By Maureen McEly, RespectAbility Entertainment Lab Alum

Maureen McEly on the set of her short film Golden Hour

When I became disabled in 2020, I dealt with a strange side effect: my ambition increased. Previously, I’d been content as a writer, but suddenly, despite struggling to adjust to my new physical limitations, I grew obsessed with the idea of telling my own stories every step of the way, and I decided I wanted to become a director as well. However, living with a neuromuscular disease that causes strength and stamina issues as well as muscle weakness and fatigue, I found myself intimidated by the physical aspect of directing and I feared this new dream of mine might be out of reach. But when I was selected for the RespectAbility Entertainment Lab, I encountered other disabled creatives carving out a path in filmmaking with disability accommodations at the very center of their work. I was so inspired, I took the leap and directed my first short film, Golden Hour, which was completed earlier this year. As I reflect on the film and the filmmaking experience, while going through the process of submitting to festivals, I thought it might be helpful to share what I learned writing, directing, and producing my first short film with a disability, in hopes it might be useful for other aspiring disabled directors. [continue reading…]

Every year on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan (April 22 on the Gregorian calendar this year) Jewish people celebrate Passover. We gather at homes and synagogues for the first of two seders. The Haggadah includes the order of the rituals, blessings, songs, and readings. It even tells when to eat the seder meal.

The Torah describes how the Israelites hurriedly packed provisions for the journey out of Egypt and couldn’t wait for their bread dough to rise. (Exodus 12:39). Two mitzvot (commandments) require future generations to eat only unleavened bread during Passover and to tell the Passover story to all our children.

How can a seder be engaging and meaningful for all guests, including children, teens, and adults with disabilities? Here are some tips you can use: [continue reading…]

Principal Matters, a short film directed and produced by F. Carl Hansen and written by Natalie D’Alicio, follows the story of two high school teachers, Lydia, played by RespectAbility Entertainment Lab Alumna and an associate producer of the film Diana Elizabeth Jordan, and Sofia, played by D’Alicio, who are trying to fight back against their awful and egotistical boss, Principal Nelson (Michael Charles Vaccaro), after he cuts funding to the school’s art and music program.

In the film, viewers learn that Sofia is losing her job next year because the newly appointed Principal Nelson, a job that should have gone to Lydia if the board weren’t sexist, has cut funding for the arts and music program. After Lydia also loses the vice principal position to Brandon Collins, a guy that thought school ended at twelve according to Sofia, Lydia and Sofia plan to sabotage Nelson in order to get him fired. With the help of the other faculty and someone who dated Nelson, they scope out dirt on Nelson, so they can save the school and their jobs. [continue reading…]

Open to Interpretation is a delightful five-minute dark comedy sketch that introduces us to Jeremy Stone, a Black Deaf comedian played by Harold Foxx, and his amusing interactions with his ASL interpreter. The film sheds light on the challenges of communication within the deaf community, skillfully weaving humor and insight into its narrative.

One memorable scene captures the awkwardness of miscommunication when a character unintentionally spits in Jeremy’s face while shouting to communicate to Jeremy, highlighting the everyday struggles faced by Deaf individuals. Jeremy’s initial banter with his interpreter Kyle (Zachary Goldstein) adds a touch of humor as he playfully expresses his preference to his manager (Emma, played by Chrissy Marshall) for a Black interpreter for better relatability. [continue reading…]

This year’s theme for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge (EDFC) is buddy comedy. However, filmmaker Krista Villatoro, an alumna of the 2021 RespectAbility Entertainment and News Media Fellowship, takes a unique approach with this theme by making her buddy absent in the film. No Sabo is a short film about Villatoro’s adventures, or lack thereof, in Guatemala. The short film not only stars Villatoro, but is also directed, shot, and edited by her. [continue reading…]

In his most recent Easterseals Disability Film Challenge (EDFC) entry, Twin Perspectives, Nader Bahu does it all – from writer, director, and producer to editor and star. The film follows a conversation between twin brothers, both played by Bahu, having a conversation on their experience with their disability.

Bahu, who is a 2022 Warner Bros. Discovery Access Early Career Bootcamp Alumnus, has a muscle atrophy disability that causes weakness in his muscle resulting in his mouth being opened, voice impairment, and inability to walk. As such, the twins in the film also share the same disability. [continue reading…]

Roma Murphy has written a variety of content – from short-form comedic digital content to children’s animation – but when working on others’ projects, she was asked to write nondisabled characters. As a writer for Easterseals Disability Film Challenge’s One Night Stand, Murphy had the opportunity to go in a new direction.

“This is the first time I’ve written a disabled character and actually gotten to see them come to life onscreen,” said Murphy, who is a 2022 RespectAbility Entertainment Lab Alumna. “Nothing could have prepared me for that level of emotion.” [continue reading…]

Disabled AF features a list of talented collaborators – including disabled actors and crew – who come together to bring a unique and beautiful story to life. The well-executed themes of overcoming family dynamics, understanding the character’s motivations, and the topic of disabilities are on full display in this entry for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge (EDFC).

Founded by Nic Novicki, the EDFC is an annual five-day competition in which filmmakers must create original three-to-five minute films based on a different theme each year. This year’s theme is buddy comedy.

Several RespectAbility Entertainment Lab Alumni served in roles both behind and in front of the camera for Disabled AF, including: Director, Writer, and Actress Cashmere Jasmine (2021); Writer and Producer Ariel Baska (2022); Writer Ophira Calof (2022); and Producer Kiah Amara (2021). [continue reading…]

As she has done for several years, Rachel Handler (she/her) once again brings an intriguing selection that takes us beyond the surface for the 2024 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge.

Handler, a 2020 RespectAbility Entertainment Lab Alumna, wrote, starred in, and produced Best Friends FOREVER. This short film cheekily captures the experience of a disabled working actor and its challenges during the casting process… Or so you think. It opens with a very relatable scene, with Lacey (Handler) reading a casting call from the toilet. This scene serves a few purposes, including providing a sense of intimacy in an unconventional way. When Lacey’s friend pops in the bathroom with her, it really portrays their closeness as well. [continue reading…]