5 Lessons From Making A Movie About People With Disabilities by Kevin Giles and Page Peter Wilson
5 Lessons From Making A Movie About People With Disabilities by Kevin Giles and Page Peter Wilson via FilmCourage.com.
Kevin Giles, Director of TRIO: First topic of discussion (a real general one) why POC’s [People Of Color] with disabilities that are not represented in TV, film, pop culture, anything? Why do you think that is?
Page Peter Wilson, Producer/Actor of TRIO: I think that’s an easy one. I think that when it comes to representation behind the camera, there’s not enough of it. I think we need to see more people of color behind the camera. I think we need to see more people with disabilities, more people from the LGBTQ community behind the camera. I think that’s of the utmost importance.
I think that more people telling their own stories, it comes off more genuine and it’s more realistic and audiences…
Kevin: They pick up on it.
Page: They pick up on these things. They’re getting smarter and smarter, so I think that’s important.
Kevin: Representation. It’s all about representation. If you see yourself or someone looking like you in a place, position, group that you would otherwise imagine yourself in it changes your perspective on what is possible for you. So that should be the number one goal as far as the film industry is to continue to expand those experiences so people start seeing themselves and stop limiting themselves in what they believe they can do I think is as simple as that.
Page: I agree. So our next topic is what are we doing to change that?
Kevin: I think as filmmakers the simplest thing we can do is if we want to see those stories just make those stories. We’ve got to go out and do it ourselves. We’ve got to take the initiative and go out and film and tell those stories ourselves.
Page: I definitely agree with that. As a filmmaker I can echo that. And as an actor, personally I thank you. It’s about making a commitment to work with people from diverse backgrounds. I think it’s important to seek out those projects that may come from a place that is underrepresented or that you wouldn’t see as much. I think that’s important.
Kevin: I think inclusivity is a big key in changing the way we represent people…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).
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