I heard about
the book, Retards, Rebels & Slackers
www.jainabell.com, by Jaina Bell
as Dov and I were finishing, Won't Anybody Listen.
www.anybodylisten.com I
had been working on another screenplay and was doing research for a
developmentally disabled character when a mutual acquaintance put me in
touch with Jaina Bell. Bell had just finished a book based on her nine
years of experience as a staff member in group homes. I was immediately
taken with Jaina's book and its detailed and personal story. I put
everything else aside and set about obtaining the motion picture rights
for the book.
A week after completing the agreement, the book
received a mostly positive review in a psychology journal. A vicious
hate e-mail campaign that immediately followed could only have been in
response to that review. It was apparent that the letters were coming
from people who had not read the book and were merely reacting to either
the (politically incorrect) title or to incidents from the story that
had been mentioned out of context in the review itself. This was my
first warning that I had entered a truly volatile territory.
The next indication of controversy I was to face came
when I decided to create an audio version of the book. I wanted to raise
the visibility of the project, and being a big fan of audio books, I
sent a copy of the first chapter to a few voice actors I thought might
be interested. When none of them responded I was dumbstruck. I saw this
as a very unique and artistically challenging opportunity. Why weren't
they interested? Upon investigation I found that able-bodied actors were
uneasy creating voices for the very "un-Gump-like" language and attitude
of the developmentally disabled characters in Jaina's book.
Undeterred, I was convinced there was a great value in
telling the story as Jaina had written it. A genuine truthful glimpse
into the lives of a small group of intellectually disabled characters
that was not patronizing or absurdly unrealistic. It was hard to name a
film that had an intellectually disabled character that wasn't
one-dimensional. What seemed to be missing from film and television was
either the wisdom or the courage to portray the intellectually disabled
as realistic characters who may misbehave, get angry, act out
frustrations, long for acceptance and companionship, feel and sometimes
act on sexual feelings - in other words, act like human beings.
After being alerted by a friend who had
heard of it, I attended the Perspectives International Film Forum held
at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood. The Forum featured an exciting and
diverse program of domestic and international features, documentaries
and short films that explored the lives of people with developmental
disabilities. Each screening was followed by a lively and
thought-provoking discussion between the filmmaker, a disabilities
expert, and the audience. I stood up during the first panel discussion
and asked how a producer could obtain a valid release from an actor who
was developmentally disabled. Just having seen what was involved in
obtaining "errors and omissions" insurance on Won't Anybody Listen, I
had learned that each and every person appearing in a film must sign an
airtight release of rights. Without the proper releases the film would
be "uninsurable" and thus "un-releasable." The "panel" explained that
under California law, if an intellectually disabled person was of legal
age, and not conserved, they could sign a legal agreement on their own
behalf. After the "panel" representatives from the Lantermen Regional
Center, Easter Seals and Downs Syndrome Association of Los Angeles
sought me out.
This gave me an opportunity to bring up issues that
were weighing heavy on my mind. I had strong feelings about wanting to
preserve the spirit of the book. Doing that would require going against
the Hollywood formula of making intellectually disabled characters a
"walking angel" that changed everyone's lives or the "unlikely genius"
that saves the day. Making the film true to the book would require
portraying the motley group home staff with its politically "INcorrect"
language (as well as their hearts of gold), and "behaviors" by the
"clients" that included adult language, public disruptions, and physical
violence. I also wanted to use real intellectually disabled actors. I
knew the integrity of the story would prevail and that the movie would
stand on its own, however I was worried that isolated scenes or
incidents from the book could be taken out of context and misunderstood
by well meaning family and friends of the developmentally disabled.
All the representatives looked at me with knowing
smiles and handed me their cards. They assured me that what they
supported was multidimensional portrayals of intellectually disabled
characters. They were also very supportive of using intellectually
disabled actors to play the roles. They promised to help me with letters
of support. After exchanging contact information I left the forum
feeling heartened and newly energized.
Press Resources Netflix Press Release Home There's No Place Like "A Home" Retards, Rebels & Slackers Mailing List