A new friendship blooms in this clip from Turn Up the Volume, as two guarded teenagers share a quiet moment of connection. Set against the backdrop of a music camp, it highlights the power of creative spaces to foster vulnerability and belonging, particularly for those who struggle to be heard.

Outside this space, fears can loom large. Young protagonist Hex (Erza James) sheds their jewellery, make-up and distinctive style while on public transport, changing themselves until they are invisible. Urban scenes of inner-west Melbourne, teeming with packs of rowdy adolescents, illustrate the tension between self-expression and the dread of societal rejection. Hex's earlier moment of friendship is thrown into stark relief, speaking to the importance of representation in youth media. Viewers can see themselves reflected and imagine realities where they are truly, compassionately seen.