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Transcript: Stone Mason
A child says, WEE!
T.V.O. Kids and Riverbank Pictures Original.
[Child giggles, upbeat music plays, popping]
Text reads, “T.V.O. Kids presents.”
[Energetic music plays]
Akeylah and Brody stand in front of a screen showing a sparking blowtorch. Akeylah wears a dark grey tunic. Her short black hair is tightly braided. Brody’s dark brown hair is short. He wears a light brown shirt and grey pants.
Akeylah and Brody say, WELCOME TO TRADING SKILLS!
Akeylah says, THE SHOW WHERE WE TAKE TURNS TRYING A SKILLED TRADE. I'M AKEYLAH.
Brody says, AND I'M BRODY.
Video footage shows a welder and a mechanic.
Akeylah says, A SKILLED TRADE IS A JOB THAT REQUIRES A SPECIAL SKILL.
Akeylah and Brody say, THERE ARE LOTS OF SKILL TRADES.
Brody says, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THE PERFECT TRADE FOR YOU.
Akeylah says, MAYBE THERE'S A TRADE THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
[Whooshing]
Brody says, SO COME WITH US INTO THE TRADES ON TRADING SKILLS.
Title: Trading Skills.
[Upbeat music plays]
In the skill space, Akeylah puts a red foam brick on other bricks on a table.
Akeylah says, ALL RIGHT, THAT SHOULD DO IT. ALL GOOD IN THERE BRODY?
[Whooshing]
Brody stands up behind the wall.
Brody says, YEP, ALL GOOD. OH, HEY, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO THE SKILL SPACE WHERE WE HAVE JUST BUILT THE FIRST-EVER SKILLS FORT. IT'S A PLACE WHERE WE CAN BRAINSTORM NEW TRADES TO LEARN ABOUT, AWAY FROM THE WORLD, BEHIND THE STURDY PROTECTION OF A BRICK...
Brody carefully places a foam brick on the wall.
Anna says, HEY GUYS.
[Brody shouting, clattering]
Anna startles Brody, and he knocks part of the wall down.
Akeylah says, HEY ANNA, OUR FORT SEEMS TO HAVE HIT A BIT OF A WALL.
Anna says, I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T MEAN TO TEAR YOU DOWN, FRIENDS, BUT I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT YOUR FORT COULD BE A BIT STRONGER WITH THE HELP OF A BRICK AND STONE MASON WHO BUILDS WALLS THAT STAND FIRM. MY FRIEND TESSA IS A BRICK AND STONE MASON, AND SHE COULD BREAK IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK.
In a workshop, Tessa Ferzli, Brick and Stone Mason, wears safety glasses and a T-shirt. Her brown hair is pulled into a bun. She holds a brick with mortar on one end.
Akeylah says, SOUNDS LIKE JUST THE TYPE OF FORTITUDE OUR FORT NEEDS. BRODY, YOU STAY HERE. I'LL GO MEET TESSA.
Brody says, OKAY. I'LL JUST BE HERE ASSESSING THE DAMAGE.
[Whooshing]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah enters a two-storey workshop. Inside are pallets of bricks and partially built walls.
Akeylah narrates, I MADE MY WAY TO LA CITE COLLEGIATE IN OTTAWA, ONTARIO, TO LEARN THE FOUNDATIONS OF BEING A BRICK AND STONE MASON FROM TESSA.
Akeylah says, TESSA? TESSA?
Tessa says, HEY AKEYLAH, WELCOME.
Akeylah says, THANKS! WHOA, THIS PLACE IS SO COOL.
Tessa says, I KNOW, RIGHT? I'VE DONE ALL MY TRAINING HERE.
Akeylah says, SO, LAY IT ALL DOWN FOR ME. BRICKLAYER, STONE MASON? WHAT ARE THESE JOBS EXACTLY?
Tessa says, SO, IT'S ACTUALLY ONE TRADE CALLED BRICK AND STONE MASONRY, AND WE DO THINGS SUCH AS REPAIRING AND BUILDING NEW THINGS LIKE WALLS, CHIMNEYS, FIREPLACES.
[Banging]
Tessa holds a tool on a concrete beam and hits it with a hammer.
Tessa says, AND WE LAY THINGS CALLED BRICK, BLOCK, AND STONE USING A BONDING AGENT CALLED MORTAR.
Akeylah says, EXCELLENT. I BROUGHT MY OWN STONE. WILL THIS WORK?
Akeylah shows Tessa a stone.
Tessa says, I APPRECIATE IT, BUT WHY DON'T WE STICK TO BRICKS FIRST?
Akeylah says, GOTCHA. I'LL SAVE YOU FOR LATER.
Tessa says, RIGHT THIS WAY.
[Whooshing]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Upbeat music plays]
In the workshop, Akeylah and Tessa walk to a large pile of sand.
Akeylah asks, WHAT ARE WE BUILDING? A SANDCASTLE?
Tessa replies, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MIXING SOME MORTAR.
Akeylah says, OF COURSE. WHAT EXACTLY IS MORTAR, TESSA?
Tessa says, SO, MORTAR IS MADE UP OF SAND, WATER AND CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL.
Akeylah says, CEMENTI WHAT?
[Tessa chuckling]
Tessa says, CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL. IT'S LIKE THE GLUE THAT BINDS MORTAR TOGETHER. WE'RE GOING TO START BY FILLING THIS BUCKET WITH SAND.
Akeylah says, GOTCHA.
Tessa says, FIRST, WE'VE GOT TO PUT ON SOME SAFETY GLASSES.
They put on their safety glasses.
Akeylah says, OKAY.
Tessa says, NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO GRAB A SHOVEL. AND WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO A NICE STANCE.
[Shovel scraping floor]
Tessa lifts a shovel full of sand into a bucket.
Tessa says, SCOOP AND PUT IN.
[Scraping]
Akeylah shovels sand into the bucket. They dump the sand into a larger tub.
Tessa says, THAT'S IT. NEXT UP, WE'RE GONNA FILL THIS BUCKET HALFWAY WITH CEMENT, BUT TO DO THAT WE NEED TO WEAR SOME MASKS.
They put on masks.
[Package crinkling, Akeylah exclaiming]
Akeylah pours cement powder into a bucket and adds it to the sand.
Tessa says, KEEP IT GOING.
Akeylah says, I SEE WHY WE NEED MASKS.
Tessa says, NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE SHOVEL, AND WE'RE GOING TO MIX ALL THE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER. SO, JUST BACK AND FORTH UNTIL BOTH COMPONENTS ARE WELL BLENDED.
[Shovel clinking, thumping]
They take turns mixing the sand and cement.
Akeylah says, YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT THIS.
[Shovel scraping]
Tessa says, THANK YOU. ONCE EVERYTHING IS WELL BLENDED, I LIKE TO PULL EVERYTHING TO ONE SIDE SO WE CAN ADD OUR WATER. ABOUT HALF A BUCKET.
[Water splashing, shovel scraping, upbeat music continues]
Akeylah and Tessa pour water into the tub and mix the sand, cement and water.
Akeylah says, PHEW.
Akeylah shovels mortar into the bucket.
Tessa says, ALRIGHT, LET'S GO LAY SOME BRICKS!
Akeylah says, YEAH!
[Hands slapping]
They high-five.
[Whooshing]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Banging, upbeat music plays]
Akeylah brings bricks to a partially built wall.
Akeylah says, ALL RIGHT; BRICKS ASSEMBLED. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Tessa says, YOU'RE GONNA HELP ME FINISH BUILDING THIS WALL. I SET OUT THESE TWO CORNERS HERE AND STRUNG THIS LINE TO HELP KEEP EVERYTHING NICE AND STRAIGHT. 'CAUSE WHEN EVERYTHING'S STRAIGHT, THE WALL WILL BUILD ITSELF.
Akeylah says, IT BUILDS ITSELF? I GUESS THAT MEANS I'M NOT NEEDED.
Tessa says, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, NOT SO FAST. THAT WAS JUST AN EXPRESSION. WE STILL NEED MASONS TO BUILD THESE WALLS. WE'RE GONNA PRACTICE OUR PICKING UP THE MORTAR SKILLS A LITTLE BIT HERE.
[Trowel scraping]
They practice lifting mortar on the trowels.
Tessa says, SLIDE IT IN, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR A LOG-SIZE PIECE OF MORTAR ON OUR TROWEL. WE'RE JUST GONNA PRACTICE PICKING UP AND PUTTING DOWN. PERFECT, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. SO, ONCE YOU GET A NICE PIECE OF MORTAR ON YOUR TROWEL, YOU'RE GONNA MOVE OVER TO THE WALL, AND YOU'RE GONNA LINE YOUR HIP UP WITH THE WALL, AND BASICALLY YOU WANNA STRIKE YOUR ELBOW BACK AND SLING THE MUD DOWN. AND THEN YOU CAN FURROW THE MORTAR.
[Slopping, scraping]
Tessa drops mortar on a space between bricks and smooths it. She picks up a brick and puts mortar on one end.
Tessa says, YOU PICK UP A BRICK. YOU'RE GONNA BUTTER YOUR HEAD JOINTS AND LAY TO THE LINE. GO AHEAD AND PICK UP A TROWEL AND BUTTER UP A HEAD JOINT. YOU GOT 'ER.
[Scraping]
Akeylah picks up a brick and puts mortar on the end.
Tessa says, KIND OF WANT TO MAKE LIKE A PYRAMID ON THE END OF YOUR BRICK. THAT'S IT. COME ON AND SET IT DOWN.
Akeylah puts her brick in the space and scrapes excess mortar off the side of the wall.
Tessa says, PERFECT. SCRAPE THIS MORTAR HERE. YES, PERFECT. AND NOW WE'RE READY TO MOVE UP.
Akeylah and Tessa move the string up a row.
Akeylah says, LOOKS GOOD TO ME.
Tessa says, AWESOME, LET'S GET CRACKIN'.
Akeylah drops mortar unevenly on top of the first row of bricks.
Tessa says, ALMOST HAD HER. ALMOST. IT TAKES SOME PRACTICE.
[Scraping]
Tessa spreads mortar across the first row of brick.
Tessa says, SO, NOW WE'RE JUST GOING TO PICK UP SOME BRICKS, AND WE JUST REPEAT THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
[Upbeat music continues, scraping]
They lay a row of bricks on the wall. Tessa puts mortar on both sides of the last brick and puts it in the middle of the row.
Tessa says, THE LAST BRICK ON EVERY COURSE, YOU HAVE TO DOUBLE BUTTER YOUR HEAD TO ENSURE PROPER BONDING. KIND OF SMOOTH IT OUT THERE.
They move the string up a level. Akeylah puts mortar on top of the row of bricks.
Tessa says, BEAUTIFUL. SO NEXT WE HAVE TO FURROW THE WALL.
[Scraping]
Akeylah butters the end of her brick.
Akeylah says, THIS IS KIND OF FUN ONCE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT.
Tessa says, YOU'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
[Scraping, upbeat music plays]
Akeylah and Tessa build the wall.
Tessa says, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND LAY THE LAST BRICK ON THE WALL?
Akeylah says, IT WOULD BE MY HONOUR.
[Scraping, banging]
Akeylah puts the last brick on the wall. She wipes the excess mortar off the sides of the wall.
Akeylah says, I MUST SAY THIS WALL LOOKS PRETTY SOLID.
Tessa says, NOT BAD FOR YOUR FIRST TIME.
Akeylah says, THANKS!
They high-five.
[Whooshing]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Cheerful music plays]
Outside, Tessa and Akeylah sit at a picnic table.
Akeylah narrates, WHILE THE MORTAR SET, TESSA AND I SET ASIDE TIME TO GET THE STONE-COLD TRUTH ABOUT HER STORY.
Akeylah asks, SO, HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
Tessa replies, SO, I'M A FIRST-GENERATION CANADIAN OF PORTUGUESE AND LEBANESE DESCENT AND I COME FROM A TRADES BACKGROUND, SO, I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST FROM A YOUNG AGE. NO ONE IN MY FAMILY, THOUGH, HAS EVER TRIED MASONRY SO AT THE AGE OF 17, MY LAST YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, I GOT INTERESTED THROUGH A OYAP PROGRAM IN HIGH SCHOOL CALLED THE ONTARIO YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR HOUSE BUILDING. I ASKED MY TEACHER WHAT MADE MONEY AND HE SAID MASONRY. AND OFF I WENT AND GOT MYSELF A SUMMER LABOURER POSITION WITH THE COMPANY I CURRENTLY WORK FOR, AND I ENDED UP GETTING SIGNED ON AS AN APPRENTICE. AND ALSO, IN THAT TIMEFRAME I DID A SPECIALIZATION COURSE IN HERITAGE MASONRY. I'M ACTUALLY CANADA'S YOUNGEST FEMALE RED SEAL BRICK AND STONE MASON, AND I GOT MY TICKET AT 21 YEARS OLD.
Akeylah says, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I WANT TO BECOME THE NEXT YOUNGEST BRICK AND STONE MASON?
Tessa says, WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO GET INTO THE TRADES, BUT I ALWAYS SAY TO PEOPLE START YOUNG IF YOU CAN. SO, LOOKING TO YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS IN HIGH SCHOOL FOR AN ONTARIO YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM OR ANY CO-OPS THAT YOU CAN GET WITH ACTUAL COMPANIES OR EVEN GOING ONLINE LIKE I DID AND SENDING OUT A COUPLE EMAILS AND JUST TRYING TO LINE YOURSELF UP WITH A SUMMER JOB. YOU DO THAT AND YOU'LL BE WELL ON YOUR WAY.
Akeylah says, THAT'S REALLY GREAT ADVICE. NOW, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M GOING TO FINISH MY BANANA BRICK... I MEAN BREAD.
[Tessa laughing, whooshing, upbeat music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
In the workshop, Akeylah says, WHETHER IT'S STONE OR BRICK, THESE ESSENTIAL BUILDING MATERIALS HAVE BEEN BONDING TOGETHER THROUGHOUT HISTORY. HOW AND WHEN DID OUR ANCESTORS MASTER THE ART OF MASONRY? LET'S CARVE BACK THROUGH TIME AND CHECK OUT THE HISTORY OF THE BRICK AND STONE MASON.
[Soothing music plays]
In a video clip, Brody holds a mallet and works on a column in the Parthenon.
Akeylah narrates, STONE MASONS HAVE BEEN LITERALLY SHAPING BUILDINGS SINCE 3000 B.C. FROM THE TIME OF THE PYRAMIDS, THE PARTHENON AND GOTHIC CHURCHES.
In a black-and-white clip, Brody points to a sign on the back of his jacket that reads, “Bricklayers Guild.”
Akeylah narrates, THE BRICK BECAME POPULAR IN THE MIDDLE AGES FROM 500 TO 1500 BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER THAN STONE, CREATING GUILDS FOR SKILLED BRICKLAYERS.
[Energetic music plays]
In a black-and-white clip, Brody builds a brick wall in front of gears in a factory.
Akeylah narrates, WITH THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY CAME MASS PRODUCTION OF BRICKS FOR FACTORIES, HOMES AND CHIMNEYS.
[Upbeat music plays]
In a video clip, Brody puts down the handles of a wheelbarrow beside Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario.
Akeylah narrates, THESE DAYS, BRICK AND STONE MASONS REMAIN CRUCIAL CRAFTSPEOPLE BOTH FOR NEW BUILDINGS AND PRESERVING OLD BUILDINGS LIKE THE BUILDINGS OF PARLIAMENT IN OTTAWA THAT STILL STAND STRONG TODAY.
[Whooshing, upbeat music plays]
Tessa and Akeylah enter a bungalow. Inside, the wall above a fireplace is partially built, exposing a metal pipe.
Tessa says, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING HERE TODAY.
Akeylah says, AWESOME! NICE!
Tessa says, THIS IS THE FIREPLACE WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO.
Akeylah asks, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD ALL THIS?
Tessa replies, WE'RE NOT GOING TO COMPLETE THIS TODAY. AS A PROJECT LIKE THIS DOES TAKE SOME TIME. TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO JUST LAY A COURSE.
Akeylah asks, ARE WE GOING TO USE THOSE REALLY BIG BRICKS?
Tessa replies, WE SURE ARE AKEYLAH, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT BRICKS. IT'S A MAN-MADE STONE. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN BRICK, AS IT'S MADE OF CONCRETE INSTEAD OF CLAY. HAVE A LOOK.
Tessa gives Akeylah a manufactured stone brick.
Akeylah says, IT IS DIFFERENT. BUT WHY IS THIS ONE SO SMALL AND THE OTHER ONES ARE SO LONG?
Tessa says, SO, IN EVERY STONE PROJECT WE HAVE TO SHAPE THE STONES TO DIFFERENT SIZES. SO, THIS IS THE DEVICE WE'RE GOING TO USE TO SNAP THE MANUFACTURED STONE.
[Scraping]
Tessa puts the stone on the flat platform on the device.
Tessa says, SO, WE WANT TO GET OUR MARKED LINE MATCHED UP WITH THE SHARP EDGES HERE. SO, IF I PULL BACK ON THIS LEVER, I FEEL LIKE IT'S READY TO GO. YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE THAT?
Akeylah says, SOUNDS LIKE A SNAP.
Tessa says, READY, SET, GO!
Tessa rolls up her sleeves and pushes down on the lever.
Akeylah says, OKAY, SO NOT EXACTLY A SNAP.
Tessa says, HERE, WHY DON'T WE DO IT TOGETHER?
Both say, READY, SET, GO.
[Cracking, upbeat music continues banging]
They push the lever down and cut the stone. Tessa lays a stone over the fireplace and cuts another stone. Akeylah mixes mortar.
Tessa asks, IS THAT MORTAR MIXED?
Tessa spreads some mortar on a stone over the fireplace. Akeylah gives stones to Tessa.
Tessa says, THAT'S GOOD. PERFECT.
Akeylah says, SO, WHEN IT'S LEVEL, THE FIREPLACE WILL BUILD ITSELF.
Tessa says, PRETTY MUCH.
[Cracking]
Tessa measures a stone and cuts it.
Tessa says, I'M GONNA NEED YOUR HELP WITH THIS ONE, AKEYLAH.
Akeylah says, OKAY.
[Scraping, thumping]
Akeylah and Tessa put a long stone over the fireplace.
Tessa says, NOW THAT WE'RE ON THE FINAL PIECE, WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO THE ENDS?
Akeylah says, WE HAVE TO BUTTER BOTH ENDS.
Tessa says, THAT'S RIGHT.
Akeylah says, THIS FIREPLACE IS LOOKING GREAT, BUT IT'S MISSING ONE THING.
Tessa asks, WHAT'S THAT?
Akeylah takes out her stone and puts mortar on one side. She puts it on top of the long stone.
Akeylah says, TA-DA!
Tessa says, WOW, NICELY BONDED.
[Whooshing, upbeat music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
In the skill space, Akeylah builds a brick wall.
Brody says, WOW, AKEYLAH, YOU WERE RIGHT. NOW THAT YOU GOT ROCK SOLID SKILLS, THIS WALL REALLY DID BUILD ITSELF.
Akeylah says, IT'S GREAT, RIGHT?
Brody gives Akeylah a brick.
Akeylah says, AFTER BONDING WITH TESSA, I WAS ABLE TO CEMENT MY KNOWLEDGE AND FINISH THE SKILLS FORT.
Brody says, JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE BUILD UP ON ANOTHER EXCITING TRADE.
Akeylah says, IT MIGHT JUST BE THE TRADE THAT TAKES YOU TO THE TOP.
Both say, BYE!
[Upbeat music plays]
End credits. Hosts: Akeylah James, Brody Agmon. Co-host: Anna Paul. Tradesperson: Tessa Ferzli. Written and directed by Emma Fox. Produced by Francis Mitchell, Johnny Mitchell, David Mitchell. Co-producers: Emma Fox, Anthony Gullace. Executive producers: Richard Bergmann, Thomas Kritsch. Music by: Joseph Shabason, Christine Bougie. Special thanks to Integrity Masonry, Mike and Anne McKenna. Produced in association with T.V.O. Kids. Executive producer, T.V.O.: Kirsten Hurd. Production executive, T.V.O.: Austin Guervara Mastretta. Riverbank Pictures. Copyright 2024 Riverbank Pictures.
T.V.O. Kids and Riverbank Pictures Original.
[Child giggles, upbeat music plays, popping]
Text reads, “T.V.O. Kids presents.”
[Energetic music plays]
Akeylah and Brody stand in front of a screen showing a sparking blowtorch. Akeylah wears a dark grey tunic. Her short black hair is tightly braided. Brody’s dark brown hair is short. He wears a light brown shirt and grey pants.
Akeylah and Brody say, WELCOME TO TRADING SKILLS!
Akeylah says, THE SHOW WHERE WE TAKE TURNS TRYING A SKILLED TRADE. I'M AKEYLAH.
Brody says, AND I'M BRODY.
Video footage shows a welder and a mechanic.
Akeylah says, A SKILLED TRADE IS A JOB THAT REQUIRES A SPECIAL SKILL.
Akeylah and Brody say, THERE ARE LOTS OF SKILL TRADES.
Brody says, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THE PERFECT TRADE FOR YOU.
Akeylah says, MAYBE THERE'S A TRADE THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
[Whooshing]
Brody says, SO COME WITH US INTO THE TRADES ON TRADING SKILLS.
Title: Trading Skills.
[Upbeat music plays]
In the skill space, Akeylah puts a red foam brick on other bricks on a table.
Akeylah says, ALL RIGHT, THAT SHOULD DO IT. ALL GOOD IN THERE BRODY?
[Whooshing]
Brody stands up behind the wall.
Brody says, YEP, ALL GOOD. OH, HEY, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO THE SKILL SPACE WHERE WE HAVE JUST BUILT THE FIRST-EVER SKILLS FORT. IT'S A PLACE WHERE WE CAN BRAINSTORM NEW TRADES TO LEARN ABOUT, AWAY FROM THE WORLD, BEHIND THE STURDY PROTECTION OF A BRICK...
Brody carefully places a foam brick on the wall.
Anna says, HEY GUYS.
[Brody shouting, clattering]
Anna startles Brody, and he knocks part of the wall down.
Akeylah says, HEY ANNA, OUR FORT SEEMS TO HAVE HIT A BIT OF A WALL.
Anna says, I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T MEAN TO TEAR YOU DOWN, FRIENDS, BUT I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT YOUR FORT COULD BE A BIT STRONGER WITH THE HELP OF A BRICK AND STONE MASON WHO BUILDS WALLS THAT STAND FIRM. MY FRIEND TESSA IS A BRICK AND STONE MASON, AND SHE COULD BREAK IT DOWN BRICK BY BRICK.
In a workshop, Tessa Ferzli, Brick and Stone Mason, wears safety glasses and a T-shirt. Her brown hair is pulled into a bun. She holds a brick with mortar on one end.
Akeylah says, SOUNDS LIKE JUST THE TYPE OF FORTITUDE OUR FORT NEEDS. BRODY, YOU STAY HERE. I'LL GO MEET TESSA.
Brody says, OKAY. I'LL JUST BE HERE ASSESSING THE DAMAGE.
[Whooshing]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah enters a two-storey workshop. Inside are pallets of bricks and partially built walls.
Akeylah narrates, I MADE MY WAY TO LA CITE COLLEGIATE IN OTTAWA, ONTARIO, TO LEARN THE FOUNDATIONS OF BEING A BRICK AND STONE MASON FROM TESSA.
Akeylah says, TESSA? TESSA?
Tessa says, HEY AKEYLAH, WELCOME.
Akeylah says, THANKS! WHOA, THIS PLACE IS SO COOL.
Tessa says, I KNOW, RIGHT? I'VE DONE ALL MY TRAINING HERE.
Akeylah says, SO, LAY IT ALL DOWN FOR ME. BRICKLAYER, STONE MASON? WHAT ARE THESE JOBS EXACTLY?
Tessa says, SO, IT'S ACTUALLY ONE TRADE CALLED BRICK AND STONE MASONRY, AND WE DO THINGS SUCH AS REPAIRING AND BUILDING NEW THINGS LIKE WALLS, CHIMNEYS, FIREPLACES.
[Banging]
Tessa holds a tool on a concrete beam and hits it with a hammer.
Tessa says, AND WE LAY THINGS CALLED BRICK, BLOCK, AND STONE USING A BONDING AGENT CALLED MORTAR.
Akeylah says, EXCELLENT. I BROUGHT MY OWN STONE. WILL THIS WORK?
Akeylah shows Tessa a stone.
Tessa says, I APPRECIATE IT, BUT WHY DON'T WE STICK TO BRICKS FIRST?
Akeylah says, GOTCHA. I'LL SAVE YOU FOR LATER.
Tessa says, RIGHT THIS WAY.
[Whooshing]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Upbeat music plays]
In the workshop, Akeylah and Tessa walk to a large pile of sand.
Akeylah asks, WHAT ARE WE BUILDING? A SANDCASTLE?
Tessa replies, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MIXING SOME MORTAR.
Akeylah says, OF COURSE. WHAT EXACTLY IS MORTAR, TESSA?
Tessa says, SO, MORTAR IS MADE UP OF SAND, WATER AND CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL.
Akeylah says, CEMENTI WHAT?
[Tessa chuckling]
Tessa says, CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL. IT'S LIKE THE GLUE THAT BINDS MORTAR TOGETHER. WE'RE GOING TO START BY FILLING THIS BUCKET WITH SAND.
Akeylah says, GOTCHA.
Tessa says, FIRST, WE'VE GOT TO PUT ON SOME SAFETY GLASSES.
They put on their safety glasses.
Akeylah says, OKAY.
Tessa says, NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO GRAB A SHOVEL. AND WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO A NICE STANCE.
[Shovel scraping floor]
Tessa lifts a shovel full of sand into a bucket.
Tessa says, SCOOP AND PUT IN.
[Scraping]
Akeylah shovels sand into the bucket. They dump the sand into a larger tub.
Tessa says, THAT'S IT. NEXT UP, WE'RE GONNA FILL THIS BUCKET HALFWAY WITH CEMENT, BUT TO DO THAT WE NEED TO WEAR SOME MASKS.
They put on masks.
[Package crinkling, Akeylah exclaiming]
Akeylah pours cement powder into a bucket and adds it to the sand.
Tessa says, KEEP IT GOING.
Akeylah says, I SEE WHY WE NEED MASKS.
Tessa says, NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE SHOVEL, AND WE'RE GOING TO MIX ALL THE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER. SO, JUST BACK AND FORTH UNTIL BOTH COMPONENTS ARE WELL BLENDED.
[Shovel clinking, thumping]
They take turns mixing the sand and cement.
Akeylah says, YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT THIS.
[Shovel scraping]
Tessa says, THANK YOU. ONCE EVERYTHING IS WELL BLENDED, I LIKE TO PULL EVERYTHING TO ONE SIDE SO WE CAN ADD OUR WATER. ABOUT HALF A BUCKET.
[Water splashing, shovel scraping, upbeat music continues]
Akeylah and Tessa pour water into the tub and mix the sand, cement and water.
Akeylah says, PHEW.
Akeylah shovels mortar into the bucket.
Tessa says, ALRIGHT, LET'S GO LAY SOME BRICKS!
Akeylah says, YEAH!
[Hands slapping]
They high-five.
[Whooshing]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Banging, upbeat music plays]
Akeylah brings bricks to a partially built wall.
Akeylah says, ALL RIGHT; BRICKS ASSEMBLED. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Tessa says, YOU'RE GONNA HELP ME FINISH BUILDING THIS WALL. I SET OUT THESE TWO CORNERS HERE AND STRUNG THIS LINE TO HELP KEEP EVERYTHING NICE AND STRAIGHT. 'CAUSE WHEN EVERYTHING'S STRAIGHT, THE WALL WILL BUILD ITSELF.
Akeylah says, IT BUILDS ITSELF? I GUESS THAT MEANS I'M NOT NEEDED.
Tessa says, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, NOT SO FAST. THAT WAS JUST AN EXPRESSION. WE STILL NEED MASONS TO BUILD THESE WALLS. WE'RE GONNA PRACTICE OUR PICKING UP THE MORTAR SKILLS A LITTLE BIT HERE.
[Trowel scraping]
They practice lifting mortar on the trowels.
Tessa says, SLIDE IT IN, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR A LOG-SIZE PIECE OF MORTAR ON OUR TROWEL. WE'RE JUST GONNA PRACTICE PICKING UP AND PUTTING DOWN. PERFECT, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. SO, ONCE YOU GET A NICE PIECE OF MORTAR ON YOUR TROWEL, YOU'RE GONNA MOVE OVER TO THE WALL, AND YOU'RE GONNA LINE YOUR HIP UP WITH THE WALL, AND BASICALLY YOU WANNA STRIKE YOUR ELBOW BACK AND SLING THE MUD DOWN. AND THEN YOU CAN FURROW THE MORTAR.
[Slopping, scraping]
Tessa drops mortar on a space between bricks and smooths it. She picks up a brick and puts mortar on one end.
Tessa says, YOU PICK UP A BRICK. YOU'RE GONNA BUTTER YOUR HEAD JOINTS AND LAY TO THE LINE. GO AHEAD AND PICK UP A TROWEL AND BUTTER UP A HEAD JOINT. YOU GOT 'ER.
[Scraping]
Akeylah picks up a brick and puts mortar on the end.
Tessa says, KIND OF WANT TO MAKE LIKE A PYRAMID ON THE END OF YOUR BRICK. THAT'S IT. COME ON AND SET IT DOWN.
Akeylah puts her brick in the space and scrapes excess mortar off the side of the wall.
Tessa says, PERFECT. SCRAPE THIS MORTAR HERE. YES, PERFECT. AND NOW WE'RE READY TO MOVE UP.
Akeylah and Tessa move the string up a row.
Akeylah says, LOOKS GOOD TO ME.
Tessa says, AWESOME, LET'S GET CRACKIN'.
Akeylah drops mortar unevenly on top of the first row of bricks.
Tessa says, ALMOST HAD HER. ALMOST. IT TAKES SOME PRACTICE.
[Scraping]
Tessa spreads mortar across the first row of brick.
Tessa says, SO, NOW WE'RE JUST GOING TO PICK UP SOME BRICKS, AND WE JUST REPEAT THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
[Upbeat music continues, scraping]
They lay a row of bricks on the wall. Tessa puts mortar on both sides of the last brick and puts it in the middle of the row.
Tessa says, THE LAST BRICK ON EVERY COURSE, YOU HAVE TO DOUBLE BUTTER YOUR HEAD TO ENSURE PROPER BONDING. KIND OF SMOOTH IT OUT THERE.
They move the string up a level. Akeylah puts mortar on top of the row of bricks.
Tessa says, BEAUTIFUL. SO NEXT WE HAVE TO FURROW THE WALL.
[Scraping]
Akeylah butters the end of her brick.
Akeylah says, THIS IS KIND OF FUN ONCE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT.
Tessa says, YOU'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
[Scraping, upbeat music plays]
Akeylah and Tessa build the wall.
Tessa says, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND LAY THE LAST BRICK ON THE WALL?
Akeylah says, IT WOULD BE MY HONOUR.
[Scraping, banging]
Akeylah puts the last brick on the wall. She wipes the excess mortar off the sides of the wall.
Akeylah says, I MUST SAY THIS WALL LOOKS PRETTY SOLID.
Tessa says, NOT BAD FOR YOUR FIRST TIME.
Akeylah says, THANKS!
They high-five.
[Whooshing]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Cheerful music plays]
Outside, Tessa and Akeylah sit at a picnic table.
Akeylah narrates, WHILE THE MORTAR SET, TESSA AND I SET ASIDE TIME TO GET THE STONE-COLD TRUTH ABOUT HER STORY.
Akeylah asks, SO, HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
Tessa replies, SO, I'M A FIRST-GENERATION CANADIAN OF PORTUGUESE AND LEBANESE DESCENT AND I COME FROM A TRADES BACKGROUND, SO, I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST FROM A YOUNG AGE. NO ONE IN MY FAMILY, THOUGH, HAS EVER TRIED MASONRY SO AT THE AGE OF 17, MY LAST YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, I GOT INTERESTED THROUGH A OYAP PROGRAM IN HIGH SCHOOL CALLED THE ONTARIO YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR HOUSE BUILDING. I ASKED MY TEACHER WHAT MADE MONEY AND HE SAID MASONRY. AND OFF I WENT AND GOT MYSELF A SUMMER LABOURER POSITION WITH THE COMPANY I CURRENTLY WORK FOR, AND I ENDED UP GETTING SIGNED ON AS AN APPRENTICE. AND ALSO, IN THAT TIMEFRAME I DID A SPECIALIZATION COURSE IN HERITAGE MASONRY. I'M ACTUALLY CANADA'S YOUNGEST FEMALE RED SEAL BRICK AND STONE MASON, AND I GOT MY TICKET AT 21 YEARS OLD.
Akeylah says, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I WANT TO BECOME THE NEXT YOUNGEST BRICK AND STONE MASON?
Tessa says, WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO GET INTO THE TRADES, BUT I ALWAYS SAY TO PEOPLE START YOUNG IF YOU CAN. SO, LOOKING TO YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS IN HIGH SCHOOL FOR AN ONTARIO YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM OR ANY CO-OPS THAT YOU CAN GET WITH ACTUAL COMPANIES OR EVEN GOING ONLINE LIKE I DID AND SENDING OUT A COUPLE EMAILS AND JUST TRYING TO LINE YOURSELF UP WITH A SUMMER JOB. YOU DO THAT AND YOU'LL BE WELL ON YOUR WAY.
Akeylah says, THAT'S REALLY GREAT ADVICE. NOW, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M GOING TO FINISH MY BANANA BRICK... I MEAN BREAD.
[Tessa laughing, whooshing, upbeat music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
In the workshop, Akeylah says, WHETHER IT'S STONE OR BRICK, THESE ESSENTIAL BUILDING MATERIALS HAVE BEEN BONDING TOGETHER THROUGHOUT HISTORY. HOW AND WHEN DID OUR ANCESTORS MASTER THE ART OF MASONRY? LET'S CARVE BACK THROUGH TIME AND CHECK OUT THE HISTORY OF THE BRICK AND STONE MASON.
[Soothing music plays]
In a video clip, Brody holds a mallet and works on a column in the Parthenon.
Akeylah narrates, STONE MASONS HAVE BEEN LITERALLY SHAPING BUILDINGS SINCE 3000 B.C. FROM THE TIME OF THE PYRAMIDS, THE PARTHENON AND GOTHIC CHURCHES.
In a black-and-white clip, Brody points to a sign on the back of his jacket that reads, “Bricklayers Guild.”
Akeylah narrates, THE BRICK BECAME POPULAR IN THE MIDDLE AGES FROM 500 TO 1500 BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAPER THAN STONE, CREATING GUILDS FOR SKILLED BRICKLAYERS.
[Energetic music plays]
In a black-and-white clip, Brody builds a brick wall in front of gears in a factory.
Akeylah narrates, WITH THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY CAME MASS PRODUCTION OF BRICKS FOR FACTORIES, HOMES AND CHIMNEYS.
[Upbeat music plays]
In a video clip, Brody puts down the handles of a wheelbarrow beside Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario.
Akeylah narrates, THESE DAYS, BRICK AND STONE MASONS REMAIN CRUCIAL CRAFTSPEOPLE BOTH FOR NEW BUILDINGS AND PRESERVING OLD BUILDINGS LIKE THE BUILDINGS OF PARLIAMENT IN OTTAWA THAT STILL STAND STRONG TODAY.
[Whooshing, upbeat music plays]
Tessa and Akeylah enter a bungalow. Inside, the wall above a fireplace is partially built, exposing a metal pipe.
Tessa says, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING HERE TODAY.
Akeylah says, AWESOME! NICE!
Tessa says, THIS IS THE FIREPLACE WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO.
Akeylah asks, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD ALL THIS?
Tessa replies, WE'RE NOT GOING TO COMPLETE THIS TODAY. AS A PROJECT LIKE THIS DOES TAKE SOME TIME. TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO JUST LAY A COURSE.
Akeylah asks, ARE WE GOING TO USE THOSE REALLY BIG BRICKS?
Tessa replies, WE SURE ARE AKEYLAH, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT BRICKS. IT'S A MAN-MADE STONE. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN BRICK, AS IT'S MADE OF CONCRETE INSTEAD OF CLAY. HAVE A LOOK.
Tessa gives Akeylah a manufactured stone brick.
Akeylah says, IT IS DIFFERENT. BUT WHY IS THIS ONE SO SMALL AND THE OTHER ONES ARE SO LONG?
Tessa says, SO, IN EVERY STONE PROJECT WE HAVE TO SHAPE THE STONES TO DIFFERENT SIZES. SO, THIS IS THE DEVICE WE'RE GOING TO USE TO SNAP THE MANUFACTURED STONE.
[Scraping]
Tessa puts the stone on the flat platform on the device.
Tessa says, SO, WE WANT TO GET OUR MARKED LINE MATCHED UP WITH THE SHARP EDGES HERE. SO, IF I PULL BACK ON THIS LEVER, I FEEL LIKE IT'S READY TO GO. YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE THAT?
Akeylah says, SOUNDS LIKE A SNAP.
Tessa says, READY, SET, GO!
Tessa rolls up her sleeves and pushes down on the lever.
Akeylah says, OKAY, SO NOT EXACTLY A SNAP.
Tessa says, HERE, WHY DON'T WE DO IT TOGETHER?
Both say, READY, SET, GO.
[Cracking, upbeat music continues banging]
They push the lever down and cut the stone. Tessa lays a stone over the fireplace and cuts another stone. Akeylah mixes mortar.
Tessa asks, IS THAT MORTAR MIXED?
Tessa spreads some mortar on a stone over the fireplace. Akeylah gives stones to Tessa.
Tessa says, THAT'S GOOD. PERFECT.
Akeylah says, SO, WHEN IT'S LEVEL, THE FIREPLACE WILL BUILD ITSELF.
Tessa says, PRETTY MUCH.
[Cracking]
Tessa measures a stone and cuts it.
Tessa says, I'M GONNA NEED YOUR HELP WITH THIS ONE, AKEYLAH.
Akeylah says, OKAY.
[Scraping, thumping]
Akeylah and Tessa put a long stone over the fireplace.
Tessa says, NOW THAT WE'RE ON THE FINAL PIECE, WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO THE ENDS?
Akeylah says, WE HAVE TO BUTTER BOTH ENDS.
Tessa says, THAT'S RIGHT.
Akeylah says, THIS FIREPLACE IS LOOKING GREAT, BUT IT'S MISSING ONE THING.
Tessa asks, WHAT'S THAT?
Akeylah takes out her stone and puts mortar on one side. She puts it on top of the long stone.
Akeylah says, TA-DA!
Tessa says, WOW, NICELY BONDED.
[Whooshing, upbeat music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
In the skill space, Akeylah builds a brick wall.
Brody says, WOW, AKEYLAH, YOU WERE RIGHT. NOW THAT YOU GOT ROCK SOLID SKILLS, THIS WALL REALLY DID BUILD ITSELF.
Akeylah says, IT'S GREAT, RIGHT?
Brody gives Akeylah a brick.
Akeylah says, AFTER BONDING WITH TESSA, I WAS ABLE TO CEMENT MY KNOWLEDGE AND FINISH THE SKILLS FORT.
Brody says, JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE BUILD UP ON ANOTHER EXCITING TRADE.
Akeylah says, IT MIGHT JUST BE THE TRADE THAT TAKES YOU TO THE TOP.
Both say, BYE!
[Upbeat music plays]
End credits. Hosts: Akeylah James, Brody Agmon. Co-host: Anna Paul. Tradesperson: Tessa Ferzli. Written and directed by Emma Fox. Produced by Francis Mitchell, Johnny Mitchell, David Mitchell. Co-producers: Emma Fox, Anthony Gullace. Executive producers: Richard Bergmann, Thomas Kritsch. Music by: Joseph Shabason, Christine Bougie. Special thanks to Integrity Masonry, Mike and Anne McKenna. Produced in association with T.V.O. Kids. Executive producer, T.V.O.: Kirsten Hurd. Production executive, T.V.O.: Austin Guervara Mastretta. Riverbank Pictures. Copyright 2024 Riverbank Pictures.
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