abusive behaviour by joining a men's group. He shares that self-care and checking in with himself has helped him grow into a better person.
Soft piano music plays continuously in the background for the duration of the film. On a black screen is the text ‘Warning. This video contains discussions of violence. Viewer discretion is advised.’
Cut to a close up of Corban, a young man sitting in a warmly lit living room, facing the camera and talking to someone off screen. To his right is a round, white table. On the table is a leafy green plant in a big yellow pot, and a large candle is burning in a glass container. Behind him, the curtains are drawn. He is wearing a black cap with a Boston Red Sox logo, and a casual, checkered shirt with a plain t-shirt underneath it.
Corban: “Kia ora. I am Corban Shane Mita, and I'm from the Wairarapa, and I'm aged 24.” He smiles.
Cut to a black-and-white photo of Corban. He is shirtless, wearing shorts and boxing gloves. Standing in a boxing stance, his fists are raised and poised to punch, his eyes intensely fixed on an invisible opponent. On the screen appears the text ‘Taking steps for change’.
Cut to a few moments of Corban, his hands wrapped in tape, sparring in slow motion with a boxing trainer. Cut back to Corban’s face in the living room where he’s speaking. Corban: “That's when I decided, oh, maybe I just … just take action and do it, 'cos it was so hard for me to just take that step. My mum had a contact number for our family counsellor, and I went there, and she referred me to this men's group that was going on.”
Cut briefly to Corban getting out of the driver's seat of a white van, on his way somewhere and looking cheerful.
Cut back to Corban in the living room.
Corban: “She's like 'I really think you'd enjoy it, you'd take stuff from it' and I was just like, 'nah nah, I just want to do the one-on-ones, it's not that bad.’ I was minimising it — you know, denying it — and sort of blaming as well; and I sort of just took action with it 'cos I noticed the change in my parents, 'cos they had done this thing and they were … they're good now, you know.”
Cut to Corban holding an orange pen and taking a seat at the table in the living room. On the table in front of him is a notebook.
Cut to Corban opening the notebook and writing in it with his left hand: 'How was my sleep — sleep was …’
Corban: “I felt good walking in 'cos I was actually taking action in something that, you know, normally that I wouldn't.”
Cut back to Corban in the living room.
Corban: “It was good having the counsellors there, 'cos they were real welcoming and they sort of made you feel comfortable — made you feel like you're not coming in here getting interrogated — like, you know, 'how's your day ra ra ra, thank you for coming', and so that was quite welcoming and … and warm.”
Cut to Corban writing some more in the notebook.
Cut back to Corban in the living room.
Corban: “I felt like I was quite positive throughout the men's group because I could … I just learned all this stuff that I never learned before, and it was like, it would have helped me so much if I'd have learned that in college.”
Cut to Corban sitting on the top step of a deck. Behind him at the back of the deck against the house is a dog kennel with a food and water bowl next to it. Corban is wearing his black cap, a sleeveless jacket over a hoodie, shorts, and work boots. His eyes are shut, his face peaceful, and his elbows are resting on his knees with his hands clasped together.
Cut to a close up of Corban's face from below. His eyes are closed.
Corban: “The biggest one was probably self-care and, ah, checking in with myself,”
Cut to a close up of Corban's hands, his fingers intertwined
Cut to Ella leaning against a big purple cushion on a soft grey couch in the living room. She is wearing a fluffy, beige jacket over a black top and blue jeans. Her sleek, black hair is tied in a ponytail. Her bright, blue eyes shine.
Ella: “He's such a completely different person — he's still him, he’s still himself and still the old Corban, but he's just a better version.”
Cut to Ella and Corban walking out onto on an empty rugby field under a wide, hazy sky. The green grass gleams in the yellow sunlight. A large black dog trots between them, led by Corban. They stride together onwards, away from the camera.
Cut to a black screen with the text ‘In your hands. Change starts here. For you and your whānau. If you think it might be time to change your behaviour, you’re in the right place.’
