CASTINGS

 

Project Title: Pharmaceutical Society of Australia - Stigma and Discrimination within the Health Industry

Filming Date: Feb 02/2025 . Location: Newcastle, NSW . Duration: 8+ hrs . Director/Producer: Kelecia Tate . DOP: Joel Black.

The script's concept revolves around a pharmacist, Dale, supporting a patient, Joe, who is on a medication-assisted treatment plan. Through two contrasting scenarios, it explores how a pharmacist's approach—empathetic versus clinical and detached—impacts patient interaction, trust, and overall care.

Key Themes:

  • Patient-centered communication and empathy in healthcare.

  • Managing medication safety in complex situations.

  • Building trust between patients and healthcare providers.

Character1- Joe (Former Opioid User, in a recovery program)

Joe is a former opioid user who is in a recovery program and has been away due to an ill elderly parent and has missed a dosage at his/her local pharmacy. He/she receives stigma and discrimination in one scene and then kindness in the next.

Physical description: A little rough around the edges

male or female

Age: 20 - 50

Character 2- Dale (Pharmacist)

Dale is a male/female pharmacist who will be acting out a discriminating attitude towards a patient/client of his own pharmacy. Then he/she will demonstrate the kind, attitude that is exceptable to patients in these recovery programs

Physical Description: Neat and well groomed

male or female

Age: early-mid 40’s

Project Description/SCRIPT

Video 1

Jo walks into the pharmacy, looking uneasy. Dale, the pharmacist, glances up from behind the counter, his expression cool. Jo shifts on his feet, trying to appear casual as he approaches.

Dale: Hi, Jo. We haven’t seen you for a while. You’ve missed a couple of doses, so we had to notify your prescriber.
Joe: Oh, okay. Sorry about that. I had to go out of town—my mum’s in the hospital.
Dale: You know you need to let us know if you’ll be away. Anyway, before I give you your dose today, I need to ask you a few questions.
Joe: Sure, that’s fine.

Dale studies Jo carefully.

Dale: Have you been using anything while you were away?
Joe: Uh, no. I did have a Valium last night, though, just to help me sleep. It’s been stressful with Mum being sick.
Dale: You need to be careful with that. Valium is addictive, and you don’t need any more issues than you’ve already got. Why not try melatonin? It’s pricier, but at least it’s not habit-forming.

As Dale flips through Jo’s file, he frowns.

Dale: I also see you’ve been prescribed some strong pain meds. What’s going on there?
Joe: I hurt my back at work. The doctor said it’s okay to use them for a few days.
Dale: Hmm. They really should’ve just given you some anti-inflammatories. It’s much safer, especially with your buprenorphine. Mixing those medications can be dangerous.

Dale prepares Jo’s dose but hesitates before handing it over.

Dale: Here’s your dose for today. You’ll need to wait a bit for your pain meds—there are other scripts ahead of yours.

Joe nods and takes his dose. As he turns to leave, he stops in the aisle to glance at some over-the-counter products. Dale’s eyes follow him.

A moment later, Dale steps out from behind the counter, pretending to adjust some shelves nearby but clearly keeping an eye on Jo.

Jo notices and stiffens, his earlier discomfort returning. Without a word, he walks out of the pharmacy, leaving Dale to retreat behind the counter.

 

Video 2

 

Jo walks into the pharmacy, looking uneasy. Dale, the pharmacist, glances up from behind the counter and smiles at him, like he is glad to see him. Jo smiles, a bit nervous as he approaches.

Dale: Hi Jo, we haven’t seen you for a couple days, how have you been?

Joe: I know Dale, I had to go out of town to visit my mother in hospital unexpectedly.

Dale: Sorry to hear that, I hope she’s all right?

Joe: She is doing ok, but she broke her hip and will be in hospital for at least a few weeks.

Dale: Oh, that’s serious. Hope she recovers quickly. I need to ask you a couple of questions before we go ahead with your medication to make sure you are ok and plan out what we’ll do if there are any other emergencies – is that ok?

Joe: Yeah, sure.

Dale: Have you taken any other substances in the past couple of days?

Joe: I had a Valium last night to help me sleep but that’s all.

Dale: Are you experiencing any withdrawal symptoms I need to know about? We want to be sure your tolerance hasn’t gone down and you’re not at risk of an overdose.

Joe: I am feeling ok, I am starting to feel a bit twitchy but no major issues.

Dale: That sounds pretty normal, I think it is fine to go ahead with this dose, should we contact your prescriber and come up with a plan for if you need to leave unexpectedly to support your mum?

Joe: That would be great, thanks Dale.

Dale: Also, I see you have been prescribed some pain meds. These are quite sedating especially if you combine them with other sedating meds such as buprenorphine. Do you still have some naloxone at home? Just in case.

Dale: I had a bottle at one stage, but I am not sure what happened to it.

Joe: Ok, let’s get you another supply just in case. It won’t hurt to have a spare if you do find the other one. I’ll have it ready for you with your scrip in a few minutes.

Joe: Thanks Dale, I appreciate that.

Dale: Is there anything else I can help you with today?

Joe: Actually, my eczema has really flared up. I was going to have a look at the creams you have, see if I can find anything that can help. Do you have any suggestions of what I can use?

Dale: Of course, we have a few soap free washes and moisturises I can recommend but first tell me a bit more about your symptoms. You might need a steroid cream…(the scene fades)