• Home
  • Mail
  • News
  • Finance
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Search
  • Mobile
  • More
Yahoo
    • Skip to Navigation
    • Skip to Main Content
    • Skip to Related Content
    • Mail
    Entertainment Home
    Follow Us
    • The It List
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Celebrity
    • Music
    • Live Celeb Chats
    • Videos

    Easterseals Film Challenge Sets Out to Change Perceptions About People With Disabilities

    Brian Welk
    The WrapMay 6, 2019
    Reblog
    Share
    Tweet
    Share
    Easterseals Film Challenge Sets Out to Change Perceptions About People With Disabilities
    In the short film “Take It Back,” a woman in a wheelchair travels back in time with the intent of warning her younger self about a car accident that left her unable to walk. But on her journey through her youth, she realizes it’s the other memories that define the person she’s become, not her disability, and she chooses not to change her past.“Take It Back” is one of five shorts nominated for Best Film as part of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, an annual competition in which filmmakers, storytellers and actors with disabilities come together to make movies that highlight stories about disabilities and provide opportunities for disabled actors.RJ Mitte, one of the stars of “Breaking Bad” who lives with cerebral palsy, is a judge for the film challenge, and he singled out “Take It Back” as a movie designed to change the perspective of how someone with a disability is viewed.Also Read: British Film Institute Rejects Funding for Films With Facially-Scarred Villains“We have a tendency to dwell on our faults and not always show our full strength,” Mitte told TheWrap. “Sometimes it brings out ‘lack of ability’ or that ‘liability.’ That’s not the case. We want to highlight and remind people that just because someone has a disability does not make them a liability.”Nic Novicki is an actor and little person who founded the film challenge in 2014. When he started, as few as six films were submitted, and that number has now ballooned to 71 entrants in 2019. Many have crews in which up to 90%  of participants have disabities. For Novicki, the festival’s goal has always been to create a venue for underrepresented stories, and to open paths into the film industry.“The goal with the challenge is ultimately about inclusion,” Novicki said. “You’ll have someone with Down syndrome, a little person, someone in a wheelchair, and the goal is to get those people to continue to collaborate beyond the film challenge.”Also Read: 'The Upside' Director on 'Intense' Bryan Cranston Performance and Being 'Truthful' to Disabled CharacterParticipants had 48 hours to make a film between three and five minutes in length that demonstrated a “natural inclusion” of disabilities either in front of or behind the camera. The films didn’t have to exclusively tell a story about living with disabilities.“You don’t have to make it about the disability, but have that person in the background. Have that person part of that world and not just have them as the main focal point of their disability, but just have them living in that world,” Mitte said. “We see strides, but we see a lot of reluctance on, ‘Why would I do that? Why would that make sense?’ It’s such a big part of our community, and people forget that. That’s why we have to continue to highlight films. These individuals are out there. They’re hungry. They want the work, they have the ability to do the work, so why aren’t you giving them the ability to do the work? That’s what we’re cultivating.”Winners at this year’s challenge will get to sit down with “The Lego Movie” director Phil Lord and SK Global president John Penotti as industry mentors. Others, like Peter Farrelly and Marcia Gay Harden, have previously helped connect the challenge’s participants with jobs.Also Read: Hollywood Is Overpaying for the Wrong Talent, New Tongal CEO James DeJulio Says“The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge gives people that leg up or that advantage because they’re getting seen now by these giant casting directors,” Novicki said. “The reason why people with disabilities are not getting written in is that sometimes the writers don’t have a personal connection to disability, and it’s just not on top of [their] mind.”It’s important for below-the-line crew members, as well. Mitte said he recently worked on a feature film in which 75% of the people on set had a disability, and he noticed no difference between that and any other Hollywood production he’s worked on.“There were no hiccups, no follies, and that’s what we have to show more of,” Mitte said. “These individuals aren’t burdens on the set. They’re professional. They’re working professionals. They just happen to have a disability. It does not define what they are in the industry or what they can do.”“Take It Back” is just one of the many films submitted as part of this year’s competition that frames the conversation around disabled inclusion in a positive light. And Mitte says that this film is a great example of why such stories are so important.“She learns to embrace herself. She learned it wasn’t her disability that defined her life. It was the lack of living her life and willingness to put herself out there. That ability was always there,” Mitte said of the film’s protagonist. “Finding that well-being and happiness is not always just because I have a disability. It comes from so much more. That’s one facet, but there are so many more things that define and create who you are as an individual.”The Easterseals Disability Challenge will unveil its awards winners on May 9 as part of a red carpet ceremony at Sony Pictures. All 71 of the submitted films can be viewed on Easterseals’ YouTube channel.Below, find the full list of finalists as part of this year’s film challenge. To view it, click on the title.Best Film Carl Hansen, “I/O” Cory Reeder, “I Can“ Amy Hopper, “Parents Inc.” Daryn Simons, “Take It Back“ Lori Saux, “The Want“Best Director Diana Elizabeth Jordan, “I Can“ Carl Hansen, “I/O“ Harald Zwart, “Parents Inc.“ Tatiana Paris, “Sound and Silence“Best Actor Nicole Evans, “Human Helper“ Auti Angel, “Only Human“ Micah Fowler, “Second Date“ Marilee Talkington, “The Call“Best Awareness Campaign Perry Poussard Jr., “Goodbye Dessa“ Micah Fowler, “Second Date“ Angel Giuffria, “Synthesis“ Rachel Handler, “The Vanished“Read original story Easterseals Film Challenge Sets Out to Change Perceptions About People With Disabilities At TheWrap

    In the short film “Take It Back,” a woman in a wheelchair travels back in time with the intent of warning her younger self about a car accident that left her unable to walk. But on her journey through her youth, she realizes it’s the other memories that define the person she’s become, not her disability, and she chooses not to change her past.

    “Take It Back” is one of five shorts nominated for Best Film as part of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, an annual competition in which filmmakers, storytellers and actors with disabilities come together to make movies that highlight stories about disabilities and provide opportunities for disabled actors.

    RJ Mitte, one of the stars of “Breaking Bad” who lives with cerebral palsy, is a judge for the film challenge, and he singled out “Take It Back” as a movie designed to change the perspective of how someone with a disability is viewed.

    Also Read: British Film Institute Rejects Funding for Films With Facially-Scarred Villains

    “We have a tendency to dwell on our faults and not always show our full strength,” Mitte told TheWrap. “Sometimes it brings out ‘lack of ability’ or that ‘liability.’ That’s not the case. We want to highlight and remind people that just because someone has a disability does not make them a liability.”

    Nic Novicki is an actor and little person who founded the film challenge in 2014. When he started, as few as six films were submitted, and that number has now ballooned to 71 entrants in 2019. Many have crews in which up to 90%  of participants have disabities. For Novicki, the festival’s goal has always been to create a venue for underrepresented stories, and to open paths into the film industry.

    “The goal with the challenge is ultimately about inclusion,” Novicki said. “You’ll have someone with Down syndrome, a little person, someone in a wheelchair, and the goal is to get those people to continue to collaborate beyond the film challenge.”

    Also Read: 'The Upside' Director on 'Intense' Bryan Cranston Performance and Being 'Truthful' to Disabled Character

    Participants had 48 hours to make a film between three and five minutes in length that demonstrated a “natural inclusion” of disabilities either in front of or behind the camera. The films didn’t have to exclusively tell a story about living with disabilities.

    “You don’t have to make it about the disability, but have that person in the background. Have that person part of that world and not just have them as the main focal point of their disability, but just have them living in that world,” Mitte said. “We see strides, but we see a lot of reluctance on, ‘Why would I do that? Why would that make sense?’ It’s such a big part of our community, and people forget that. That’s why we have to continue to highlight films. These individuals are out there. They’re hungry. They want the work, they have the ability to do the work, so why aren’t you giving them the ability to do the work? That’s what we’re cultivating.”

    Winners at this year’s challenge will get to sit down with “The Lego Movie” director Phil Lord and SK Global president John Penotti as industry mentors. Others, like Peter Farrelly and Marcia Gay Harden, have previously helped connect the challenge’s participants with jobs.

    Also Read: Hollywood Is Overpaying for the Wrong Talent, New Tongal CEO James DeJulio Says

    “The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge gives people that leg up or that advantage because they’re getting seen now by these giant casting directors,” Novicki said. “The reason why people with disabilities are not getting written in is that sometimes the writers don’t have a personal connection to disability, and it’s just not on top of [their] mind.”

    It’s important for below-the-line crew members, as well. Mitte said he recently worked on a feature film in which 75% of the people on set had a disability, and he noticed no difference between that and any other Hollywood production he’s worked on.

    “There were no hiccups, no follies, and that’s what we have to show more of,” Mitte said. “These individuals aren’t burdens on the set. They’re professional. They’re working professionals. They just happen to have a disability. It does not define what they are in the industry or what they can do.”

    “Take It Back” is just one of the many films submitted as part of this year’s competition that frames the conversation around disabled inclusion in a positive light. And Mitte says that this film is a great example of why such stories are so important.

    “She learns to embrace herself. She learned it wasn’t her disability that defined her life. It was the lack of living her life and willingness to put herself out there. That ability was always there,” Mitte said of the film’s protagonist. “Finding that well-being and happiness is not always just because I have a disability. It comes from so much more. That’s one facet, but there are so many more things that define and create who you are as an individual.”

    The Easterseals Disability Challenge will unveil its awards winners on May 9 as part of a red carpet ceremony at Sony Pictures. All 71 of the submitted films can be viewed on Easterseals’ YouTube channel.

    Below, find the full list of finalists as part of this year’s film challenge. To view it, click on the title.

    Best Film
    Carl Hansen, “I/O”
    Cory Reeder, “I Can“
    Amy Hopper, “Parents Inc.”
    Daryn Simons, “Take It Back“
    Lori Saux, “The Want“




    Best Director
    Diana Elizabeth Jordan, “I Can“
    Carl Hansen, “I/O“
    Harald Zwart, “Parents Inc.“
    Tatiana Paris, “Sound and Silence“



    Best Actor
    Nicole Evans, “Human Helper“
    Auti Angel, “Only Human“
    Micah Fowler, “Second Date“
    Marilee Talkington, “The Call“



    Best Awareness Campaign
    Perry Poussard Jr., “Goodbye Dessa“
    Micah Fowler, “Second Date“
    Angel Giuffria, “Synthesis“
    Rachel Handler, “The Vanished“



    Read original story Easterseals Film Challenge Sets Out to Change Perceptions About People With Disabilities At TheWrap

    Reblog
    Share
    Tweet
    Share

    What to Read Next

    • Comedian Chris Cotton Dies at Age 32 — 2 Months Before His Baby Is Due

      People
    • Nick Cannon's Mention Of Eminem's Daughter Hailie Jade Was 'Completely Off Limits'

      TheBlast
    • Lupita Nyong'o Corrects Abby Huntsman After Host Asks 'How Long Hair and Makeup' Took on Star Wars

      People
    • Emily Ratajkowski wears 'F*** Harvey' message to premiere after Weinstein's settlement is revealed

      Yahoo Celebrity
    • 'Peloton Wife' Monica Ruiz Weighs in on Controversy Surrounding Holiday Ad: 'It Was My Face'

      People
    • Future's Girlfriend Lori Harvey Looks Stunning After Miami Vacation With Rapper

      TheBlast
    • Child actor and ballet dancer Jack Burns dead at 14

      Yahoo Celebrity
    • Jeannie Mai's Dad Confirms Relationship of 10 Years After Learning Her Mom Was Secretly Married

      People
    • HGTV Pilot Star Will Serve Three Years In State Prison For Sexual Assault On 10-Year-Old Girl

      Deadline
    • Kelly Ripa's Plastic Surgery Reveal: 'They Tore All The Way Through'

      TheBlast
    • The It List: 'Richard Jewell' already stirring controversy, Paul Reubens sets 'Pee-wee' tour, Blake Shelton drops new album and the best in pop culture the week of Dec. 9, 2019

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • NBC News’ Kristen Dahlgren Found Her Breast Cancer After Reporting on Rare Symptoms

      People
    • Hayden Panettiere Shows Off Dramatic Transformation as She Returns to Social Media

      Entertainment Tonight
    • Trans teen Jazz Jennings rocks one-piece swimsuit for first time after gender confirmation surgery

      Yahoo Lifestyle
    • Teri Hatcher Dons a Bikini and Opens Up About Fitness and Having Body Confidence at Age 55

      People
    • Survivor recap: A player is removed from the game for first time ever

      Entertainment Weekly

    Trump has begun 2024 campaign and is eligible to serve third term, senior Republican says

    Froggie: Some people cannot read. Which part of the 22 amendment do they not get? "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once."

    Join the Conversation
    1 / 5

    6.8k

    • Serena Williams Shares Beautiful Beach Photo of 'Soulmate' Venus Williams

      People
    • The new owner of Olivia Newton-John's 'Grease' jacket gave it back to her in a sweet moment captured on video

      Yahoo Celebrity
    • Nick Jonas Says Priyanka Chopra's Dog Gift Caused 'Some Division in the Family'

      Entertainment Tonight
    • Jessica Biel Will 'Never Break Up Her Family Over' Justin Timberlake's Hand-Holding with Another Woman, Says Source

      People
    • CNN Fires Employee Who Said Boss Threatened to ‘Kill’ Him for Making ‘False Accusation’

      The Wrap
    • Rapper Future's Two Alleged Baby Mamas Post DNA Test Results Amid Lori Harvey Romance

      TheBlast
    • Barack Obama's Sister Reflects on Rare Childhood Photos and Lessons Learned About Leadership & Love

      People
    • 'Survivor' contestant kicked off show after more allegations of inappropriate behavior

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • 'Pulp Fiction' turns 25! A behind the scenes glimpse into the making of the film’s soundtrack

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • Nicki Minaj Honors Juice WRLD In Emotional Billboard Women In Music Awards Speech: 'He Was a Kindred Spirit'

      Entertainment Tonight
    • Chrissy Teigen calls out Sharon Osbourne for criticizing her husband, John Legend

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Street in Phoenix, Arizona and It Was All Caught on Camera

      People
    • Stephen Colbert can't recover when Jeff Sessions joke falls apart

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • Kim and Kourtney Kardashian Take a Massive Family Photo But There’s One Big Problem

      Entertainment Tonight
    • 'Friends' storylines that wouldn't fly in 2019

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • Madelaine Petsch says Luke Perry "was my oracle throughout 'Riverdale'"

      Yahoo Entertainment