RespectAbility Entertainment Professionals Lab, Summer 2019
Ru Kazi (pronouns: Ru/Ru’s/They/Them) is a disabled non-binary director of South Asian descent. Ru has directed award-winning short films for the 48 Hour Film Festival and a critically acclaimed production of Stephen Adly-Guirgis’ OUR LADY OF 121ST STREET at the Victory Theatre in Burbank, CA. They have also co-written a feature film called AUNTIE HAS THE PERFECT GIRL a dram-com about two thirty-something South Asians navigating a relationship where they both want different things. Prior to writing and directing, Ru was classically trained as an actor at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting Professional Conservatory (NYC)/Art of Acting Studio (LA). Ru is currently part of the Class of 2021 of the Director’s Guild of America Assistant Director Training Program and works to destigmatize mental health and disability in storytelling. Ru is also a mainstage improvisor at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and Second City Hollywood, and was a fellow of the 2019 RespectAbility Lab.
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After an extensive search and interview process, 22 individuals were invited to participate in RespectAbility’s Summer 2019 Lab for Entertainment Professionals. This 5-week, nine-session innovative summer lab series for people interested in – and with experience in – development, production and post-production, including careers as writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, animators and other production roles, takes place June 18 – July 18, 2019. Participants include diverse people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health and other disabilities. Learn more: www.respectability.org/respectability-la-lab.
This program, which continues building the talent pipeline of young professionals with disabilities looking to work behind the scenes, is made possible with support by: Comcast NBCUniversal, Jonathan Murray and The Walt Disney Company.