Wow! After the Golden Globes this season I was a bit worried the proper credit would go to where I felt and thought it should go. Yes, I am talking about the credit the Hollywood Foreign Press lavished on Avatar and James Cameron. And it is not fair that I be biased since I have not seen, even to this day, Avatar. And because I think he is a brilliant storyteller on film. But that might be limited to unpolitical sci-fi and historical epics because I have read the Avatar synopsis, details on the story, and it seems aside from the technological breakthroughs and wonders, it seems like a tired old story with political agendas and a fairy tale ending portraying a person with a disAbility who becomes able bodied. A new twist in the same old fairy tale ending in which he becomes a computer animated able bodied blue alien smurf! I know that smurf crack was a little cheap but I didn’t originate it, I read it from some other reviewers!

But then the Oscar nominations came out and as usual I went right to the categories that I love, screenwriting, directing, and picture! Knowing the Cameron and Avatar won the Golden Globes and giving it that bump at the beginning of the awards season, I worried that it would sweep the entire season ending with the Oscars. Again it is not fair for me to say which is best because I have not seen all the nominees, but I did see and love, “The Hurt Locker.” I felt it was definitely the best picture I had seen in 2009 and wanted to see it get the credit and accolades it deserved but going up against a monster picture with the monster marketing machine of Avatar who had already won the Golden Globes? But my faith was restored in Hollywood when the Producers Guild of America gave The Hurt Locker the award for best movie of the year, the Writers Guild of America awarded Mark Boal with best original screenplay for the Hurt Locker and then the Directors Guild of America awarded the best to Kathryn Bigelow! The chronology may not be correct because I have a terrible memory and do not feel like Googling it!  

So with all those awards that does give credit to the movie and the people who made it but the biggie, the Oscars! Here it was tonight – 9 award nominations for The Hurt Locker and despite the momentum it rightfully took from Cameron and Avatar, there was a little scandal many probably were not aware of (but I get the email updates from Variety that keep me in the know) but one of the Hurt Locker producers got a hand slap (and banned from attending the show) for submitting a letter asking Academy voters to vote for Hurt Locker and ask their friends to vote for it over the mega-budget and mega-box office successful competition.

I began watching the red carpet show primarily from my favorite local television network, KTLA channel 5 because I adore Jessica Holmes (and the main reason I watch the 9 o’clock hour of the KTLA Morning Show) who was one of the two doing the red carpet interviews (OK Sam Rubin I will give you props too but Jessica is just hot, and cute, and sexy, and beautiful and, and, and!) and was thinking how the Oscars in the past usually upset me with their picks for the winners. Well there is usually some that I agree with and some that I completely disagree with and every year it seems to be different on it being 70-30, 40-60, or 50-50! But as the stars walked and were interviewed, James Cameron came on screen, and despite my animosity toward him from dissing me for two and a half years, his gracious credit he gives to all those who work with him on his productions, and generally speaking about how regardless of who walks away with the awards that they all should feel like winners for being there, you cannot hate him!

On with the Show!

The Oscar show started out good although I was taken aback a little with a Broadway opening song and dance, you cannot help but love Neil Patrick Harris and the song was funny. And the hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin I thought was great compared to the last few years – the best I thought since Billy Crystal. And then the first award went to Christoph Waltz for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. I agreed that his performance was fantastic in “Inglourious Basterds” and my choice for the award. It continued to go well and when Original Screenplay came up I was a little torn because although Mark Boal won for “The Hurt Locker” I also was pulling for Quentin Tarantino because I love his work and the significance “Pulp Fiction” played in reminding me back in the day it was out in theatres of my passion and dream of being a filmmaker that I had put on the back burner to get a paycheck to pay the bills in 1994 and months before my accident. But still both “The Hurt Locker” and “Inglourious Basterds” were worthy to win the best original screenplay so I cannot complain.

Later in the show the award for Best Cinematography went to “Avatar” DP, Mauro Fiore. Are you serious? Not that he isn’t an excellent cinematographer, but for “Avatar” which was nearly all done on green screen and animated computer generated images! “Avatar” did win for Best Visual Effects and who can deny that? That award was deserved but this is a little strange for cinematography!

In between those two awards was the award for Best Music/Original Score and I wasn’t too familiar with the nominees until I looked at the winner, Michael Giacchinio for “Up”. I am a huge fan of the television series “Alias” which I have all 5 seasons on DVD and re-watch about once every 12-18 months! I took note of some of the bonus features at the end of the Season 2 where they did a featurette about the last episode of that season and JJ Abrams talked about sending the episode over to Michael Giacchinio to do the score and they showed him working on it. I always recognized that his music score on the show was spot on and when I saw how fast he did it – well his talent is amazing. I was thinking how great it would be to get him to score “London Time”. Well, you know when the time comes, after we shoot this summer! He has also done two other favorite television shows – which just happen to be JJ Abrams creations as well, “Lost” and “Fringe (which thank heaven was just picked up for a third season)” and has done movies – interestingly enough for JJ’s helmed “Star Trek” and a few other movies including “Up” for which he just won the Academy Award for. But on top of that I think Michael’s acceptance speech was incredible. He did not go through the typical thank you’s – instead he told of how from a young age his parents, teachers and friends all encouraged him to do what he wanted to do.  Nobody told him he couldn’t do it or that it was foolish to chase his dreams, but that he recognized that not everyone has such a support group and that they should know they can and should follow their dreams. It was a great speech and inspired me. Thank you Michael and I mean that above and beyond my desire to have you score my movie! After all now that you are an Oscar winner, my chances I getting you on my indie film probably shot right out the roof, but I think your work is amazing and you personally are as well.

Best Director

Ok on with the show! Let’s jump to the other ones that I was most interested in! Best Director. Wow, it was great and groundbreaking with the first woman director winning the Oscar and inspiring to me – yes I am man and not a woman but still, Kathryn Bigelow is a wonderful filmmaker and “The Hurt Locker” was another fantastic example of her incredible talent as a director. And as a writer/director with a disAbility, it does give me hope that Hollywood would look upon me and others with a disAbility in this industry will be judge by our talent and work and not by how we are different from them and the past winners. And I must say that James Cameron was gracious as Kathryn was going up on stage he was applauding respectfully and where the cameras could see his hands. Not crazily like the over amphetamine Nancy Pelosi every time President Obama opened his mouth when he addresses Congress, but very dignified, especially since Kathryn is his ex-wife and competitor for the Best Director of 2009! My congrats to Kathryn Bigelow for winning the DGA and the Oscar for Best Director!

Best Picture

With time having run out, Tom Hanks comes out and immediately opens the envelope for Best Picture, and happily it went to “The Hurt Locker”! A low-budget independent film, that had to find money and then distribution from outside the studio system of Hollywood, comes in and wins the top honors – 6 of the 9 awards it was nominated for. Independent films are still alive in Hollywood! And my faith in the industry is restored! They gave proper credit to the BEST even over their own super high budgeted movies! And finally here was a successful movie about the war on terrorism and I think it was successful because as Collin Farrell said when he introduced the best actor nominee, Jeremy Renner for his role in “The Hurt Locker” said of the movie it was neither right nor left but about the people, the soldiers involved, and the story of what they had to do. I hope future war movies keep that in mind rather than preach their views about it. Meanwhile, independent films won on this night at the Oscars and that is encouraging. Especially movies like “The Hurt Locker” that are not all about special effects and huge runaway budgets! Other nominees if all categories prove this, it is about the story - such as “Precious”, “Up In The Air”, “Crazy Heart”, “The Blind Side”, “A Serious Man”, “An Education”, “Invictus”, “A Serious Man”, “The Last Station”, and others. In fact they dominated the nominations and the winnings at the Oscars, and throughout the award season despite the faith bending beginning at the Golden Globes. So Hollywood, keep it up and hey, how about a film about a paraplegic that is written, directed, and acted by paraplegics? A film that gives that authentic representation along with its portrayals in a movie that is entertaining to all? I have one that you might consider for next years award season! Providing we get it completed and find a distributor by the end of this year!     

I am so excited now that the New Year is here! This is THE year. I already have things moving and I will have the funding for the company, Abilities United Productions, and the film funding for “London Time” by April 1, 2010. There is a very good chance it will be done before April 1, but that is the deadline I am setting. April has always been a very good month for me despite April 1^st being the anniversary of my spinal cord injury in 1995. Like many others who have acquired their disAbility from an injury, it is also the date I survived and is a second birthday I celebrate each year. Not with a cake, candles, and presents, but I do celebrate life on that day! And this year it will be a huge celebration as I will be fully funded and preparing for pre-production on “London Time”!

2009 had its challenges, and as a brief update, I decided not to make a complete protest on James Cameron and “Avatar” but that was a business decision and certainly not a personal one! It was tough constantly being ignored by Cameron even after so many attempts I made on contact, to strike up a dialogue to work together for a brighter future in American cinema and those of us with a disAbility, but I also felt personally and business wise that keeping our focus on what we do, providing an authentic, non-stereotypical representation of paraplegics and those with a  disAbility in general, rather than on how Hollywood is content with perpetual practices of discrimination, stereotypes, and a basic attitude that we should remain invisible. But I do continue to make those points for business purposes of showing what the environment is like and exactly how what I do will create a permanent and historic “turning point” in American cinema by addressing, reaching, capturing an ignored target market segment that is very underserved but is a significant consumer market, how I will have crossover appeal to mainstream moviegoers by providing “entertainment” to both domestic and international markets, to have a socially responsible, critically praiseworthy, and commercially successful feature film(s) that authentically represents with great entertainment value for those with and without a disAbility!

And looking for the positives – “Avatar” is on pace to be the most successful box office movie in history and it does feature a character who is a paraplegic – a person with a disAbility! That is a step in the right direction and we will transform American cinema into an authentic roll in the right direction!

It is still essential for you and everyone you know to continue to speak up about authentic representation in non-stereotypical movies, such as “London Time” and the other film projects I have at Abilities United Productions. Make your comments, simple, brief, or long and complex at the “Authentic Representation in Hollywood” campaign page of our website; AbilitiesUnited.com/arh.html and sign up for the new eNewsletter on that same page to stay updated on all things happening at Abilities United and the film production of “London Time”! Remember this is THE year! Encourage your family and friends. ALL voices are important in this issue and campaign. You are important in helping me prove to Hollywood players, makers and my investors that this is the roll in the right direction and many do support what I am doing with authentic voices, visions, performances and overall representation of those with a disAbility! So let’s get going this is an exciting new year! GO 2010!

Over the last 2 years I have tried to contact James Cameron and start a dialogue on how we can work together to bring authentic representation of paraplegics, of those with a disAbility, a reality in Hollywood. For the last 4 years, Mr. Cameron has been working and filming his new movie “Avatar” which features a paraplegic character in a science fiction story who uses a computer to operate a life like avatar of an able bodied alien. But all of my many, many attempts have been ignored or dismissed by not responding.

I am a paraplegic filmmaker and business man and I have to know if I am giving 100% support for or in opposition to “Avatar” and its’ portrayal of paraplegics – and generally of all those with a disAbility. Regardless of which support I give, Mr. Cameron’s casting of Sam Worthington is done in the Hollywood tradition of portraying but misrepresenting those with a disAbility. So how can I support it? I cannot change the casting – but I can provide and do provide film projects, like “London Time” that does provide the authentic voice, vision, and performance of a paraplegic – of those with a disAbility, and I have proposed to Mr. Cameron that if he would simply admit that at the time he cast the relatively unknown actor, Sam Worthington in the role of a paraplegic character, that he did not realize how significant a disAbility is to the identity of those living with a disAbility BUT now that he is aware of it, he supports the authentic portrayal and representation of paraplegics – of all those with a disAbility who can represent themselves. And in a show of his support he is supporting Abilities United Productions, and more specifically, my feature film, “London Time” that will finally give the authenticity to a featured character and story about a paraplegic and those with a disAbility in a featured film.

Either way – with my support of “Avatar” that includes James Cameron’s new awareness and support of authentic representation of paraplegics, or in opposition because of the lack of Mr. Cameron’s support, this will put the spotlight on the issue of representing ourselves and how my company and films provide a solution – a complete solution in every aspect, from the social, critical, and commercial factors of a wide release motion picture that features the authentic voice and vision from the writer and director, yours truly and the authentic performance of a paraplegic actor, yet to be cast, all of which provides 100% authentic representation – instead of the long history of Hollywood’s stereotypical portrayal and misrepresenting of paraplegics and those with a disAbility in general. The time is NOW!

What’s the BIG deal, Larry?

If the character in any movie was specifically written as a black man, would you cast a white actor? 

What? It’s not the same thing?

Why – because you can immediately see the difference between a black man and a white man? Can you not immediately see the difference between a paraplegic man using a wheelchair and a standing able bodied man?

It is a lot more than that!

Yeah, it surely is! And so I ask – is the life of a paraplegic not as difficult to live as a man of color?

Every aspect of my life is directly affected by my disAbility. In every social situation, at a party, in a business meeting, on a date, trying to get a date! And with the many economic challenges, of getting a job, making enough money to support my disAbility, going into a bank to try and get a loan. I am faced with stereotypes and discrimination everywhere I go and that is on top of the huge physical challenges I go through on a daily basis, the obstacles, the barriers, the physical and emotional pain, the way people look at me, and a ton of other issues that make my life – and that is exactly what it is – my life!

Hollywood Stole My Identity

And all of these challenges that I face in dealing with my disAbility as a paraplegic, make my disAbility a HUGE factor in my identity. Not just in the fact that my identity is nearly always described right up front and is labeled right away since most do not call me a man – they call me a handicapped man, disAbled man, a man in a wheelchair, a gimp, a lame man, a man with a disAbility, a paraplegic man! By them not recognizing this, by not portraying it, by misrepresenting me, in movies and television is the same as stealing my identity.  That along with the images of stereotypes in movies, that society often basis their opinions from, of paraplegics and those with a disAbility on, is offensive!

Tell me, why is it offensive if a white actor plays a character who is specifically written as a black person but it is not offensive for a able bodied actor to represent a character specifically written as a paraplegic?

Is it because it is easier to fake? Just putting a person in a wheelchair makes them disAbled? I can tell you, it is offensive to the nearly 6 million Americans who live with paralysis in some form that requires the use of a wheelchair. And believe me the other 50+ million Americans with a disAbility would also be offended because they can relate and understand how it is to be stereotyped and discriminated in movies and television. To think that any able bodied actor can understand what this life is like by reading a book, by talking or hanging out with a real paraplegic, to simply use a wheelchair for the few weeks before production begins, or even through the common practice in Hollywood of hiring a “paraplegic consultant” to be behind the camera and advising the actor on how to “act” paralyzed is incredibly moronic. And it is even more offensive because this disAbility is one that can be easily represented by actors who are paraplegics – and there are plenty to chose from. Contact the Screen Actors’ Guild and their Performers with disAbilities (PWD) committee – not to mention the many more who do not belong to SAG because they cannot get a job acting in a movie that would give them the credentials to join! I hear from both SAG and non-SAG actors with a disAbility all the time! And by the way – to answer the often used excuse by Hollywood and more recently on Broadway by the producer of the new production of “The Helen Keller Story” who say that they need a name recognized actor to draw in audiences – and that there were none available that had a disAbility. My answer is there never will be because you continue not to hire any – so how will anybody ever get to know their names? You will not cultivate and help make a star out of an actor with a disAbility. The results are their continued use of this excuse, of perpetuating the misrepresenting of those with a disAbility. And also there are co-starring roles that a name recognized actor can portray and draw in the audiences. This is part of my business model and my screenplays as I am writing my characters, I make sure I have strong and exciting characters, first and foremost for my audience, and then also to attract actors with the Hollywood Star Power factor to play opposite my actor with a disAbility! I know that Detective London, my 21^st century “Ironside” type character would not be nearly as exciting without his professional and personal relationship with Marci Waters or his homicide partner, Detective Richmond, in “London Time”!

But nobody will know this if Hollywood continues its practice of discrimination, of stereotypical portrayals, and misrepresentation all stemming from their repressing the authentic voices, visions, and performances of paraplegics and those with a disAbility that CAN REPRESENT themselves!

I have an answer to every question or objection to using a paraplegic screenwriter, a paraplegic director, and a paraplegic actor. And based on experience, vast research, and basic common sense, I have created a business model, a company, and several screenplays that erase any and all objections to authentic representation of paraplegics – of those with a disAbility, and would end the perpetual cycle of Hollywood practices of stereotypes and discrimination that will be socially responsible, critically praiseworthy, and commercially successful. And just for a small example, go to the website – AbilitiesUnited.com and surf around looking at the Feature Films, the “London Time” page that is entertaining and authentic in both portraying and representing! And the newly created “Authentic Representation in Hollywood” campaign page!

On your Mark. Get Set. GO!

Which brings us to the end – or as the saying goes the beginning, because the end is where we start! I am waiting until the Tuesday, December 1, 2009 to begin the marketing campaign that will raise the awareness of this issue, this cause of authentic representation in Hollywood. It will include the viral marketing of a YouTube video (there may be more than one – but currently I am making one that is awesome!) and a complete internet campaign that will target every website, forum, and board, that mentions any movie that features a character who is a paraplegic or has a disAbility and is not authentically represented in voice, vision, and/or performance of an actual person who is a paraplegic or lives with a disAbility. I will provide links to each one where all you from this blog, my website, my Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter page followers, can go and add your comments about their portrayals and misrepresentation of paraplegics and those with a disAbility in general! Yes, this will heavily weigh in on the December 18^th world wide release of “Avatar”! And this includes the aforementioned, all out internet protest (through mine and your commenting) and a physical demonstration of hundreds of people (location in Los Angeles pending! Watch our website and this blog for more information – and then watch your mobile devices such as iPhone for Google maps and detailed information.)

Personally, this is not what I want – not only is this difficult because as a filmmaker I admire and respect James Cameron as a masterful storyteller on film, but it also costs a lot in time, effort, and expense that I would much rather spend wholly on the promoting of “London Time” – on providing the answers to the authentic representation and portrayals of paraplegics and those with a disAbility. Not on having to demonize the stereotypical and discriminating practices that Hollywood perpetuates on those with a disAbility and using “Avatar” for what it is – a prime example.

Left or Right? Up or Down? High or Low?

But if I hear from Mr. Cameron and he does wish to work together in the positive nature of authentic representation of paraplegics and those with a disAbility in movies and television – this “prime example” spot light on “Avatar” will switch to support and we will use that forum to make the change in Hollywood that will end the offensive dismissal that being a paraplegic, that having to live with a disAbility is not a big deal and that Hollywood will finally give those with a disAbility – who can – who have the Ability to represent themselves – the same fair and equal opportunity that give all other minorities!

The change is coming – we are at fork on the road where James Cameron is at the center of and it is up to him on which road we will take. And no response is a response – the high road or the low road? Either one will get us to the destination of change in Hollywood!

Join me right now. Go to the website, AbilitiesUnited.com and click on the link to the “Authentic Representation in Hollywood” to add your comments and thoughts about this change coming to Hollywood! And if you wish, also join my brand new eNewsletter and you will get all the latest updates and information about “London Time”, Abilities United, The Authentic Representation in Hollywood campaign, and on which route “Avatar” will play in our march on Hollywood!     

OK, I finally watched the FOX show, “Glee” this week! I had seen the other FOX show, “Brothers” since its premier. I liked it but I will talk a little more about in another post. First, what’s fresh on my mind, “Glee”! Good and bad. I must preface that teenage movies and shows do not appeal to me whatsoever! No surprise, I am 45 years old! So with that said I will try and will not talk about all of those clichés or aspects in the category which I cannot fairly evaluate. Generally speaking, I think there is a big tendency to go extreme in a lot of things lately.  And that goes especially for “inclusion”! The writers or producers create a show that they want to be sensitive to represent and instead of a typical high school setting they made one that has to include EVERYONE and nearly every character here belongs to a minority or sub-group. Asian female, black/African-American female, disAbled male with paralysis and guest characters (two females) with M.D. (one young and one older), pregnant teenager, the gay male, the school principal, a male whose ethnicity is either from India or Pakistan, and I am sure I am missing some off the top of my head. But even those that do not belong to a minority or sub-group are stereotypical in their character description. The gay student’s father – a blue collar worker mechanic with Playboy calendars on the wall in his garage who struggles in a very PC way with his son’s sexual orientation while still loving him – especially since we have not been inclusive enough yet… he is a widower, the boy is motherless although I don’t know how she died but I suspect there is someway to include another group. And then there is the stereotypes of the girls’ P.E. teacher – the cheerleading coach in this case – that your not sure about her sexual orientation – even if not she certainly has more male like characteristics. And oh, the Glee Club teacher – could he be more of the “best friend” to ALL of his students - looking out for everyone? OK, there is more but I think you get the point. I just feel like they are trying to be everything to everyone! When you use all of the colors in the Crayola 64 pack, yellow, blue, even purple doesn’t look like much. Being too inclusive, too stereotypical, too cliché, it becomes…too much. Being “included” where everyone is included – doesn’t feel that inclusive.

Meat and Potatoes

But to address the specific issues of the disAbled character – this episode had the Glee Club teacher (you remember him looking out for everyone) was upset because the other students were insensitive to the issue of Artie, the paraplegic character not going to be able to ride with them to their next competition because they cannot afford a bus that is wheelchair accessible – or handicapable (not a term I am used to using) so he makes everyone in the Glee Club use a wheelchair during the week – at school, and I suppose at home but I didn’t see any scenes of them at home & but also for their up coming competition – which turned out to be a singing and dancing routine! Now don’t get me wrong – it was a good routine – but I thought the Glee Club was just singing? And I did like the fantasy song and dance routine did as he practiced in the gym(?) to Billy Idol’s song “Dancing with Myself” – very poignant and well done. But the Glee Club? Well maybe we have to “include” dancers and since we don’t have a Dance Club at this school (you now cutbacks!!!) Sure it was a good lesson – and one I would recommend for those who happen to have a friend or family member who has to LIVE using a wheelchair so they know what it is like for their fellow student, “Artie” who is a paraplegic. There is a dozen classmates in the Glee Club and I wondered immediately – if they do not have the money to rent and that is what they said not buy – but rent a handicapable bus for one night – how did he get the money to rent 11 wheelchairs for a week? But on a good note they were NOT the hospital chairs – man I swear if I see one more movie or tv show that is trying to be inclusive and trying to represent with a character who supposedly lives their life using a chair and they put them in a hospital chair – I will lose my freakin’ mind! Another part of the authentic voice, vision and performance that I strive for in all of my work! So kudos to Glee for getting that right!

I was Faking It

But now since we are speaking of authentic – let’s get to the actor. Here was a poignant scene. The classmate he likes is the Asian girl and she catches him in the hallway among her new appreciation for all he goes through from his wheelchair (confirmation that the teacher with everyone’s best interests at heart was correct in plan to teach tem all a lesson about being sensitive) she also kisses him. But then after she confesses she has been faking her stutter (oh wait another all inclusive factor in a character I forgot to mention above) since the 6^th grade. She says she has been pushing people away for so long and that the stutter which began as a way out of a oral presentation for a school assignment turned into a way for her to keep people at bay and that now she is happy to finally reveal this and to now be normal, Artie is disappointed and in his rejection of her because he says that he liked her because they had “something (a disAbility) in common and ends with saying “…You get to be normal. I get to be stuck in this chair for the rest of my life. That’s something I cannot fake.” And then he rolls away. Dude, are you serious? First of all – you are in high school and in a wheelchair and with the haircut and plain framed dark rimmed glasses of a geek, and she is a hottie – get real! At the same time I was having this “get real, dude” moment I also had to laugh – this is the PROBLEM IN HOLLYWOOD – it’s okay for the “character” to be pissed that another “character” was faking a disAbility, but it is okay that the actor portraying the character with a real disAbility is FAKING the disAbility! WHAT THE HELL? And I am wrong for being as angry and pissed as he was in the “story” about someone pretending – someone representing that they have a disAbility when they don’t?

And this is real life! He is an able bodied actor representing something that is as significant to my identity as any other major factor in my identity. I am a MAN, I am WHITE, I am 45 YEARS OLD, and I am DISABLED. And they all play a VERY SIGNIFICANT part of my DAILY LIFE, my daily EXISTENCE, and certainly in who I AM. And it is OK for his character and for the story to center around THIS EXACT SIGNIFICANCE in the life of the character with a disAbility BUT it is ok for the actor to fake it? What a double standard – and if this was just once in a while – that an able bodied actor represents being disAbled – it might not hurt so much – it might not be as offensive – BUT IT IS ALL THE TIME WITH HOLLYWOOD! And this is just another example. A television program that is trying to be inclusive to so many but at the same time is so hypocritical by portraying how significant it is not to fake a disAbility all the while they are faking it. How offensive. How insulting. 

Portraying or Preaching and Representing or Practice

 Great job at “portraying” how it is upsetting, offensive, and insulting to fake having a disAbility, but a terrible job at “representing” how that is for those with a disAbility. Oh it’s celebrated when they have a one-time character, or even maybe an occasionally recurring character who has Muscular Dystrophy being represented by actresses with Muscular Dystrophy, but a main character who merely has to sit in a wheelchair because of paralysis they can use anyone! And he can preach to his classmates about how tough it is and how insulting it is to fake a disAbility. Well all I can say is it is time to practice what you preach and that means it is time to represent what you portray!

I have been meaning to address the 37^th AFI Life Achievement Award ever since I saw it being presented to Michael Douglas and broadcasted on TV Land channel, Sunday, July 19, 2009. I saw this on the website the next day. Repeated viewing allowed me to write down what Mr. Douglas said in his acceptance speech.

After mentioning that he has been closely working with the U.N. for the past 11 years Mr. Douglas said, ”…the one thing that strikes me wherever I go is that American films export our culture in a way that reflects incredible well on our Nation and on our values.

The audience gives applause and there are a couple stumbling words that I cannot make out and then he says, “…reminds although we call it the entertainment industry it does so much more than just entertain. I mean this industry serves as the best American Ambassador we can offer the world, it truly does.”

Incredibly Well

So if “American films export our culture in a way that reflects incredible well on our Nation and on our values” then what does American films say -

1. When they nearly hide those with a disAbility from being featured or even include in supporting roles?

2. What does it say in the very few American film exceptions the portrayals are nearly always very stereotypical (the 3 categories of being all about the disAbility, political agenda, or are predictably inspirational) characters and stories?

3. Finally what does it say when out of the very few yet very stereotypical portrayals occur they nearly always have someone who has no idea what it is like to live with a disAbility write, direct and act in those roles? Well intentioned able bodied and sometimes very well acted – but still unauthentic and ingenuous.

The Best American Ambassador

And if, as Mr. Douglas said, “…this industry serves as the best American Ambassador we can offer the world”, then I have to ask what does this say about the authentic portrayals of those with a disAbility that can represent themselves but are highly discriminated against in this industry? Do we need to show the SAG report published in 2005 detailing the incredible details of discrimination? And if not do we have any other studies or reports from the industry on its practices and the results that would dispute this? How about interviewing any of the 1200 actors who knowing the discrimination still admitted to have some sort of disAbility on the SAG application? Or any of the union member in their Performers with Disabilities committee? How often do they work? How much has changed since this scathing report came out? And why is everyone in this industry ignoring these findings?

Is it because those of us who are paraplegics, or have other forms of physically noticeable challenges – that are so different from the beautiful able bodied Hollywood?

Genes. It does a Body Good!

Michael Douglas followed it up directly after the remarks above with this saying, “Which raises the question, ‘why am I up here’? Right, right, in getting this lifetime achievement award. You know what it is?” Jack Nicholson who presented the award gives his suspected answer but his microphone is not hot so we do not hear what he said to Mr. Douglas’ question as it implies with the beginning of Michael Douglas answering his own question saying, “No, you know what it is, is great genes!”

Hmmm? I am sure he was joking but obviously making reference to his mother and father who is incredibly talented and good looking. But probably unknowingly he also spoke a universal Hollywood truth since how many actors or other industry people have been given a Life Achievement award that has a disAbility? And I am not talking about those who acquired theirs after their distinguished careers were primarily in the rear view mirror – or at least made a significant body of work already – as they acquired a disAbility from illness, injury, or age?

With Great Power comes Great Responsibility

When will Hollywood players and makers listen to their own words? Even when they admit that the “entertainment industry does so much more than just entertain” why do they still dismiss and at best marginalize and paint excuses to continue to repress fair and equal opportunities for the expression of authentic voices, visions, and performances from those with a disAbility, and again I am speaking only of those who can represent themselves, on either side of the camera?

If you say “they do not do that, they do not discriminate against anyone” – then I ask you, where are the movies with authentic representation in non-stereotypical images and portrayals of those with a disAbility? Do you have any idea how significant my disAbility is to my identity? Would it surprise you that since it is an extremely challenging life – above and beyond what everyone else has because we have those same shared challenges – but the additional ones associated with a disAbility – that include physical, emotional, economical, and social challenges – that this is as significant to our identity as is our age, gender, and race? Then can you see how we have been living with Al Jolson’s in a wheelchair and just how offensive that is? Maybe if it weren’t for 98% of the very few representations we have are Al Jolson’s in a wheelchair then maybe it wouldn’t hurt as much. Does anybody care?

Where in movies and television are the voices and heroes representing the 56 million Americans with a disAbility?

I can show you, Hollywood, any time you ask. I’ve been asking you along with providing the answer that I have been working and developing for over 14 years in my full time campaign raising awareness – for over 3 years – with over a hundred different people – with repeated attempts (wanna see my database of times and dates) and I can count the responses on one hand!

So obviously you don’t like it when we ask the question – so what will it take for you to ask the question?  Where are the voices and heroes of the 56 million Americans with a disAbility?

I would suggest you begin to answer it by visiting http://AbilitiesUnited.com

Sunday, April 5, 2009, was an exciting night! My “London Time” screenplay was a finalist in the Beverly Hills Film Fest’s Screenplay Competition and this was the night of the Awards ceremony! I was a little nervous all day long. Nervous if I win that my acceptance speech would say what I wanted to say about the “turning point” in American Cinema for authentic voices, visions, and representation of those with a disAbility, and how the Beverly Hills Film Fest will always be recognized as the “industry launch” for the historic “turning point” that I and my biz partner, Jose Rafael Fayette will bring with Abilities United Productions. And nervous that I don’t ramble on about this as I normally do even though there is a lot to be said on the subject and the deep impact it will have that goes well beyond the walls of Hollywood, and will have on the disAbled community, society as whole with realistic, honest, genuine, accurate and authentic images of those with a disAbility on the big screen, all of which has been and is missing today! And I was nervous if I didn’t win and therefore didn’t get a chance to make this proclamation, which is was happened!

As I mentioned in my email to family and friends earlier this week, I was a little surprised that it affected me as much as it did. After all, I knew the odds were not in my favor since there were 182 finalists! The screenwriter’s contact person there at the Festival had told me there were 1,021 screenplays submitted and that is why there were so many finalists. Although at the awards ceremony the emcee said there were over 500! Well, 1,021 is over 500 but still, if it were only 500 and some odd number then the nearly 200 finalist would not be that significant. I would prefer to think it was the 1,021 that would make a little more sense in the number of finalist, a lot more significant, since the screenwriter’s contact person would know more on what the truth was. Besides if you saw her, you would probably believe whatever she said was the truth, as most men, including myself, are at a loss of words (which anybody who knows me knows that is a near impossibility) when speaking to her face to face. Yes, she is that beautiful! And along with wearing the incredibly attractive dress that she wore on awards night, she was clearly the most beautiful woman there! Hey, I got to look at the bright side, all the good things, and the silver lining from this loss!

Ok, so regardless of the ratio of submissions to finalists, 182 is still an incredible number to expect that the Jury, judges, committee or whoever it was deciding the Best Screenplay and two runner ups, to give a fair evaluation by having read all of them! Even if there were 10 people making this decision and they each took 18-19 screenplays and presented their “coverage” or opinions of each, that is still a lot to read, and means that 9 out of 10 judges did not read “London Time” or the other 160+ finalists! I know the same could be said about picking the finalists out of 1,021 submissions!

Much More than just about being disAbled.

And of course like any art, it is subject to individual interpretation. It is subjective but I can assure you that “London Time” is not a winning screenplay based solely on being a representative of those with a disAbility. It really is more than just a character in a wheelchair being featured. It is an entertaining story and is more than being in the proper format. It also has plot points that help the story follow its path to the end, 3 distinct Acts, interesting characters, a character arch for our featured character, and a “hook” that is even in the title! And as most film marketers say it has to have a quick, to the point description, like, “an American James Bond” or a “European Indiana Jones” to give an immediate image of what the story is and that is why I adopted the “21^st century Ironside” caption for “London Time”! It is not a remake or film version of “Ironside” but it is an old school cop drama whose featured character is a paraplegic.

WOW! It does have all the elements of a great screenplay. And if that wasn’t enough, the icing on top of that, is it is also an authentic voice of those with a disAbility, or if you want to be specific, an authentic voice of a paraplegic, as is the featured character, and therefore an authentic representation and even a hero for those with a disAbility.  It could be said that Detective London is a hero for more than just those with a disAbility and is for police officers, homicide detectives, widowers (as his character arch is rooted), men, women, and children in general, and just like the television series of “Ironside” is enjoyed by many more people who are not in a wheelchair! But the big difference is that this screenplay, about a character who is a paraplegic, is that this one is written by a paraplegic! And will be the authentic directors’ vision of a paraplegic (yours truly) and performed by an actor who is a paraplegic (yet to be cast). And if you don’t think that is significant in motion pictures and to the 56+ million Americans with a disAbility, their family and friends, read other entries to this blog or the AbilitiesUnited.com website!

…of the people, for the people, by the people...with a disAbility!

So regardless of the storytelling, or the excellent elements that are incorporated into a screenplay, a win or a loss is magnified by the fact that “London Time” is not just a representative of the author’s work, it is a win or loss for 56+ million Americans who do not have representation in movies or television, let alone an AUTHENTIC representation! And to some degree I feel as if I let them down, and although they do not know about “London Time” they do know that they are practically invisible in the entertainment media (as proven in the 2005 SAG report) and in the very few representations they do have are primarily stereotyped characters and stories, and if that was not enough, they are also written, directed and performed by able bodied people who have no idea what it is like to wake up everyday with an empty wheelchair staring at them next to the bed, with any of the realities, the physical, emotional, or social realities of living with a disAbility.

So why is “London Time” rejected as an award winning screenplay? Is it too “commercial like” by having the components and elements of a blockbuster movie to be considered by the indie community? And is the fact that it hasn’t won any “indie” awards or recognition the reason why the commercial side of the established industry hasn’t even looked at “London Time” despite my hundreds of attempts to contact them?

Anything Less will be Insignificant

Well, I can say that this is a reason why I want “London Time” to be an “indiewood” co-production and distribution. Indiewood, for those who don’t know,  is the industry’s  in between, or merging of independent films and studio movies, like “Fox Searchlight”, “Miramax”, “Vantage” and others who were created or bought out by the studios to produce indie pictures! This provides the production funds and distribution support to have a better chance of quality and quantity, as the production value is increased by a higher budget, in the range of $10 to $20 million (in between the budget of a typical indie film and the outrageous studio tent pole budgets) and a wider release potential to reach more audiences! And this is exactly what I will demand so that “London Time” and the following projects by “Abilities United Productions” will be able to have the impact for a “turning point” in American cinema. Otherwise it will not get the exposure or fair evaluation by the industry to show what an authentic representation can do critically and commercially.      

Lastly, anyone who thinks that this loss, or the overall dismissal of “London Time” or “Abilities United Productions” is motivating factor for me to continue, that the reason I am doing this is “to prove them wrong” and therefore a good thing that I haven’t won awards (yet!) is crazy! Oh, I will prove them wrong, that I have no doubt about, but I have been at this making the impossible dream possible for 14 years and I do this as I always have, for my passion in storytelling on film by writing and directing movies, and for the 56+ million Americans with a disAbility, future generations who will be born with or acquire a disAbility, who right now do not have much hope to work in this industry let alone have any representation, and for all of the family and friends of those whose loved ones have a disAbility and will also appreciate them not being forgotten, invisible, and/or stereotyped in movies and television. That is why I do what I do! Boo ya!

Well, this has been a wonderful 2009. With getting out of the hospital, finding a wonderful place to live in San Pedro, the personal and professional relationship with my new friend and business partner, Jose Rafael Fayette, I have to also share with all of you that my screenplay, “London Time” was accepted, and selected as a finalist in the Beverly Hills Film Festival’s Screenplay Competition!

That’s right folks, we are making our industry debut this week, from April 1-5, 2009 as the festival will then announce at the Awards Gala on Sunday night, April 5, who the winner of the Beverly Hills Film Festival’s Golden Palm Award for Best Screenplay! There is only one and then two runner ups. So cross your fingers everyone as this is the opportunity to introduce to the industry what I have been working so hard on for the past 14 years!

This is so much more than just my creative skills being exhibited and competing for such a prestigious recognition and award, it is the industry launching for the “turning point” in American cinema for those with a disAbility to have an authentic voice, vision, and representation on both sides of the camera - from here on out!

I am so excited and hope for the best but regardless of the outcome, I will make sure and Jose will make damn sure that as many as possible within the industry will know we have arrived to provide a permanent solution to the stereotypes and discrimination of those like ourselves with a disAbility in Hollywood! I will keep you all informed and make the announcement of the outcome next week! Meanwhile if you wish to check it out and follow along, go to http://beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com click on the link for the 2009 Official Selections, then on the link for Screenplays and you will see “London Time”, one of the finalist out of 1,021 screenplay submissions to this years competition, right there on the top! Hopefully on Sunday night that is where we will be to accept the Golden Palm Award! Meanwhile take care everyone!