Monday, April 7, 2014

Inaugural Disability Film Challenge June 20-22 seeks to empower filmmakers

From the Disability Film Challenge: (You can find them on Facebook here. Video about the project here.)
The inaugural Disability Film Challenge will be a weekend short film challenge will that will take place on June 20th - 22nd, 2014.  The Disability Film Challenge's purpose is to motivate disabled and non-disabled filmmakers to be proactive in the film industry and to supply them with a means of exposure for themselves and their projects.   

It was started by Nic Novicki, a little person actor and producer.  Even with a successful acting career in projects like "Boardwalk Empire" and "Drop Dead Diva," Novicki realized Hollywood doesn't usually like to think outside the box, so he decided to create the roles he wanted to play for himself and began producing his own projects.  

He created The Disability Film Challenge to empower others in similar situations as well as to showcase stories about disability that don't always get told in the mainstream media.  

Entrants will have 48 hours to make a three to five minute film on the topic of disability.  On top of thematic and story rules, entries must include elements that at the very least, acknowledge disability to create awareness of these unique stories that are not being told.     

The winning films will screen at the TCL Chinese Theaters in Hollywood during the HollyShorts Film Festival this August.  

The Disability Film Challenge will also set up mentors for the winning films. Erin O'Marley, one of the producers of "New Girl" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm," will mentor the winner of the Best Film award. 

Max Borenstein, the writer of Legendary’s upcoming "Godzilla" and "Seventh Son," will mentor the winner of the Best Film Maker award. 

Casting director Pam Dixon who cast such films as "The Mask of Zorro," "City Slickers" and "Green Lantern," will be mentoring the winner of the Best Actor award.