(Part 2/2) || The Shape of Ableism: How We Restrict Disabled and Disfigured Stories

CW: Ableism (not fun KZbin comments, mistreatment in films)
Maybe when you're about to justify excluding people with "it's for their own good," don't.
If it felt like this was the second half of a conversation, IT WAS. Watch PART 1: • (Part 1/2) || The Wond...
#WithCaptions
Special thanks to:
Mikaela Moody (she/her), / guysmiley22 (who also captioned this video)
Annie Elainey (she/her, they/them), / theannieelainey
Jas Writes, / whatjaswrites
Rogan Shannon (he/him, they/them), / roganshannon13
Other disabled/disfigured people you should be listening to:
Ariel Henley, www.arielhenley.com/
Dominick Evans, / dominickevans
Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, / missjessicakh
Rikki Poynter, / rikkipoynter
Andrea Lausell, / andrealausell
How to ADHD, / howtoadhd
Imani Barbarin, / imani_barbarin
Alice Wong, / disvisibility
Vilissa Thompson, / vilissathompson
Carly Findlay, / carlyfindlay
Jen Campbell, / jenvcampbell
Eb, / ebthen
Eugene Grant, / mreugenegrant
Maysoon Zayid, / maysoonzayid
Check out #FilmDis on Twitter for more stuff on disability in film.
Works Cited (in order of appearance rather than alphabetical):
Whitley, Bernard E, and Mary E Kite. “Old-Fashioned and Contemporary Forms of Prejudice.” The Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination, 2nd ed., Wadsworth Publishing, 2009, pp. 189-231.
VanDeVeer, Donald. Paternalistic Intervention: The Moral Bounds on Benevolence. Princeton University Press, 2014.
Smith, Stacy L, et al. Inequality in 900 Popular Films: Examining Portrayals of Gender, Race/Ethnicity, LGBT, and Disability from 2007-2016. Annenberg Foundation, 2017, annenberg.usc.edu/inequality-....
“Nearly 1 in 5 People Have a Disability in the U.S., Census Bureau Reports.” United States Census Bureau, 25 July 2012, www.census.gov/newsroom/relea....
Elber, Lynn. “Hollywood’s Diversity Push Snubs Actors with Disabilities.” Associated Press, 4 Apr. 2018, www.apnews.com/910abfe1b02c41....
Henley, Ariel. “Wonder Is a 'Feel-Good' Movie That Needed More Realism.” The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/entertain....
Harris, Scott Jordan. “Why The Theory of Everything Is a Disappointing Depiction of Disability.” Slate, 20 Jan. 2015, www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2....
Shang, Melissa. “Stories About Disability Don’t Have to Be Sad.” The New York Times, 21 June 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/op....
Moyer, Justin Wm. “Welcome, Eddie Redmayne: Since ‘Rain Man,’ Majority of Best Actor Oscar Winners Played Sick or Disabled.” The Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2015, www.washingtonpost.com/news/m....
Squire, Tari Hartman, et al. On the Challenge to Create More Authentic Disability Casting and Representation on TV. 2017, On the Challenge to Create More Authentic Disability Casting and Representation on TV, rudermanfoundation.org/white_p....
Fessler, Pam. “Why Disability And Poverty Still Go Hand In Hand 25 Years After Landmark Law.” NPR, 23 July 2015, www.npr.org/sections/health-s....
Golden, Noah. “Casting Disabled Actors Leads To Better Shows.” OnStage Blog, 14 Dec. 2017, www.onstageblog.com/columns/20....
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[@PrincessScrivener]

It’s so nice to see so many nice comments this time. Three months of hard work and I’m so glad it paid off. If it resonated with you or made you think differently, please share it and feel free to tag us on social media. Special thanks to my girlfriend, Mike Moody, and my friends Annie Elainey and Rogan Shannon for appearing in the video. In the description I’ve included a list of disabled/disfigured activists, actors, content creators and more for some recommended reading. Diverse perspectives are vital for making the world a better place. Thanks for watching. -S

[@nekiddo]

You're amazing and i love ur channel ❤

[@AmberAmber]

The Princess and the Scrivener What an AWESOME Vid!!!💖💖💖💖 TY!! You're a benefit to our planet with your beautiful mind. Please keep being you.

[@emmahale7120]

I’m actually a little upset about how much you talk about black women or women of color a lot of the time. Your white so you wouldn’t know how it feels to be black. I’m a light skinned black woman and even I don’t see black women in movies like that

[@jonsnor4313]

Wow breaking bad really deserves credit for actually hiring an actor with the same disorder, but making a character that is a mute disabled old man in a wheelchair, but one that plays a big role in the story and had a bloody crime as drug cartell leader and isnt a good person. And even makes fun fo the fbi and gets revenge for his relatives death. There are other small parts in other media, but that is incredible, and should be more common. Why arent there more blind actors, or deaf or mute actors anyway? Or dwarfism which isnt technically a disfigurement? Ore more open accepatance of mental illnesses, another can of worms? You are great. Stay sarcastic.

[@charlottella4480]

Did you remove the comment section in the previous video? Why? I hope it wasn’t because people were disagreeing with you.

[@JulianGreystoke]

People be like : oh how will we find disabled actors?! Me: I think it's called a casting call...

[@paranoidkarma3970]

omg, that is so true it hurts

[@AdamicTheory48]

Yeah, but how many disabled people are interested in acting or can act? Obviously you can do a casting call and look for them, but it doesn't mean you're going to find them and even if you do, they might end up not being the best pick for the part. Aside from deaf actors, because I know there are quite a few of them, I doubt there are that many disabled actors. I know of RJ Mitte, Ali Stroker, Josh Perry and Jamie Brewer.

[@spirithawk6580]

@@AdamicTheory48 it's amazing how not true that is. There are many disabled and disfigured people who want to act but don't get cast. That's why they're not super famous and you haven't heard of a lot of them. Same with trans actors.

[@AdamicTheory48]

@@spirithawk6580 How do you know there are so many then? Can you name any? I'm not saying there aren't disabled and disfigured people who are interested in acting and don't get cast when they try out, I'm saying there most likely isn't a large amount that want to act, and if the ones that do act don't get cast, they just ended up not being the best person for the job.

[@nellieworkman3935]

I have a back problem and kids calling me "Hunchback" prompted my teachers to show students "The Elephant Man" to teach them empathy. And it made me feel even more othered than I already was.

[@iridescentaurora268]

“Come with me if you want to be a STAR!” “HoW dId YoU gEt In My HoUsE??” Golden 👌🏻😂✨

[@tatianamelendez490]

Sierra Long This was beautiful. 😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@LunaGirl196]

And then in the background XD

[@mikaelamoody4005]

LunaGirl196 [peeks in awkwardly]

[@jackiemolyneaux7414]

I really like how they hired an actress in American horror story with Down syndrome not to just highlight on her “struggles” but rather treat her as simply as part of the cast not just playing the highlighted role someone with Down syndrome “should be playing”.😒 I think it’s one step towards a better future of acting.

[@plastichouseplant]

I agree, plus RJ Mitte on Breaking Bad is another great example.

[@jp-blindperson]

I'd argue that disabled kids don't need to be shown by movies how awful the world can be to us because, at least in my case, we're probably already living it or seeing it in real life in some way.

[@DragonHeartGamer]

When we include disabled actors in disabled roles we actually can improve movies. Learning that Simmonds in A Quiet Place is significantly hard of hearing and how this effected little things in the film and the way that they approached some shots was wonderful in it proved how she helped to shape a movie which centres around her 'normal'.

[@DahliaLegacy]

I have OCD and yeah... Seeing it so often played as laughs is annoying. That and not all of us go around obsessively cleaning or washing our hands. Though I will laugh at myself sometimes for the things that I do, being laughed at is different.

[@nathpi8410]

As one of my litterature teacher once said : humor is when you laugh with people, not when you laugh at them. i wish more people get that.

[@KamilaKomor]

I have to

[@DahliaLegacy]

@@nathpi8410 I Totally agree, if I'm laughing at myself it's totally ok to laugh too. Just don't laugh at me.

[@louisamuller4756]

"Since abled actors are consistently deemed the best people for these roles, shouldn't that be a clue that it's not an authentic portrayal of disabled and disfigured people?" DAAAAAAAAAMN, YOU WENT THERE!!!! That's honestly a great point and you blew my mind when you said that. You can see that a lot of work went into this video and it's greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work!

[@yulia6084]

A thought I had while watching you talk about The Elephant Man: They felt the need to have Joseph Merrick's manager kidnap him and treat him badly, which in reality didn't happen, instead of just having a story about a different person who performed as a human oddity. Being trafficked and abused by people who made money from showing them as circus freaks is something that really did happen to Daisy and Violet Hilton, conjoined twins who started out being forced to work as human oddities and later got a career in Vaudeville and Burlesque. The musical Sideshow actually downplays all the horrible stuff that happened to them throughout their lives. Incidentally, having conjoined twins be portrayed by able people in media is one of the examples I would give a pass to- you can count on your fingers the number of living conjoined twins who have not been separated, and some of the more famous conjoined twins like the aforementioned Hilton twins and Chang and Eng Bunker would almost certainly have been separated if they had been born today.

[@alexkeer1418]

I agree that Shaun Murphy’s characterization in The Good Doctor is pretty weird. I mean, he’s gone through high school, college, and med school, but he still needs someone to tell him why people lie?

[@kayg6090]

Yeah I hate when they do that with adult autistic characters. Like we do learn stuff when we get older just like everyone else. We don't stay in a childlike state.

[@franksonatra]

@@kayg6090 Legit... especially if the character/person is in an abusive situation for decades. Like me for example. I needed to lie a lot to survive, and lying compulsively was something I picked up, which I have changed since but it was... another proof of autistics not being honest 100% of the time or unable to be manipulative. My ex was autistic and manipulative. so. I'm an adult now and like... I learned things. I learned how cruel the abled world is/will be. And I adapted as best as I can, including by lying.

[@Em-op1bm]

So I NEVER leave comments. Mostly I find that I have nothing constructive to add in most cases. However, that last bit you talked about where you asked, "What's considered disabled enough?" Really resonated with me and I appreciated it a lot. See, I have mild CP, it only affects the right side of my body. I can walk, run, and do most things able-bodied folks can do. Really, the only thing that's still off is my balance and a bit of right-sided weakness. I often have people say, "You don't look disabled!" or, "I forget about that all the time" whenever I bring it up. While I try to see it as a compliment for all the work I've put in over the years, it can quickly turn into invalidation whenever I do ask for help with something. I'm usually met with a snappy, "Do you really need the help, or are you just trying to weasel your way out of work?" That's never been who I am as a person. Just because I have a physical disability doesn't mean that I can't work. Then there's the issue of employment. It's difficult enough to find a job that I'm physically able to do, and I'm very lucky to have the job that I currently have. However, I feel the need to overcompensate. While I know that it's illegal to fire someone on the basis of disability, I have this fear that they would try to cover that up by saying "you're not up to our standards." As such, I'm one of their most productive workers. Bits of paranoia that are sprinkled throughout my life because of disability are ever-present, ESPECIALLY as someone who has studied media representation for years. And THANK YOU for mentioning The Elephant Man. I don't like the representation that they aimed for with that film precisely because they still took it through the perspective of Treves to carry the predominantly able-bodied audience with them. Where I feel Hunchback got this right was allowing Quasi to be front and center, and they never shy away from his disfigurement or the cruelty that people like Frollo can inflict. Hunchback would have been completely different if it was from Frollo's perspective, much closer to The Elephant Man's perspective. We never would have had Esmeralda's dynamic with Quasi, or the line that I think about often, "I don't see any monster lines." "All disabled folks want to be normal" is inaccurate, as you stated. This is our normal, and some of us understand that even if we were able-bodied, the burden that our disability(s) currently inhabit would be replaced by something else, whether it be mental illnesses or something different. With that being said, there are moments where I wish I knew what it was like to have better balance, be able to run faster, etc. but if it meant giving up the perspective that my disability has given me and given up the connections I've been able to make precisely because of my disability, I personally don't think it'd be worth it. I'm rambling. TL;DR: Well done. I appreciate the work you're doing. Thank you.

[@ninajohansson7015]

Em I'm not one to comment either but I just had to say that everything you said just struck home with me! I'm adhd and struggled with depression, anxiety and other mental illnessness for the better part of my life and right now I'm without a job because of stress. Stress due to that fear you talked about in a workplace, that you 'have' to work harder than the rest and not be a hindrance. And also not really being able to ask for help because the disabilities doesn't show.. I don't know, I didn't mean to vent at you and I had something positive to say too but I just jumped down that negative hole and got stuck ^^ anyway, I felt like you put my feelings into words, so thank you :)

[@Em-op1bm]

Nina Johansson nah, I don't think you said anything out of place. It's a common struggle these days, unfortunately. I hope you find a job that's suitable to you soon, and I'm glad you got something out of my comment!

[@SED779]

As someone who has autism, add, and OCD, I`d like to someday see a character who reflects that experience. Like, comorbid disorders are such a common thing and they are so rarely represented in media! And i`m a multiracial lesbian, so like that`s also something I hardly ever see represented. Like I just hate that Hollywood is all "if a char acter us disabled they can ONLY be disabled! And only with one disability, and they have to be straight and white cause we can`t have too many differences at once!" It is just so frustrating

[@SED779]

Does this also name your email ? Oh, it is absolutely because straight, white, and male is treated as the default. Anything else is a deviation from the norm, and I hate it. It`s infuriating and tiring and I just hate it.

[@marq6929]

SED779 excellent point! Can't a character just happen to have a disability and have the story actually be about something else they're going though in life (like failing in love).

[@TopHatSchneider]

As a disabled person with autistic struggles, I would love the opportunity to represent people like me to the mass media. The idea, honestly, terrifies me. The mere idea of people I know discovering the things I feel most shamed of in myself haunts me to my core. But the idea that by representing the good with the bad in a medium that would affirm others struggles, would gove hope to those who feel at thier ropes end, to give legitamicy to these struggles...it would give my life meaning and purpose.

[@Me-vn3gz]

i’ve literally never seen a good representation of autism, which is why i wasn’t diagnosed until i was an adult, i never even thought of the possibility

[@ashley8835]

I have the same disorder that the guy in the new movie Glass has. The character is played by a super tall guy when the disability is a form of dwarfism.

[@Candorsmayhem]

Ashley well that's all kinds of messed up

[@Brynwyn123]

Ashley I am laughing so hard right now are you serious?

[@crestflames492]

I have the same condition, but it’s not a form of dwarfism, I’m not sure where you got that idea. It’s more closely related to osteoporosis than dwarfism. Most people who have it are short, but it’s not for the same reason as people with dwarfism.

[@hermionejeangranger1863]

Personally, one of my favourite representations of Disability is Switched at Birth. They hired pretty much all deaf or hard of hearing actors for the roles.

[@celinak5062]

Hermione Jean Granger +

[@beckyginger3432]

Yes I love that show!

[@devkergirl2025]

Nice video. I completely agree. I read Wonder in middle school and looking back it wasn't that self-aware (probably because it was written by a woman that saw a disfigured kid in an ice cream shop and decided to write a book around the idea of him). BTW the movie also WHITEWASHED the book. I remember Aggie's family being at least part Brazilian.

[@mikaelamoody4005]

Amber Spath Isabel (Auggie's mum)'s father was Brazilian. There's a reasonable chance they would have done it the lazy and gone with white Latinx, BUT it's a definitely a wasted opportunity, and the whole book is very, very comfortable white middle class.

[@devkergirl2025]

That's true. It's still a shame though. There's not a lot of bi racial characters on screen. p.s loved the comedy sketch. It was golden.

[@tetsubo57]

I figure that if a disabled or disfigured person is doing something, it is because they want to. Compassion would be to aid them. If a person attempts to impede that pursuit, they are an ass.

[@nicolerichwine5767]

I vaguely remember an episode of this mid-2000s PBS cartoon called Maya and Miguel where the sister had a minor freakout over her brother playing basketball with a neighbor kid who had one arm. He and their mutual friends had to stage an intervention when she deflated all the balls to try to "protect" the neighbor. The lesson was to let the nieghbor play the fucking sports, cause he's not weak just cause he has three limbs

[@lnb5322]

agreed, you don't need to help someone because you think they need that help. it's not your decision. aid, in which you make the game safer or segregate players, is not necessary. accessibility, in which you include your neighbor in your fun, is. this doesn't always mean waiting for them to ask to be included, either. sometimes you gotta extend your hand and include them in your games, and in your stories.

[@irisachternaam]

As someone with a disability I'd prefer empathy over compassion (compassion suggests you looking down at me) and I don't appreciate people helping me without me asking for it or you verbally offering it first. And I don't just do things because I want to. I have responsibilities like every one else.

[@timothymclean]

That doesn't apply to _anyone._ I'm working a stressful job in a restaurant kitchen; am I doing that because I want to? No, I'm doing that because it's the least bad option available to me. _Why would disabled people be different?_ (Especially given the existence of social forces, ie ableism, which don't apply to my example?)

[@agenttheater5]

This is why I'm happy for the 'Finding Nemo' and 'Finding Dory' films - Nemo is an energetic child despite his small fin who learns to live a full life with it, and Dory is optimistic despite having a mental condition and her parents find ways to get her through life and give her all the love and affection every child needs.

[@stxrryd]

...You know... They're fish... and... As a disabled person, I'll have you know that I don't live my life perfectly.. as a fish.. or as an able-bodied person. I don't live my life without it affecting me every day. I have pain, I curse at God, and I get depressed. I have to live my life as a disabled person. And it's not something someone should be viewing as being especially terrible, but it shouldn't be viewed as spotless either. Depicting a disabled person in a movie and not giving them any symptoms or acknowledgment about what they have isn't realistic. Sorry, but it just doesn't make sense.

[@agenttheater5]

I'm sorry, I didn't think that comment completely through before I pressed 'Comment'. I didn't mean to simplify disability like that.

[@stxrryd]

It's fine. I didn't want to come off as me hating my life or something that you should feel bad for. The thing that confuses me the most about this video and her other video is that she appears to think that disabled people should be portrayed as being obviously disabled while being treated absolutely perfectly and walking around like nothing is hard for them. Yeah, it's not normal to be miserable all the time, but EVERYONE'S life revolves around their physical being. It's your tool to get around, interact with your surroundings, and communicate with other people. You can't expect to fix a house with a broken wrench. Yeah, you can do it differently eventually, but the world isn't made for "broken" things. No one _wants_ to get sick. No one _wants_ to get hurt. And that shouldn't be shameful to say at all. You can't say that the Stephen Hawking Movie or "Wonder" are inaccurate depictions of being disabled because THEY'RE BASED ON TRUE STORIES. It's ignorant to think that societal problems are too offensive to represent. These things need to be brought to attention, not be put away. Sorry for the rant, though, lol.

[@yutgorpotungyun]

Your video made me reflect on myself quite a bit. I remember after watching The silent voice(Japanese animation), I assumed hearing impaired ppl to "like" this movie because wow it's a movie with hearing impaired as the heroine and sign languages!! Than, I watched hearing impaired ppl reviewed the animation and found out that they were not very happy about Nishimiya (the heroine) forgave her ex-bully like instantly-ish. On top of that, just recently, I stumbled upon some Korean twits that noted how harmful the animation is and how it actually created a distorted image on hearing impaired women as it showed screenshot of men leaving disturbing comments like "where can I find hearing impaired women like Nishimiya?".The twitter added a study on how unsafe hearing impaired women in Korea felt because they were targeted as easy victims. I didn't link all the dotes together until I watched your video and finally understand that having a character who is "disabled" as main character is not enough. You need to portrait them as real human instead of subject for pity or inspiration. Thank you very much! Next time when I come across movies that are about minorities or with a minority lead, I will stop and think twice if it is really helping the minority as it claims it is.

[@charlottella4480]

I just want to say that I loved that movie (“A Silent Voice”). Maybe it’s not a perfect movie by todays “woke” standards, but what I personally took away from it was an insight into a disability and also the effects on bullying, on both the bullied and the bully. It made a huge impact on me and I really feel like I learned a lot from it. I would say just take it for what it is - a wonderful piece of art, and ignore the nasty comments. That’s not the movie’s fault. Art should be allowed to be anything, not just a perfect make believe picture of how we want the world to be.

[@Alex-fp8je]

Re. How disabled stories are told: Something else that really bothers me as a disabled person, is the framing of a disability as an obstacle that can be overcome, rather than a fact of life. This is a harmful attitude I face IRL. Finding ways to handle issues is great, but I (and people around me) still have to accept that I can never do certain things as well as an able person would. How to find self-worth and happiness despite this, is a huge part of (my) disabled life, and I rarely see that in fiction. Negative example: How to train your dragon 2, where Hiccup's prosthetic leg completely negates his disability. I swear he does things with that metal foot that are impossible without neural control... Positive example: Amethyst's arc in s3 of Steven Universe. That is my favorite depiction of physical disability ever. Thanks for this video btw - you brought up lots of things I'd never thought of before!

[@JeanPKlaus]

I absolutely agree with this. That in 2018 we haven't changed the language of "fixing" ourselves or "changing" ourselves because we can "overcome" this great "obstacle". When in reality one of the ways I treated my depression is by understanding and being aware of it, and coexisting with the fact. I have Aspergers, I know it's all under one umbrella term -rolls eyes-, but I have comorbid depression and anxiety. I found that I was more unhappy in my life trying to "fix" what was "wrong with me". Then saying hey NTs have boundaries and limitations for themselves, why can't someone with mental conditions and neural development disorders have their own boundaries and limitations. It's much easier to go about your daily life saying, this is what I have, this is what I can do with what I have, this is what I can't do with what I have. Making those compromises and learning to live beside it, not treat it like it's some kind of separate existence.

[@AmberAmber]

Amalia EXACTLY. I'm so fed up with people being uncomfortable that I accept myself & can find joy despite not having everything perfect. It's viewed as being a quitter. Well, if quitting means I'm content? I love being a quitter. 💗💗💗💗

[@authoralysmarchand4737]

The Power Rangers movie had Billy as autistic, and this is how it was portrayed. It was just something he had, and he wasn't made to be less capable for it, and it wasn't highlighted as an issue. My daughter is autistic, and both of us were touched by how autism was shown in this movie. I actually cried in the theater.

[@jacquelinezanders683]

@Amalia Thank you for your comment, I didn't realize that this sort of thinking even existed. It sort of reminds me of how people with chronic diseases, particularly cancer, are treated in a similar manner. A lot of language concerning cancer circles around a "fight" or "battle" that the person with the illness is supposedly waging, which can be extremely harmful for this person given the implicit idea that they would be "giving up" or "not fighting hard enough" by, oh, I don't know, choosing to *not* constantly drain themselves physically and emotionally with caustic and/or tireless treatments that often have dubious, if not near-nonexistent, chances of success. Choosing to prioritize your mental and physical well-being should not be framed as "giving up", passing away due to cancer or any other illness should not be framed as "losing the battle", and, as you pointed out, the act of existing with an illness or disability shouldn't be framed as something it is the person's responsibility to "overcome" in some way.

[@AmberAmber]

Jacqueline Zanders Brilliant comment.💕

[@nitac7174]

I developed seizures when I was 17. To date I've only seen 2 characters with seizures that were characters and not a medical show case of the week. One of those characters chose to become a werewolf and erase her seizures rather than live like that anymore (Teen Wolf). My seizures got worse last year, and while I managed to graduate film school I've since not been able to work. Especially since film sets don't want to hire someone who's not allowed to drive and might seize while shooting. Which I understand but there are literally NO options for me to get my foot in the door. Anyway, I just wanted to say I appreciate both videos. Thank you for making them and for reiterating a point I make a lot. ♡

[@alienswillcomeAWC]

I just wanted to say thank you for speaking up and leaving an insightful comment, and congratulations on graduating film school. I hope you keep pursuing your dream despite the setbacks.

[@aceofspades4930]

Nita C I’m hard if hearing so I’m in the outfield . I play guitar but I probably am never going to be as talented as a hearing person playing guitar and singing cause I don’t have that sense of rhythm. We like to think that we can overcome all our limitations and it’s not impossible for sure but it’s difficult and that’s the truth.

[@aceofspades4930]

Nita C but it’s also sad that you don’t get to see characters with seizures in film

[@pendlera2959]

My mom has had seizures for 25 years. My sister was diagnosed with them this year. She's so smart. She gets A's in all her college classes and is going into biomedical research. But the meds she takes for her seizures make it harder for her to think. They're still trying to find an effective dose for her, and every time they increase, she has more trouble. She is so scared she'll graduate and then be too dumbed down by her meds to actually work in a lab. I'm so proud of her because she is so smart and she cares so deeply about other people. She's such a wonderful person and would be a great asset to the scientific community. But her seizures and the meds she takes to control them may ruin it all. I realize you're probably not an expert on this, but as someone who has been there, do you have any advice or encouragement I could pass on to her?

[@nitac7174]

Pendlera in high school when I first got the seizures I was an A+ student, with in a year I dropped a grade in every subject and then didn't qualify for entry into the college program that I wanted. It was the worst feeling ever. So I went to a different course, did it for two years to get my grades up, and then went to film school. And the grades up I got weren't the best in the class, but they were never lower than average. Film school was harder, there was more physical activity and more speaking but again, I tried to never get lower than average. I also took longer to complete film school. In my second year I struggled, so I split the year into two years and took on half the workload. My biggest advice is the following. You know you're intelligent despite what's happening to you, but you need to accept that there's a barrier between that intelligence sometimes and what you're able to put directly out there. As long as what you put out there a) gets you where you need to go and b) fulfills what's been asked of you that should be the goal. If you have a good day or week and you're able to lift the barrier and get what you deserve? Great. If you aren't? Don't stress or linger on it. You are doing the best you can do and you have way more trouble than anyone else in your field. I don't know about lab work or how'll they react to it, I'm sorry, so I can't give any more specific advice. But I do know it gets easier to recognize your symptoms on a day and work out that maybe today is not a thinking day and let's just do simple paperwork. I hope this helps and I wish good luck to your sister. Never give up, especially if it's something you love.

[@booksaremysociallife]

We STAN a well researched, conscious QUEEN. All HAIL Ms. Scrivener.

[@CourtneyCoulson]

I avoided watching Rain Man for a long time because I'm autistic, and the comparison had haunted me most of my life, plus the movie just looked offensively bad. And yet everyone seemed to have fond memories of it. Nope, I was right, it's a pile of shit. I get it, it was very important at the time. But it's not even about the autistic character, he's a prop to make Tom Cruise look good. Elephant Man looks like it's the same story with a different facade. And yet able people eat this shit up and they walk away feeling good and like they've suddenly become woke.

[@findyourcenterbbc8483]

I dont think i have seen a good autistic movie where it wasnt pity porn. Oh no the parent has a autistic child dont you feel bad for her audience. I just one story where the main character is autistic, is a complex and layered character that does have some struggles but has a good family to back them up and learns how to navigate the world. and show maybe have several different people with autism spowe can see the spectrum.

[@beckyginger3432]

I don't have autism but my brother and my best friend do. I hated watching rainman. It never married up with my experience with autism. And hate the way Tom cruise treats his brother. It's horrible

[@xiuminsmarshmallow3375]

I’m personally am not disabled but I love how you are informing so many on representation in Hollywood. I am personally a minority (Asian) and I’m also adopted. So because of this I was really impacted by the stereotypes about Asian people. The only exposure I had was traditional ancient Asia which is what is often thought of when it comes to Asia and Mulan. I also was left with the stereotype that Asian men are not attractive. This really shaped how I looked at myself when I was younger. I thought of myself as ugly and when I was 7 I thought I needed double eyelid surgery to look prettier. Until I found something to break all of those stereotypes, so finding an Asian person that I found attractive was mind blowing because I never thought it was possible. There were so many things that I found to be shocking like the fact that Asians in Asia don’t walk around wearing traditional clothing and small stuff like that. It angers me to see that people don’t care about representation and don’t know why it’s important. So thank you for talking about just how important it is for minorities to be represented. I can only imagine what it’s like being someone who is disabled and being underrepresented.

[@444gothicgirl]

as someone with insomina, hypersomnia and central sleep apnea, i would love to see a movie about what its like to have sleeping disorders. I basically feel like an iphone with a really shitty battery. I can be awake for a few hours but i need to be "recharged" again and again.

[@LuanaRola]

I am a person with disability and I’ve been researching for a while on the topic of the lack of representativity of disability in audiovisual industry and I am going to be honest with you: I’ve never thought an able-bodied person’s take on that matter would actually match my own beliefs and add to them. But you did it. You are so sensitive in all of the things you pointed out, i am basically in love hahahahaha. I’ve recently made a video about the exploitation of disability in action and super heroes movies, and I was planning on doing another one talking about the same thing, but approaching other kinds of movies, and the points you’ve made here will absolutely help me build a more complete script (i will give you the credit and link your video, of course). Anyways, congratulations, this is an amazing video 😊

[@hannahcanreadsometimes]

I really appreciated the Wonder video!! Because frankly it not only helped me understand the difference between disability and disfigurement. But opened my eyes to the real problem that plagues the film industry! I think you are making important videos, with well thought out content, presenting your ideas in a easy digestible way! Such a great video! And a video that was well worth the wait! ☺️💜

[@anamazingdotart]

YES. SAY IT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK!! This is literally what I’ve been saying to my family members/friends/anyone who wants to argue w/ me about the “well what if disabled don’t want to play this role?” *this is a wonderful video* this is how you ally!!!!!!

[@runakinsley3450]

Yeah, I think the term for movies like Wonder is "inspiration porn". You know, the person exists. That's *so* inspirational. On a side note, Gaten! I have the same thing he does. It's great to see him on Stranger Things, as it was the first time I met someone else outside of my family who also has CCD.

[@stephpiano2908]

I'M SCREAMING THIS VIDEO IS EVERYTHING I WANTED IT TO BE

[@stephpiano2908]

I'M GIVING THIS VIDEO A STANDING OVATION (And you including Deaf West productions was the icing on the cake, I'M SCREECHING)

[@OpinionVille]

Thanks for this. The Elephant Man has been one of my favorite films however I must agree with you about the ableism in the script. While I deeply love the films use of sound, the cinematography , the performances and scenic design etc, the underlining condescending message and the misrepresentation of John Merrick and his his life is appalling. I review films for fun on a podcast, specifically I re-examine classic films to see if they hold up over the years. I now have a strange feeling that the Elephant Man may not.

[@Kanashimimo]

Here's a "fun fact" that isn't funny at all : in France, we have a movie called "Everybody get up", which is about a woman in a wheelchair meeting an abled man, who pretends to be disabled, first in order to woo her abled sister, then the woman in question. If the movie doesn't seem sketchy enough, know that the director and main actor decided early on to NOT cast a disabled woman to play the disabled character because, as he says, "everyone would have been focusing on this instead of my movie". Which is... all kinds of wrong. The movie is actually praised by the abled audience, while portraying very damaging clichés, such as the fact that someone getting up from a wheelchair means that this person can't be disabled. We also had our own "Rain Man" movie, in 2018 mind you, about an autistic kid and his uncle, who'll start to like him when he realizes that the kid is "good at football", and there's a whole story about the kid getting sent to an institution and what not. And, of course, the young actor isn't autistic. Of course, they didn't hire any autistic consultant for this flick. Of course, the portrayal is super cliché and doesn't reflect at all the subtlety of my disability. Sigh...

[@xingcat]

Another great video. ("How'd you get in my house?!?!" HA!) Once again, I like pointing out DeafWest's "Spring Awakening," which was a re-imagining of an existing script to enhance the experience by including the real experience of real people with real disabilities. By opening up to disabled actors in all sorts of roles, including those that were written as "general characters," and then including their experience into the story, you open up the whole world of the movie/play/story you're telling and that would certainly give any creative person far more options and opportunities to work with.

[@AtlanticGiantPumpkin]

xingcat On top of that, they featured the first wheelchair bound actor on Broadway, Ali Stroker. She's paralyzed and absolutely cannot leave her wheelchair, and they still included her despite already having a disabled cast of a different kind. There's only one wheelchair character I can think of in musical theatre, and that's Nessa Rose, but anyone wheelchair bound can't play her because (spoiler alert) she's able to walk at the end. Even with that in mind, no one casts a wheelchair user period in that part, even if they can walk and perform the part. It really sucks.

[@Diamondelight92]

They had to do quite a bit of remodeling of the physical theatre to create an accessible dressing room with an accessible restroom and an accessible entrance to the stage. And they were like "Well we're not recasting this role so I guess we're remodeling." So now that theatre just has an accessible dressing room which makes it easier to hire disabled actors in the future, too! Just the coolest thing!

[@Broadwaychica]

I legitimately don't get the argument that "if we let disabled people act it'd be too hard/traumatic" for them...when Hollywood has never even tried and therefore we don't know...like you said, if we don't open that door, how can we know what individual disabled people would want? In other news, the editing on this video was some of the best you've ever done. ...also I THINK Susan Kay sort of gave Erik the Elphaba treatment in her book? It's been a while since I've read it but it was a start...but you're right, you'd think ALW would have done that, given how much he CLEARLY relates to the character. ...annnnnd the true facts of John Merrick sounds like it'd make for a WAY better "character"...it's really disappointing we as a society don't know these things... But yeah, overall, fantastic video, and it's so frustrating Hollywood keeps pulling this crap.

[@danielleshanti]

I have cerebral palsy and I support this video. Seriously, thank you for this and all the care that went into it.

[@elliart7432]

I already commented this on the other video, but again, as a trans "actor" literally the main reason I didn't pursue acting as an actual career field is because the industry's made it abundantly clear there are no roles for me. Thank you for addressing this briefly

[@mousy3873]

It makes me so happy to see a youtuber that does video essays, social justice, and/or film analysis stuff touch on the topic of ableism at all, let alone doing such a great job on the topic! It seems like a lot of people in this vein of youtube don't want to touch disability/disfigurement or ableism with a 10 foot pool for a variety of different reasons and end kind of alienating a segment of their audience. We as disabled people have a very cool backlog of unique media analysis and new perspectives on social justice issues that can add a lot to the conversation if abled people are made aware that it exists in the first place and if they're willing to seek it out. So I really appreciate you bringing it to the attention some of them with these videos :)

[@mayaappassionata]

Wow. First video I've seen of yours -- taking a critical eye to The Shape Of Water, which I unreservedly loved on first viewing no less -- and I'm immediately subscribing. This is fantastic.

[@PrincessScrivener]

Thank you! I enjoyed it too, but it’s important to recognize the not so great aspects of media we like. Thanks for watching! -S

[@lcall4619]

Can you review/discuss the Greatest Showman? and talk about disfigurement/disability in that movie?

[@alexisgrey3633]

I plan to discuss that film sometime on my channel (once I get to see it!)

[@TheProxy066]

Lcall 21 Yes.

[@BlackFires]

Jen Campbell has an interesting video about the movie on her channel if you were interested :)

[@lenastorm6280]

Yes! She should do that! That would be great!

[@marinashutup]

You’re great.

[@mikaelamoody4005]

marinashutup agreed.

[@booksaremysociallife]

Omg THE Marinashutup I die

[@starpasta]

OMG, hi Marina! Yes, I completely agree!

[@alyxmacbeth7995]

Her point comes across loud and clear. There's ableism in the film industry and we need more authentic portrayals of disability. Saying she doesn't have the answers doesn't weaken her argument, because one single person who isn't physically disabled or disfigured doesn't need to have all the solutions for how to stop this kind of ableism to argue against the prejudice that's already present. You can point out that something is wrong without being able to delve into all the measures that could be taken to fix the problem.

[@alyxmacbeth7995]

Actually, your argument isn't an equivalent. She pointed out what was wrong, but didn't have solutions to make it better. You don't need to provide a solution for my comment, but unlike her...you can't even seem to say what the issue is.

[@Danihelmanart]

so a few months ago, i created and worked on a disabillity seminar for a leadership program i attended because as a disabled person it really bothered me that we barely touched that subject. your video about wonder really helped me out in my research, and forming my opinion on the representation of disabled actors and characters (and i also got introduced through your video to annie elainey- who is honestly one of my role models). and MAN do i wish i also watched this video while i did the research. it really seems you did your research with other disabled youtubers and a lot of the statements you said hit the nail right on the head, like that excuse about not casting disabled/disfigured actors because they're too fragile and you explained your points in a great way! with enough of a touch of the occasional humor. so yeah. great video! keep up the fanatastic work!

[@OhNoBohNo]

Out of the ballpark, Sarah! I have to admit that as much as I enjoyed The Shape of Water at the time, I was pulled off track when she started singing. And I am so ready and impatient for studios to actually TRUST actors, writers, producers w/ disabilities. The amazing voices of the disability activist community have made me reevaluate how I can join in- As an environmentalist, I’ve really reconsidered the impact of things such as the plastic straw ban, and I’ve seen other local green leaders saying as well. As long as we have people speaking up, Sarah, we’ll keep slowly moving the ball ✊ Also you smooshing Mike out of the frame was adorable. 10/10 video

[@OhNoBohNo]

Also!- Something you said near the end of the video made me realize the way we treat those with disabilities in media, if not as a tragedy, is more an extension of the ‘chosen one’ narrative, where they’re allowed into the threshold of the ‘typical’, or rewarded by being the individual that rose above their disability

[@SebastianSeanCrow]

3:47 the only down side I can see in casting a disabled person is if they get a disability Check. For some people, if they receive money in any form over a certain amount, they’re permanently cut off from their disability checks, which they need in order to live. So you wouldn’t be able to pay them fairly or even at all.

[@mikaelamoody4005]

Sebastian Sean Crow that's a problem with the system and government policy, not with casting, and I think rather than letting it be an excuse, film-makers need to be part of the movement against ableist policy like this. :)

[@Cruznick06]

Thank you so much for making this video. I teared up a few times because its so frustrating to see how often people with disfigurement or disability are denied basic accommodation in the real world and the acting world. I'm so fed up with how hard it is to find a job that can do something as basic as allow me to use a chair, god forbid, while I work. (That isn't a desk job where I'll loose my mind.) How many accessible bakery kitchens or art studios can you think of? I can think of ONE. And it's where I work.

[@keirstenwahlberg6476]

I have Cerebral Palsy. I'm thirty years old and some of my family still have stereotypes. My grandma patronizes and treats me like a child. She talks around me. If I question her on anything she asks if I'm having a bad day. I say no and she's shocked. She thinks disabled people are permanent children.

[@passport3763]

Hey do you believe that the lack of female actors with disability ties into a view of women as commodities ie: only attractive women are valuable to men who only recognize other men as deserving of respect and therefore only beautiful women's stories deserve to be told because they're perceived as "valuable". Because I as a woman who is not conventionally attractive have found this to be very true. Men simply don't respect others unless they have some sort of "value" to them.

[@queencallipygos]

Re: Your observation about how the production team accommodating an actor with specific needs is part of the job. I have an anecdote. In the 1990s my first-ever theater job was as an assistant stage manager for a company called "Theater By The Blind" - it was a theater company that worked with blind or visually-impaired actors. But the head of the company was determined to not do all productions of stuff like THE MIRACLE WORKER - he wanted to do things like A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and HAMLET. And yes, they literally did do HAMLET. And it was just like any other production I've ever worked on. Literally the only difference between this production and any other was that sometimes I got to play with George's guide dog when she was off duty (which was awesome). But anything else any of the actors needed was pretty much kind of the things I'd be doing anyway - every actor has little things and quirks that they need that will help support them. Do they need a quiet room to go run lines in? Sure, here you go. Do you need me to take five minutes and feed you lines so you can type them out in a way that helps you learn them? You got it. Do you need me to place your prop in a place where you have time to reach it as you're walking out on stage? You got it, here's a place for it here. That is all 100% the job of a stage manager, and that's the kind of thing you do for ANY actor in the world ever, no matter their physical status. It's part of their job. A friend of mine was a stage combat choreographer for a while and he worked on the choreography for the swordfight in TBTB's production of HAMLET. They came up with a way that made dramaturgical sense but would also work with the visual abilities of both actors and by all reports it looked awesome. (TBTB have now expanded to work with actors of ANY disability at any level and now call themselves Theater Breaking Through Barriers. They're still going strong after 40 years.)

[@MustxBexMe]

Like how people were mad about "The Greatest Showman" not using actual people with those portrayed disabilities/disfigurements. The Actors "studied" people in order to play their parts. They "STUDIED" them like animals in order to play the role better. You can't portray the true emotion people actually feel by studying them. I have autism and people tend to think that because I am "able" to do certain things "normal" people do that it's not possible for me to have autism. Truth, I struggle to do those things to "fit in" because of how people with disabilities are stereotyped. It doesn't help that when someone goes on a rampage the first thing the reporter say is ""insert name here" has this disability which is why they did what they did." I sometimes wish my disabilities were just an act and at the end of the day just flip a switch to turn it off but that's not reality.

[@erin4204]

There's a movie from 1946 called "The Best Years of Our Lives" about WW2 vets returning home, and one of the main characters, Homer, lost his hands in the war. The actor they hired (Harold Russell) had actually lost his hands in an accident preparing for the war, and had no previous acting experience. He was awarded the Oscar for best supporting actor for the role. So if they could do it in 1946, why can't they do it now? (note: this movie is from 1946 so there are some problematic elements but overall their portrayal of disability/disfigurement is really accurate because they had someone with personal experience playing the role)

[@TheAmityElf]

I agree so much about being cheated out of fish man sex!

[@nareushardin8990]

AmityRavenclawElf same

[@sadtitties222]

AmityRavenclawElf @ AmityRavenclawElf Real shit tho, I was waiting for the sexytimes, but I never received. Oh well, I'll just have too see if there's a fanfic somewhere lmao!

[@ellie7646]

Freak

[@Nefepants]

I had my disagreements with your first video. Only very minor nitpicks, like being equally critical of disabled actors playing roles different from their lived disability as one would be towards an abled actor, but this was a very well articulated video and I agree wholeheartedly with your points. The Elephant Man might genuinely be one of the worst things to ever happen to disability representation, as the sentiments that fueled the narrative still permeate through our cultural consciousness. I'm disabled but not disfigured, so I can't even fathom the overall damage its caused on that front. Also, the short skit with Mike was excellent and the comedic timing was spot on. #MikeIsAStar

[@centreoftheselights]

As a disabled person, thanks so much for this. Bad, unthinking representation can be so harmful, and yet people seem so eager to defend it. :-(

[@cookie9655]

"You're obstructing thr conversation" SAY IT LOUDER FOR EVERYONE

[@StarxLolita]

I enjoy the video, but I think that little bit about the Shape of Water around the 17:10 mark completely misunderstands what's happening. Did you guys even watch that entire scene? She's saying that she loves the monster because he DOESN'T view her as incomplete like everyone else does, that he accepts her for who she is. It's literally the opposite of what you're criticizing.

[@spirithawk6580]

She's not criticizing the scene itself, she's criticizing the use of an abled actor in a disabled role

[@pianobooks42]

For the question of how close an actor has to be to the disability they're portraying (i.e. are they disabled/disfigured enough?) I would say this as a disabled (visually impaired and chronically ill) person: 1. The person hired to play them should be disabled in some way if possible 2. If someone with the same condition or affects auditions, that might be a great choice! 3. Balance performance with understanding. If only one blind person auditions for your new daredevil musical (idk, off the top of my head. But damn now I wanna see that), and they happen to be an AWFUL actor, but a visually impaired (not completely blind) actor also auditioned, and they're a great actor, then maybe go for the VI guy. If only one blind guy auditions and happens to be terrible, or no blind people audition, and the only other disabled person who tried out happens to have mild CP or a learning disability or idk anything which could help them understand the role of a disabled person but may not fit this role exactly, they should be considered above able-bodied people. Basically, my belief is that if two people with the same acting skill audition, but one has a disability and the other one isn't, prioritize the disabled actor for a disabled role. In the case of an able-bodied role, assess how it could affect (or not affect) the movie/scene and budget both to hire and not to hire the person. And if you can't put them in that role, consider putting them in other roles. Obviously you're not going to have a blind person play the cop that catches the bad guy in a car chase. But don't assume they can't play any role at all. If you don't know, ask. Walk up to the guy and say, "Hey. Daredevil has to fight. Stunts will be played by a stunt double, but a lot of the fighting is stuff you're going to have to learn. Is that something you're capable of?" Or "Hey, Daredevil can kinda echolocate, so sometimes he just throws his cane to the side and starts running. What would we do with you then?" At that point, the blind guy can say, "I'm capable of fighting. I just need to be trained in person, not through video. Because I need someone to show me how to do it. And I can run without my cane. I just have to know where things are on the set first. If it's a really dangerous set, maybe just have someone watching and call 'stop' if I'm going the wrong way. But seriously it shouldn't be a problem." Bam you have representation without a lawsuit from angry fans or angry actors!

[@imzabatch]

Hm, I missed seeing the video you're referencing, I'll go watch it (and try to resist reading the comments lol. Edit: I just read the comments. Yikes). Couple things though... You're editing of this video is inpsiring :D it looks great and like you worked really hard on it. I'm super glad you brought up Gaten. I actually didn't know the details of his casting, I never really thought about it. But it made me think that just giving disabled people a chance will make representation SO MUCH EASIER. It seems so simple of a solution. With that, there's less of a chance of getting it wrong because you're not trying to write from scratch, a perspective/story that isn't your own. Also, a certain kind of ableism you talked about in this video, I didn't know it was a thing before, but it reminded me of a time I showed someone a post of a little girl with a prosthetic leg who was recieving a doll with a prosthetic leg. And it was a gif of her crying and saying something like "It's got a leg like me". And the dude said that that was MEAN because maybe the little girl FORGOT she had a prosthetic and the doll reminded her of it so it made her FEEL BAD AND CRY. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it, anyway... Great video! It gave me a lot of information about disabled representation. The way you some say things makes it click for me and I appreciate that. :))

[@OffWithTheMasks]

I read the book Me before you, didn't like it, but it instantly reminded me of a movie I'd seen called "Mar Adentro", which tells the true story of a man (Ramón Sampedro) who becomes quadriplegic and goes through a legal battle with the spanish government so he can commit assisted suicide. The thing is, it's a real story, tragic and heartbreaking, and I got so angry when I couldn't help but notice the similarities between MBY and the story of Sampedro, specially since MBY does not have a good message AT ALL. It's a very hard story to read about, but later on it became part of a class I had about thanatology (nursing student), and we had to talk about the differences about eutanasia and assisted suicide, bioethics, freedom, and death overall, although we also tried to use the perspective our culture and country has and had of death itself. I think one of the hardest parts to debate was the freedom and autonomy one has over ones body, even more so than the fact that Ramón is disabled, and his desire to die came from the changes his life had after his accident. I wish there were more people to talk about those topics, about Sampedro's story, but I would specially like to hear from actual disabled people, as I've read some opinions about MBY (mostly, if not all, negative, which I agreed with) because it is reality, and the argument of representation doesn't apply unless we talk about the movie, but I'd rather focus in the facts, as you said, about the fact that suicide can become acceptable JUST because of disability, when it's actually a much more complicated subject. I'm aware I have a different view on death than most people, having lost family to suicide, having attempted suicide, and the experience of living with suicidal thoughts for most of my life, but logic is logic, and ethics are ethics, at the end of the day. Uh, anyway, I enjoyed the video c:

[@kelthulhu]

As a disabled person myself and considering just how much art (movies, shows, music, books WHATEVER) is created annually, it's ridiculous, unrealistic, and unacceptable that so few disabled creators receive significant representation and how few characters in said art are disabled, especially considering how many of us there are in America alone. The easiest way to alleviate ableistic portrayals in art is to let disabled people make it. That's not to say abled people can't write disabled characters, they very much should, but the most accurate and realistic experience will come from people who've actually dealt with it. This extends outside of art into activism when you look at all the organizations run by abled/neurotypical people that are supposed to benefit the disabled/neurodivergent. The most beneficial activism comes from the people who need the support because they know better than anybody, including family members, what would best benefit them, and abled/neurotypical people speaking FOR the disabled/neurodivergent almost always does more harm than good. (I'm looking at you, Autism Speaks/Autism Mom facebook pages!) Oh, and just saying that a character someone wrote is a minority without actually representing that within the piece of art they created isn't real representation. Don't try to Dumbledore your way into getting representation points, kids :)

[@jacquelinezanders683]

AnHeC I say this respectfully, but your personal experience with a topic isn't indicative of the realities concerning that topic. Secondly, the video was very specific with its data concerning the fact that 20% of people in the U.S. are disabled, while only a fraction of people represented in mass media and art are the same. And third, it's clear that at the very least, a large portion of these representations are flawed and inaccurate, so just because said representations *exist* doesn't mean that all is fair and just. Also--again, respectfully--have you considered that perhaps you very well have met a disabled person/disabled people IRL, but they just didn't fit the mold of what you considered to be disabled? There are a lot of people out there with disabilities that are "invisible", so to speak, or more or less severe than others.

[@celinak5062]

Kelthulhu representation points lol

[@katrinagerhard1085]

Disabled girl here. You are fantastic and really seem to get it. Explaining paternalistic prejudice is so difficult because people are usually trying to be nice when they say really condescending things. But those things still hurt a lot and contribute to the social system that tries to keep people with disabilities hidden away.

[@ehbehceh]

Just on disability mimicry: I'm a trained performance artist, working in disability arts and although I'm not an actor being educated in an actual world class drama school, I found out some stuff about acting. The disabled actor argument is one that I've come across a lot 'it's just acting' 'everyone's pretending anyway' etc- but no. Acting is taking from your own personal autobiography - it's taking feelings and thoughts you as a person have had an applying them to the character. An abled/neurotypical person simply does not have the experience of disability, ergo they *cannot* apply it to the character. The specifics of the impairment don't matter in most cases; but the experience of disability does. Take Theory of Everything, sure- you are gonna have a hard time finding an actor with ALS and charting their progression through a film- but, you could have found any actor with a fluctuating condition - say MS for example- and you got that experience of disability to inform the role. As for specific answers? We can figure them out at the time, but casting *any* disabled actor, in almost any disabled character role is better than none at all.

[@blossom9510]

The stories we tell are reflections of us. If you never see yourself in humanity's reflection, how do you think you're going to feel? "It's just a (insert genre of storytelling), so it doesn't matter" clearly comes from a place of "I've always been able to see my reflection". As you put it, it's just obstructing the conversation. Thank you and everyone involved for making this awesome video!

[@cookie9655]

This video was so greatly worded and paced. It's clear just how much time must go into your videos, it's insane. You do a lot of work and you do it WELL. Everytime I watch I feel like I'm learning, and I feel like I can open a conversation about it. You guys do a great job on this channel! Keep it up!

[@JeanPKlaus]

Here is the thing, while I agree there should be a casting call that also encourages disabled actors. I also have no qualms with mimicry as long as mimicry is done respectfully, the individual has spoken, done research, talked to the individuals and their experiences. As a writer myself, I don't want to write one note stories, so I go out of my way to interview and shadow people who have different lives than me and observe them as well. Mimicry is fine if mimicry is done with respect, genuine understanding. Because you don't need to wholeheartedly empathize to sympathize. Because getting a disabled actor only influences the role with that individuals struggle, in the case of Autism being on a spectrum, the issue is generalizing this to say this disabled actors struggle with this disabled role is the only representation of what it's like. Sometimes someone who can imitate, well, with respect, and without the ableism involved, can encompass more than one story into a well rounded individual. In conclusion I agree that there needs to be more disabled actors, better disability representation as a whole, but I also believe mimicry has its uses.

[@myStitch11]

You're videos on this subject are really interesting and have helped me a little. I'm actually going into directing and should keep these in mind when I get to the point of hiring actors for roles. It also helps with I'm working on a show pitch that the main character is an alien and on her planet she is disabled as her body can't regulate heat so in the middle of summer she has to wear full body winter suit. Though it would be impossible to cast someone with this disability (since it's ya know, made up) I can use these videos to help with how her world treats her. Also I'm planning on her disability is never something she needs to over come or anything it's more around how the prejudices of her world treats her as fragile has effected her self-esteem and when she finally is in a group with people who aren't treating her disability as something she will never be able to over come but they actually accommodate her when need be and don't treat her like glass she is able to finally start to love herself because the world around her isn't telling her that she has to hate herself. ((also there is a whole thing of two male characters (that I made their personalities before deciding on making them gay) end up in a relationship later and would want them played by gay actors if I could))

[@PrincessScrivener]

I can't recommend enough the importance and value of sensitivity readers and getting feedback from the communities you're writing about. It's awesome that you want to include diverse experiences in your stories. Just make sure you include diverse people in your process. Thank you for watching! -S

[@ememem2952]

Thank you for making this, it really opened my eyes.

[@yoonmikim5663]

Speaking as an adopted WoC with disabilities (and ace to boot, but yeah, not trying for the oppression olympics here). But it's so hard to often get why it's so frustrating across--you did very well. I was wondering if you ever thought to touch on representation of adoption? Adoption shows up a lot on films, etc, but is so horribly represented that many people in the adoption community really hate it. It's the combination of the paternalistic, did it for your own good, along with the whole complex of "This is why you are fucked up and needed to be adopted." with the whole " this is who you should love" and you are only a plot device. Maybe because people who are adopted like ourselves are often used only for political gain--it's often so bad that it is the go-to for the villain. And also often people talk over lived experiences like so bad in adoption community inside and outside of it that some people just have gotten used to being talked over. It doesn't help that our representation in films tends to be horrible. Like so horrible, often we adopted people at our worst are products of the devil. Literally. Like we are satan's spawn. And it seems to reflect terribly on narratives of foster care as well. It seems like Foster Care youth are just spawns of the devil, need rescuing, and it's only either angelic like Pollyanna who just had kindness in their hearts all along in this saccharine way that makes you want to secretly stab them, or they are like "Orphan" and possessed--which goes to show the two narratives told about adopting a child. You are either on a rescue mission, or once you get them, OMG, tparenting is so difficult. Which shows that it';s not about the kid, it's about the parents. There are good representations of adoption, though those are so few. This is Us (I've heard) shows the nuances and the difficulty in adoption. If you take LM Montgomery's works outside of Anne of whatever, they usually have very good an nuanced versions of adoption, probably because she was intrafamily adopted herself and she hated Anne's guts a whole lot probably because she was twisted by the public imagination into a Pollyanna--which from what I've read about her notes, etc and her other works was far from what she was hoping for. And the movie Belle is particularly good and nuanced in tackling the whole of race and adoption issues--from identity, to how to take care of hair, being an insider and outsider (God, I love that movie.) But most of the time we are pawns for the writer's emotional angst about their own parents... and I could only wish them to tell them NO. Don't do that. Adoption makes things *more* not less complicated. Just like tackling questions of being a woman, a person of color or having a disability raises questions too. (You know, as me saying it having those things.) Wish this would be seen too.

[@Lairdesangfroid]

You make a lot of high concepts feel really accessible! Excited to start binging your other videos

[@LilliBlackmore]

Wonderful, wonderful video. Thank you for all of the time and effort you put into making it.

[@CostumedFiend_Audio]

Great video and hi Mike 👋🏽(wave emoji). People get really condescending when it comes to films for some reason. I remember some of those comments on your other video and...yeah... In any case maybe Hollywood shouldn't be so focused on money and more on story, which would help. This is of course ideally speaking. I have lived under capitalism and minored in film studies. I get how things work.

[@mikaelamoody4005]

Tia Nichele hi!

[@belboza2434]

you hyped this video so much on instagram and I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!! all your effort of months really shows :)

[@KelliViti]

Retired Singer/ actress, & wheelchair user from birth. I auditioned in NY from 1990-2003. ( age 22-35 ) In the thirteen years I auditioned, not only wasn't I considered for ancillary character roles. Where disability wasn't the focus ( teacher, neighbor, secretary, boss ). Nine times out of ten, they were shocked I was even at, the open call. All of which might be understandable. If, the character wasn't described as a wheelchair user!! Most of those auditions for the role of a wheelchair user, by the way. Were held on the third floor of a building with NO ELEVATOR!! I lost track of the number of stairs climbed, dragging my chair behind me. I would guess it's about the same as the number of shocked casting director's & producers I confronted. Holding auditions for the role of a wheelchair user in an inaccessible building, speaks for itself. It isn't a lack of talent or disabled actors. For all the lip service paid to diversity. We, / authentic representation, aren't even a thought! I was only seen, because I managed to get passed the barriers. it would have been overtly discriminatory not to allow me to read.

[@hallyhop]

You are amazing, thank you so much for putting so much time and effort into this. The conversation needs to start, it needs to be spread, and it needs to be heard 💜

[@sophiedelacruz2857]

I love the care and research that goes into these videos. I’ve been going on a Princess and the Scrivener binge this evening!

[@sarahshaw-sehgal1146]

I was sent by Cheyenne, and these are wonderful videos that I’ve learned A LOT from. I feel bad that you have to spend so much time explaining yourself in this newer video. I just want to say Thank you!!❤❤❤

[@kristinekemper2899]

Intriguing video, will give me a lot to think about. Thanks for all of the hard work and research you put into this.

[@TheAmityElf]

So glad you’re posting again! And I’m glad you included a clip from the Black-ish episode on depression.

[@jamiekosieracki6947]

I liked the wonder video and I think it impacted how I felt about the greatest showman. It kind of made me feel woke. And as someone with a disability I never even thought that someone who actually uses a wheelchair could play someone using a wheelchair in a movie because it's simply not done.

[@quotelyricshere]

I recommend Speechless on ABC. Micah Fowler who plays JJ is hilarious. Both he and his character have cerebral palsy.

[@mikaelamoody4005]

quotelyricshere Sarah mentioned Micah a good amount in the video she did on this in March :)

[@Julia-301]

I wanted to be an actress for along time but I was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. I feared I wouldn’t be considered pretty enough for a role. In college a sociology professor looked at me during a lecture and said no woman with a disfigurement would ever make it in screen acting (this professor had a disability). This statement reinforced my insecurities and eventually I stopped thinking about acting (I didn’t feel anyone would take me seriously and thought my energy would be better spent elsewhere). I’m sharing this because I agree with the video posted and believe it is well thought out. The media greatly impacts how people perceive the world and therefore how they treat themselves and other people.

[@alyssajohnston7805]

Yay, you're back! And with an important topic too; this one hits close to home

[@ToeIn2194]

I have never seen "The Shape Of Water" so I talked to many disabled people I know(I also have Cerebral Palsy) about whether "The Shape Of Water" was ableist and they made a very interesting point: "The Shape Of Water" is thought of as disability related because there are so few disabled characters/disabled representation, that stories that have paranormal elements and operate on their own logic for the characters bodies as being "disability" related when they are not exactly the same thing. None of my friends viewed "The Shape Of Water" as being ableist because the world of the characters operates differently and felt it was people inserting disability where there wasn't any. "Wonder" and "Me Before You" however were examples of things my friends and I did think were ableist. "Me Before You" especially. "Me Before You" was probably the most ableist thing I have ever seen because the entire message was life with a disability is NO life at all and created super unrealistic circumstances for the characters on every level. I view "The Elephant Man" as more of a time capsule of how disfigurement was viewed when it was made. I agree about casting disabled actors. Disabled actors definitely need more opportunities. There are online projects created by disabled filmmakers and writers like Crip Video Productions cripvideoproductions.com doing just this. Please don't think its super simple to cast disabled actors though. On their Tumblr cripvideoproductions.tumblr.com the creator who has a disability describes some of the challenges of casting Most non disabled media creators have zero idea how to get in touch with a trained actor with a disability because the disabled actors have less exposer and there's not really a database of them yet to pull the information from. Plus if real accessibility is not one of the first thoughts when the production is first designed the disability accommodations become way more expensive later because they are add ons. Yes! I know it is entirely possible to cast disabled actors as characters that were previously able bodied because Crip Video Productions has done it. If it is not possible to cast disabled actors you can still involve disabled people as editors, writers, lighting people, consultants, sound people etc and listen to their criticisms if they come up. As a disabled person my only caution to you is not make people in media feel totally obligated to cast or write a disabled character a certain way because that will result in token disabled characters with no personality or character development. Storytelling must still happen organically not out of PC. The worst kind of disabled character is an empty token one. On a side note, thanks for bringing up the transgender casting aspect and that whole weird Dwayne Johnson thing briefly. My reaction to Dwayne Johnson saying disabled actors should be casted was "Get Off your high horse and give your role to a disabled actor if you feel that way".

[@chammy92]

I really liked all the new transitions and edits! Especially the title cover of the Platte and Prejudice. Very nice!

[@princessplam]

Okay but if these movie people can't even imagine putting in any kind of accommodation, what are the odds their dumb movie is teaching people anything if they don't know anything? LEAD BY ACTION WTF ...

[@shardsobrokenglass]

I glad I've come across these videos! Your bringing to light a topic that most people don't take any time to really consider. Excellent job!

[@ashtonvickers928]

This is the first video of yours I've watched and I'm in love!!!

[@thaliacastro7339]

the wonder video was the first I saw from you/this channel and I was a little put off by it... but I kept watching. I've watched a lot your guys' videos since then and I've really learned and thought about a lot because of it. I've been a ghost watcher but after this video I decided to subscribe and comment because I like to support people who make good stuff and encourage them to continue. You guys are talented and entertaining and warm and very appreciated and deserve to hear it.

[@tiana5395]

Thank you so much for taking the time to restate your thoughts and respond to the criticism. I found this video very valuable in understanding the problem a little more.

[@oniondust]

DAMN girl this is the first of your videos I've ever seen, it's brilliant, it's topical, it's some great analysis, I love you, can't wait to watch more of your stuff, holy CRAP this was great

[@whatisupbruh2738]

I had to unlike the video, just to like it again because I really enjoyed this video! I myself have a disability that isn’t visible at first glance and struggle to find media where I am represented. I think it’s awesome that you made such an informed video for the masses to help everyone’s understand the impact of these choices of actors/actresses.

[@TwoRiversInSpace]

I know you and Paige put so much work into all of this channel but... Mike is my favorite. And hilarious. Thank you for this video.

[@pancakesrcool225]

The pure amount of effort to be as open-minded, well researched and staying within the bounds of what you know (for example not talking about how difficult it may be to live with a disability when you don't have one just to talk about it) is very important and I wish more people would employ it. People without disability, mental illness, who aren't LGBTQ or POC can talk about these issues, but they have to understand their boundaries. They should hear information from those groups to inform and guide their explinations; simply reading a wikipedia article isnt enough. I applaud your tremendous effort, how non-argumentative and aggressive you are to this subject. A lot of times, people aren't willingly ignorant and thus aggression makes them probably become willingly ignorant. Wonderful video 👍🏻

[@meganrwake]

i think i saw a clip from the 5th ave in seattle version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and i appreciate it! i saw the show closing weekend because i had a friend in it, and the use of ASL in the show was amazing! that production in particular reminds me of the comment that actors disabilities will only hinder a production, but in this case especially, i only saw the use of ASL and the casting of a deaf actor as something that enhanced the experience. i have to say that it was one of the most powerful works of theater i’ve ever seen!! i also realize that you were mainly talking about movies here, but i think that the inclusion of disabled and disfigured people in live theater is also important as well, not only casting them in disabled and or disfigured roles, but giving them equal opportunity to audition for other roles as well.

[@Nightman221k]

Thank you for making this video. Honest, it changed my mind completely about this topic and how I'll discuss it next time the issue comes up.

[@BadLactose]

Love your videos! Always look forward to them!

[@rainking1983]

Thank you so much, things I hardly ever see ideas such as these brought up, so it is always nice seeing it in my feed. Being Disabled and a Disability Sociologist I always want to make videos on such topics but have always struggled. So thank you again.

[@ineedmoresleep3728]

Saying that Asians are smart belittles all those who work insanely hard for their good grades and is incredibly toxic to the ones with learning disabilities, but no one thinks of that

[@lauram.9892]

Also, the Phantom was a bit of a psycho who tried to kidnap a woman and force her to love him-even desecrated her father's grave to try to impersonate him. Less sympathetic than the elephant man; way, way more serial killerish.

[@rileydauber5699]

I loved the moments with Mike! So hilarious! Your videos are so amazing :)

[@ngrt3481]

I love you and everything you post. Keep up the fantastic work!