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Make a Film Over One Weekend, Help Change the Way the World Views Disability

by Beth

Easterseals Disability Film Challenge logoThe Easterseals Disability Film Challenge is fast upon us, and entering the challenge is easy. All you have to do is register by April 3, 2019, and then, over the next weekend (April 5 to 7, 2019) , make a film that uses the talents of an actor, writer, director, producer, and/or crew member who has a disability.

Okay, okay, maybe producing a short film in a single weekend isn’t exactly easy, but the rewards are great! The idea behind the Disability Film Challenge is to give both disabled and non-disabled filmmakers a reason to work together, and every year the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge recognizes the talent and hard work that goes into the films by presenting four awards to film challenge participants, including the following mentorships:

  1. Best Film: Mentor Meeting with John Penotti, President of SK Global and producer of Crazy Rich Asians
  2. Best Director: Mentor Meeting with Phil Lord, writer, director and producer of Spiderman: Into The Spider-Verse, Lego Movie & 21 Jump Street
  3. Best Actor: Mentor Meeting with legendary Casting Director Pam Dixon (Angels in the Outfield, City Slickers)
  4. Best Awareness Campaign: Mentor Meeting with Tiffany Smith-Anoa’I, Executive Vice President, Entertainment Diversity, Inclusion & Communications, CBS Entertainment since February, 2016.

I had the privilege of interviewing Tiffany last year when Variety Magazine and Easterseals Southern California teamed up to present a first-ever in-depth look at people with disabilities in the entertainment industry. She works with her CBS Entertainment staff to help directors, writers, producers and casting directors create shows reflecting the real world and acknowledged that progress for actors and creatives with disabilities lags far behind other minority performers. “We have to look broader, disability goes by the wayside far too often,” she told me in our phone interview, noting that’s why she enjoys working with the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge so much. “I’m happy this is really becoming more a part of the inclusion conversation.”

Learn more about each award, the accompanying prizes and last year’s winners at the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge web site, then make sure to link here to register by April 3, 2019.


 

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