About this Short Film
Cameron Pollard Rising Golf Star, directed by Joshua Ives (Australia, 2019), is a short film presented in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. The work touches on themes of achievement, autism, cognitive processing and intellectual disability, competition, motivation, sport and young adulthood. It offers a quiet, respectful look at ambition and ability, inviting viewers to consider how sport and personal drive intersect with diverse ways of thinking. As part of our programme, the film contributes to a broader conversation about inclusion and recognition of accomplishments by people with disability. Warm and considered, it sits comfortably within the festival’s celebration of talent and resilience.
Film Details
Country:
Australia
Category:
Open Entrant Documentaries
Genre:
Personal Story
Festival Year:
2019
Filmmaker:
Joshua Ives
Film Transcript
Where was Cameron born and how old is he now?
Cameron was born here in Costa and he's now 20 years old.
What are Cameron's disabilities? Can you please explain them?
Cameron has a number of disabilities. The first, and probably the most significant, is his autism. That affects the way he connects with and interacts with people. Sometimes he doesn't read their emotions and can be very absorbed, as if it's all about him, which can look like he doesn't really care. He also has a bowel condition called Hirschsprung's disease, so he's had to have part of his bowel removed and now has a stoma to manage his bowel. He also has a condition called Ehlers–Danlos syndrome. It's a connective tissue disorder that causes his joints to dislocate, so he's had to have a couple of surgeries.
What have been some of Cameron's greatest achievements?
He's had a number of great achievements. More recently, we just came back from Macau where he won the world titles. Just late last year he was selected for Australia as one of the twelve top golfers in the world to represent Australia in the All Abilities Australian Open.
What makes you proud to be Cameron's mum?
I'd say watching him mature over the last few years into a pretty strong young man who is determined and passionate about what he does in the game of golf.
Thank you. Now I'm going to ask you some questions. Where do you see Cameron's future in the sport?
Our goal between the both of us is to get him down to a handicap of zero — a scratch golfer. He fluctuates between two and three at the moment, so where that leads, I don't know. He hasn't talked about becoming a golf professional or anything, but he wants to be involved in golf.
What are your highlights while coaching Cameron?
There've been a few, but my highlight with him would have to be caddying for him last year in Melbourne when he represented Australia in the World Cup of Golf, which was among the world's best players. They included the All Abilities event with it as well, and to be alongside him was just amazing — an amazing experience for both of us.
What's the funniest moment while coaching Cameron?
This one's a bit regular. He plays on Wednesday afternoons; I host a competition every Tuesday at Sawtelle Golf Club. On Wednesday my shop manager, Clint, sits down with him and they've got this little thing about doing Cameron's stats for Tuesday. He won't do the golf lesson unless Clint finds the time to sit down with him for that hour and do his stats. He just won't do it — he says, "No, I'm not doing it. I have to get these stats done first, then I can talk to you and we can do the golf lesson," which I find bizarre. That's the way it is.
Thank you, Brandon Barnes.
When did you start playing and what do you enjoy about playing?
The enjoyment is the best part of it. I got my handicap when I was 12 years old and it was 27 then.
What are your memories of the Open?
My memories to do with the Open: when I was at the Australian Open I was on the practice green, in the practice short game area. I was hitting bunker shots and I holed my first bunker shot. Then I hit another shot and it glided over the other side of the green, nearly hit a pro, and it went up into the corporate boxes on the island.
I think Kevin is a great example of what people with a disability can achieve when you focus on their ability, not their disability.
Filmmaker
Joshua Ives is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Joshua Ives.
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