Cai Lidgett and his parents are used to people underestimating him because he uses a wheelchair.
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But they don't know his real abilities, all the more powerful because he's stolen a wizard's wand.
At least that's the plot of short film The Imagination Master, starring eight-year-old Cai.
Made with uncle Damian Perry, the film charts Cai's lunchtime in a day at school. Of course it isn't an average lunchtime.
Cai's parents Elise and Daniel Lidgett said people constantly underestimated Cai.
"The patronising comments, the talking down and the baby talk drives us crazy," Ms Lidgett said.
"Even with professionals, lots of medical professionals ... talk to the chair, and talk to us, or ignore him, or talk down to him. He's very good at showing people that that's not him."
The film's message is a strong counter to that attitude.
Ms Lidgett said the family all knew how much Cai could do, but many people didn't see his abilities at first.
The film was a way to show we didn't need to underestimate people who had mobility difficulties, or other disabilities, she said.
Similarly, Mr Lidgett said the film was about, "Look at what I can do, not what I can't do".
When Mr Perry broached the idea of making a film, Cai said: "There has to be a lava cavern, a wizard, and spells."
His special effects budget went through the roof at that moment, Mr Perry joked.
Cai's magical vision is clearly visible in the finished product. His ideas inspired the script, which he wrote with his Dad.
It was a chance to have fun, and act, and of course to show people his skills, Cai said.
The film shows that, "I can do a lot more than you think I can, and that I like having fun," he said.
The finished film was a testament to Cai's storytelling skill and imagination.
Sitting at lunch, Cai is transported to a wizard's lair. He is, it seems, The Chosen One. But, the wizard's expecting The Chosen One to be, well... "different" to Cai.
He assumes the portal isn't working, but Cai thinks it's actually working fine.
The chosen one must be strong of will, have a creative mind with an endless supply of ideas, strong problem-solving skills to find ways of fixing things that are broken. And of course, they must have good communication skills, "be a real people person, you know?", the wizard says.
Well, Cai says, strong will's a yes, creativity: definitely, problem solving: yes, and boy can he talk. Cai has all the skills the wizard needs.
Cai grabs the wand before the wizard can change his mind. He then sets himself up as "Imagination for Hire", back at school.
A line-up of children make their demands. Cai's brother Darcey wants to be a cat, and in a flash of sparks, he is. One wants to be older, and abracadabra, she's transformed.
But then the wizard finds Cai with his magic. The magic is running out, the wand has just one good spell left in it.
So Cai has to imagine a world where everything's okay, using the wand.
The wand turns to dust (or at least that's Cai's story) after this, the wizard thanks him for his help, and Cai makes his way back to his classroom.
Mr Perry said the film captured Cai's personality, including his cheeky side - as a boy who'd steal a wizard's wand.
"Having Cai grow up in my life, and seeing him grow into the incredible talented boy that he is, I just wanted other people to be able to see that as well," Mr Perry said.
"He's just got such a mind on him, and he's so cheeky and he's got such a brilliant imagination.
"Being able to showcase that using a story that he came up with, working around him being in a wheelchair, but showing him there's so much more than him being in a wheelchair."
To showcase his nephew's talent, Mr Perry has entered The Imagination Master in the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival 2019.
The festival asks film makers to focus on the abilities of people with a disability.
It aims to encourage film makers and people with a disability to tell their stories.
Mr Perry said he loved the concept. But mainly he made the film because he loved spending time with his nephew, and finding ways to do something useful and interesting with him.
The family began a shared document for Cai to brainstorm, and the film grew from there.
Cai's ideas came from his "very big train of thought", and his love for wizards and magic, he said.
"I never stop thinking, I'm always thinking about something," he said.
"Whether it's something I've watched, whether it's something I have done, whether it's something I'm doing, whether it's something I'm about to do, whether it's some of my ideas, I'm still thinking about them."
Mr and Ms Lidgett laughed a lot when they saw the film. That was the beauty of it, Ms Lidgett said.
"It's just short and humorous and no one's taking anything too seriously, it's a bit of fun," Ms Lidgett said.
It was a project that involved the whole family, as far away as they might be.
Mr Perry is based in Melbourne, but came to Bendigo to spend the day shooting.
His and Ms Lidgett's Townsville based brother and 13-year-old niece wrote the musical score.
Having Cai grow up in my life, and seeing him grow into the incredible talented boy that he is, I just wanted other people to be able to see that as well.
- Damian Perry
And Mr and Ms Lidgett built sets and wrangled children, among other things. His brother Darcey became a cat, Cai's favourite part.
"It's a really good way of getting my family together because we all live in different towns, in different states," Mr Perry said.
The film stars many of Cai's school friends and the family's cats even make cameos.
Ms Lidgett said she'd been impressed by Cai's ability to get people involved, with very little notice at all.
"Cai managed to get 10 friends to come to school in school uniform on a weekend, to help him out with a film, which I thought was pretty impressive," Ms Lidgett said.
Cai's parents are hoping The Imagination Master could win the people's choice award as part of the film festival.
Many films in the open category made by professional film makers, so the family is hoping for votes for the people's choice award.
Voting is open until July 3. To vote, visit: focusonability.com.au
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