Hundreds Attended The Hollywood Disabilities Forum At UCLA
November 1, 2009 by Esteban "Steven" Escobar
Filed under FEATURES
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 I AM PWD (Inclusion in the Arts and Media for People with Disabilities) campaign of Actors’ Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild; the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and its Writers with Disabilities Committee; and the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts presented The Hollywood Disabilities Forum at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
Actors feel the there are not so many opportunities for them because they are disable. They want to work and be feature on mayor films. The event was kind of emotional but it turned as an excellent opportunity for actors and industry experts to exchanged ideas, telephone numbers and even resourceful websites.
Some of the actors who participated were:
Peter Farrelly, producer-director-writer (There’s Something About Mary) — Keynote Speaker
Vince Gilligan, writer-producer (Breaking Bad)
RJ Mitte, actor (Breaking Bad)
Daryl “Chill Mitchell, actor (Brothers)
Janis Hirsch, writer-producer (Brothers, Will & Grace)
David Milch, writer-producer (Deadwood)
Geri Jewell, actor (Deadwood)
Robert David Hall, actor (CSI)
Danny Woodburn, actor (Seinfeld)
Linda Bove, actor (Sesame Street, Deaf West)
Bill Duke, actor-director (Karen Sisco, Predator)
Paul Kampf, actor-director-writer (Brothers Three: An American Gothic)
Special Video Appearance by Ricky Gervais (The Office)
In a posting on the www.sag.org website Robert David Hall told SAG “It’s crucial for all of us – actors, writers, directors, producers, casting associates – to come together to examine these problems and create solutions,” Said Robert David Hall, Master of Ceremonies and National Chair of the SAG Performers with Disabilities Committee. “I always think of the little kid that needs to see for him or herself, their own image reflected. To be marginalized, to be cut out of mainstream TV, movies and advertising stinks, and we’re trying to change that.”
The morning included Concurrent Actors and Writers Workshops from 9am to 11:30 am hosted by Robert David Hall, Master of Ceremonies and Chair National Tri-Union Performers With Disabilities Committee. Also Writers “Business Impression Management” Workshop presented by Carol Kirschner, Career Consultant and creator of CBS Diversity Institute Writers Mentoring Program & Program Director for WGAW Show runner Training Program.
The second part from 12:30 pm to 4pm feature Keynote Address: How Far is Too Far? By Peter Farrelly. At the end they held Join Actors/Writers Panel where they were encourage to ask questions. It was moderated by Allen Rucker, Chair of WGAW Writers with Disabilities Committee. The forum ended with a Networking Reception from 4:00 to 5:00 pm.
One of the panelist member expert advice was “Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.” An actress asked the panelist what she can do because most of her work is in Los Angeles and she lives in Orange County. She was suggested to put her self on video or tape such as You Tube. The advice from the experts was to market themselves via You Tube and My Space.
Per event organizers statement: Fifty-six million Americans and 20% of the US population have a disability. Despite being the largest minority group in the country, people with disabilities are virtually invisible in entertainment media. The number of working writers, actors, directors and producers with disabilities is miniscule. Ideally, in a country where disability rights have been the law for almost twenty years, the barriers should be long gone. In the world of entertainment, the push is just starting in earnest. The Hollywood Disabilities Forum will focus on best practices of industry pioneers who incorporate stories featuring characters with disabilities and who hire performers with disabilities for television, film, radio and stage productions.
The Hollywood Disabilities Forum was sponsored by Actors’ Equity Association, AFTRA, Alliance For Inclusion In The Arts, California Arts Council, National Arts and Disability Center at the University of California Los Angeles, Screen Actors Guild, The Tarjan Center at UCLA, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and The Writers with Disabilities Committee of Writers Guild of America, West.
For more information or to get involved, please visit: I AM PWD (Inclusion in the Arts and Media of Performers with Disabilities), a campaign by Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA and Actors Equity Association at www.iampwd.org, www.wga.org and www.inclusioninthearts.org
Source: www.sag.org
Photos By Esteban “Steven” Escobar, Diversity News. © 2009 By Diversity News Publications. All Rights Are Reserved.
