RespectAbility Entertainment Professionals Lab, Summer 2023
Brittany Franklin
Brittany Franklin is a socially driven director, photographer, and producer based in New York, with a diverse arts background in theatre and film. She is a graduate of LaGuardia H.S. of Performing Arts, and holds a certificate in Filmmaking from New York Film Academy, from which her graduating thesis “Finding God” debuted in the 2017 Cannes Short Film Corner. Brittany experienced hearing loss as a vocal major in High School, and has since used filmmaking and storytelling to advocate for social equity for disabled women in film. Through her work she aims to create powerful experiences that preserve culture, and honor the people that define it.
In 2019, she founded a collective for BIPOC/People with Disabilities in film that launched globally as Minorities in Film (MiFILM). With MiFILM’s innovative inclusion and cultural strategy that centers community, Brittany has helped develop pipeline programs to address the homogenous nature of production sets. Her work has garnered partnerships from 72&Sunny, Prettybird, The Gotham, Even/Odd, AICP, Final Draft, leading tech brands, and Alma Harel’s Free the Work.
Brittany is a recipient of the Sundance Uprising Grant and The Barbara and Carl Zydney Grant for Artists with Disabilities. She is also a RespectAbility x WarnerMedia Access Early Career Fellow, and a Shondaland x SeriesFest Women Directors semi-finalist. Her virtual photo gallery “Still Standing,” which displays captivating portraits of NYC’s resilient artisans, is currently on exhibition as part of her 2021 Stonehenge Artist in Residence.
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After an extensive search and interview process, 20 individuals were invited to participate in the Virtual Cohort of RespectAbility’s 2023 Entertainment Lab taking place August 14 – September 21, 2023. This 6-week Lab aims to develop and elevate the talent pipeline of disabled entertainment professionals working behind-the-scenes in television, film, and streaming, while connecting them with industry professionals and creatives. Participants include people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health, other disabilities, and multiple disabilities ranging in age from the 20s through the 50s. The Lab is a recipient of The Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award and is made possible with support from The Harnisch Foundation and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Charitable Trust.
