Sunday, April 9, 2023

Writer, Producer, and Director Anna Pakman Brings Authentic Disability Representation (and Plenty of Humor) in New Romance Flick, "Cripfished"

 In celebration of the 10th Annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, founded by Nic Novicki, I caught up with writer, director, and producer Anna Pakman about her new project, a romance film called “Cripfished” which premiered at this year’s festival. Pakman, who has cerebral palsy, is a longtime advocate for authentic disability representation, with “Cripfished” featuring talented disabled performers in both of the film’s lead roles.

 

 Pakman invites us, in her words, to “discover the love story” of Logan, described as a “non-binary serial dater” (Melissa Jennifer Gonzales, “Seeking Alice”) and Amy (Bree Klauser, Apple TV’s “SEE”, “Phreaks” on Audible), a visually impaired disability advocate. Logan, who will stop at nothing to win a date with Amy, pretends to be blind on a dating app, against the advice of (most) of their friends, and hilarity ensues. From this fateful decision, the film’s title is born, with “Cripfished” being a wink to two modern phenomena: “catfishing” and “cripface.” States Pakman, “catfishing, for anyone who doesn’t know or hasn’t seen the popular MTV show, is this online dating phenomenon where people create a persona online but when they show up in real life, they’re someone else completely.” She adds that “cripface,” a practice bemoaned by many in the disability community, occurs when [“they Hollywood filmmakers] cast someone who doesn’t have a disability to play a disabled character,” which Pakman emphasizes will “shut out actors with disabilities from being part of those projects.” 

 

As a writer, director, and passionate cinephile, will have no such thing, adding that the role of Logan is played by an autistic actor and Amy by an actor who is legally blind both onscreen and in “real life.” Authenticity beyond the disability perspective is also important to Pakman, who shared that both characters, who are queer, are played by queer performers. Pakman calls Hollywood’s widespread use of “cripface” “particularly troubling” given that well-known actors (see: Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything”) often go on to win Oscars for essentially trying on an identity while hundreds, maybe thousands, of gifted actors who are actually disabled struggle to break into the business. 

 

While Hollywood has overwhelmingly come to recognize the harm in actors’ pretending to be a different ethnicity, understanding that it is also unacceptable for non-disabled actors to imitate disability has been harder to foster. Says Pakman, “we don’t cast people who are Caucasian as being an ethnic minority and for good reason. One of the things I wanted to show [in my film] is that it’s also not okay to do that with disability.” Pakman credits her cast for helping her ensure the realistic portrayal of identities she does not share, calling the script “a team effort.” She praises Klauser, who is blind, for her insights in creating an authentic blind character.

 

Asked what else inspired her plotline, Pakman recounts a real-life catfish incident during which her date pretended to live in her neighborhood and was later revealed to be visiting from another country. Audiences both disabled and non-disabled will relate given the unpredictable and often absurd cyber landscape for today’s daters. The film’s humorous take of our app- happy social lives, propelled by a diverse female and non-binary cast, is perhaps the ultimate example of modern love. Not so long ago, Pakman and I joke, online dating was only for those looking to encounter an axe murderer. With online dating now mainstream, Pakman adds that technology has both “brought us closer together” and allowed unacceptable behavior, like that of the catfish, “to proliferate.” When presented with this year’s Film Challenge theme of romance, Pakman and her colleagues decided on a comedic tone for the project in an effort to capitalize on the team’s strengths. Featured in supporting roles are internationally renowned comedian Maysoon Zayid (“General Hospital,” CNN), Shashi Bangera, (“Sesame Street,” “Kelly & Kal”), Josey Miller, and Jillian Mercado from hit show “L Word: Generation Q”). Pakman emphasizes that she often tweaks her scripts based on who she feels is the best fit for the role, stating that her characters were originally written as “agnostic” to any disability or sexual orientation. However, when Gonzales and Klauser, both queer disabled folks, proved right for the job, their characters naturally became “queer, female-presenting” people. 

 

Pakman commends the Film Challenge for offering immense creative freedom to its participants and for providing performers with disabilities a gateway to an industry that often excludes them. She notes that casting directors who want to be inclusive but are unsure where to find the talent have begun to reach out to the Film Challenge as a reliable source for those seeking quality disabled creatives. 

 

Pakman’s commitment to disability inclusion does not end with authentic casting. She also worked diligently to create a COVID safe set, which she calls an access imperative for a community composed of many high-risk individuals. While not all disabled people are high risk, she likens her determination to be COVID conscious to “building a ramp”. Not everyone needs a ramp, but a ramp ensures everyone can participate. Similarly, her safety measures ensured that all individuals could be on her set, including those at greater risk of poor COVID outcomes, including herself. She cautions that no one should be “complacent” given the potentially devastating risk of severe symptoms or post-COVID sequelae, referred to as Long COVID.

 

On set precautions included the use of high-quality masks, testing, and a HEPA filter. Pakman calls these measures a “small investment” with the hugely important payoff of keeping the cast and crew safe. The COVID era has also illustrated the unique value of remote appearances, which allow film crews to work with a wider array of talent, including those who “just can’t be in your location” or have difficulty traveling. 

 

When pressed about the takeaway message of “Cripfished,” Pakman said she hopes moviegoers with and without disabilities will feel “pride in who they are.” She feels hopeful about the future of disability representation in the media but laments a still miniscule number of disabled folks in the writers’ room for popular movies and television shows. She is quick to emphasize that disabled folks can provide critical insight not just on disability, but on any and every topic and in any and every role. Pakman wants to see people with disabilities recognized for the full range of their human experiences and feels that “we won’t have true equality” until a disabled actor can come in and “read for any role.” Those who are skeptical should be reminded, she adds, “that people with disabilities are everywhere” and belong in every place from schools to hospitals to business offices and cashier counters. 

 

Audiences can “swipe right” on “Cripfished” beginning April 8 by going to the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMRMCKPmKPg .The film has open captions, with audio description coming soon. 

 

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Cripples At Christmas 2022

 Happy holidays everyone! Please enjoy this year's Cripples At Christmas cartoon collection.

Image description below each corresponding photo. 

A 2022 Hess toy truck has an accessible symbol on the side. Advertisement bubbles say, “Remote control lift!”, “Working tie downs!”, and “Comes with free simulated calls to an incompetent lift repair service!” A final bubble says, “Only $1000!”

1.     The most authentic feature of the new wheelchair accessible Christmas Hess truck was the wildly inflated price tag…

Image decription: A 2022 Hess toy truck has an accessible symbol on the side. Advertisement bubbles say, “Remote control lift!”, “Working tie downs!”, and “Comes with free simulated calls to an incompetent lift repair service!” A final bubble says, “Only $1000!”


A spooky ghost shouts, “I am the ghost of ailments past!” Various gift boxes are marked with different ailments such as “Phantom pain from bygone ulcer,” “Tripped over nothing—twisted knee,” “Breathed wrong—hurt back,” “Pulled neck rolling over in bed,” “Weird knee pain from last July flaring” and “Surgical hardware that still produces wildly uncomfortable tingling.” A wheelchair user stick figure in a night cap says, “Shit, this is scarier than the original!”

2.  As Christmas approached and the weather grew colder, adults with CP found themselves visited by a much different ghost than the one haunting Scrouge…

Image description:A spooky ghost shouts, “I am the ghost of ailments past!” Various gift boxes are marked with different ailments such as “Phantom pain from bygone ulcer,” “Tripped over nothing—twisted knee,” “Breathed wrong—hurt back,” “Pulled neck rolling over in bed,” “Weird knee pain from last July flaring” and “Surgical hardware that still produces wildly uncomfortable tingling.” A wheelchair user stick figure in a night cap says, “Shit, this is scarier than the original."


A bewildered Santa exclaims, “Ho Ho Ho-ly shit! What happened here?” A wheelchair user elf surrounded by beads says, “OK, so I dropped a few beads…”

3. An uptick in requests for beaded jewelry kits at Santa’s workshop had the disabled elves suffering major flashbacks to occupational therapy…

Image description: A bewildered Santa exclaims, “Ho Ho Ho-ly shit! What happened here?” A wheelchair user elf surrounded by beads says, “OK, so I dropped a few beads…”

A nutcracker with a tall hat and mustache states, “OK, so it’s Easter… a walnut’s a walnut. You get the idea.” A skeptical Easter bunny with a decorated egg looks on…

4.   The nutcracker with CP was still working on cracking a walnut from last holiday season…

Image description: A nutcracker with a tall hat and mustache states, “OK, so it’s Easter… a walnut’s a walnut. You get the idea.” A skeptical Easter bunny with a decorated egg looks on…


A webpage heading reads, “Santability: Our new search feature for accessible rentals!” Available filters include, “Filter by: ‘price low to high,’ ‘location,’ and ‘wheelchair access.’” The wheelchair access filter returns zero results and a cheery “Merry Christmas!”


5.  Despite the new “accessibility filter,” the disabled gingerbread man failed to find a single wheelchair- friendly rental on the North Pole Airbnb site…

Image description: A webpage heading reads, “Santability: Our new search feature for accessible rentals!” Available filters include, “Filter by: ‘price low to high,’ ‘location,’ and ‘wheelchair access.’” The wheelchair access filter returns zero results and a cheery “Merry Christmas!”


While music notes float by, one goose states, “ The only ‘a-laying’ I’ll be doing is a-laying in bed!” Another replies, “Agreed.” “Have you seen the Motrin?”

6.  On the sixth day of Christmas, the geese with chronic pain interpreted “a laying” quite differently than most…

Image description: While music notes float by, one goose states, “ The only ‘a-laying’ I’ll be doing is a-laying in bed!” Another replies, “Agreed.” “Have you seen the Motrin?”

Seven disabled swans are surrounded by music notes as they swim past various bills (wheelchair parts, Rx meds, physical therapy, overpriced bandages, and Miralax). One says, “I was hoping for a leisurely dip,” and another sighs, “Time to start a GooseFundMe.”

7.     On the seventh day of Christmas, the disabled swans found themselves “a-swimming” in medical bills…

Image description: Seven disabled swans are surrounded by music notes as they swim past various bills (wheelchair parts, Rx meds, physical therapy, overpriced bandages, and Miralax). One says, “I was hoping for a leisurely dip,” and another sighs, “Time to start a GooseFundMe.”

Several ambulatory stick figures shout insults at two wheelchair user stick figure maids a milking such as “benefit scrounger!” and “Free loader.” Nearby cows awaiting milking shout, “benefit scrounger!” and “Mooooooch.” One wheelchair user says, “God, even the cows are ableist.”


8. On the eighth day of Christmas, the disabled maids were met with unfounded accusations of “a- milking” the benefits system…

Image description: Several ambulatory stick figures shout insults at two wheelchair user stick figure maids a milking such as “benefit scrounger!” and “Free loader.” Nearby cows awaiting milking shout, “benefit scrounger!” and “Mooooooch.” One wheelchair user says, “God, even the cows are ableist.”


An angel ornament lies on the floor near a Christmas tree with a gift. The angel says “Damn it! Not again…” An EMS firefighter stands nearby and says “Uh… this is awkward. I think you went to my high school…”

9.  After falling off the Christmas tree multiple times, the gimpy ornament was forced to purchase a Life Alert system…

Image description: An angel ornament lies on the floor near a Christmas tree with a gift. The angel says “Damn it! Not again…” An EMS firefighter stands nearby and says “Uh… this is awkward. I think you went to my high school…”


A plane from Toybox Airlines sits on the runway. Nearby, a flipped over wheelchair is surrounded by flames. A “TSA Cares” agent states, “There’s been a slight accident.” From within the plane, Barbie’s speech bubble says, “What do you mean three tires are missing?”



10.   Wheelchair Barbie instantly regretted traveling by plane for her Christmas break trip…

Image description: A plane from Toybox Airlines sits on the runway. Nearby, a flipped over wheelchair is surrounded by flames. A “TSA Cares” agent states, “There’s been a slight accident.” From within the plane, Barbie’s speech bubble says, “What do you mean three tires are missing?”




A group of dilapidated gingerbread people, missing limbs and using candy canes to walk stand by a sign welcoming them to the Candy Pains Support Group. The speech bubbles say respectively, “If I have to fill out one more pain scale, I’m gonna throw a gum drop,” “No, I’m not buying cinnamon incense!” and “Yes, I’ve tried yoga.”


 11.     Following a historic increase in accidents among gingerbread people, membership in the                 North Pole chronic pain support group, Candy Pains, was at an all-time high…

Image description: A group of dilapidated gingerbread people, missing limbs and using candy canes to walk stand by a sign welcoming them to the Candy Pains Support Group. The speech bubbles say respectively, “If I have to fill out one more pain scale, I’m gonna throw a gum drop,” “No, I’m not buying cinnamon incense!” and “Yes, I’ve tried yoga..."


A bamboozled Mr. Potato Head with a missing arm and a teddy bear stand surrounded by beer cans, bottles of North Pole Pale Ale, spiked coca, and bottles of Jingle Juice. Mr. Potato Head says “Damn it. Already used my replacement arm when the dog ate my first one this summer.” The teddy bear replies, “Dude, what did we do last night?”


12.     After a wild night in the North Pole for the annual Christmas toy reunion, Mr. Potato Head was feeling the consequences of SantaCare’s “one limb per lifetime” policy…

 

Image description: A bamboozled Mr. Potato Head with a missing arm and a teddy bear stand surrounded by beer cans, bottles of North Pole Pale Ale, spiked coca, and bottles of Jingle Juice. Mr. Potato Head says “Damn it. Already used my replacement arm when the dog ate my first one this summer.” The teddy bear replies, “Dude, what did we do last night?”


 

Friday, December 31, 2021

New Year's Eve Makes Me Sad (But I Like the Snacks)

 

For Joyce Lydon, forever loved and missed.

I’ve always found New Year’s Eve to be very sad. It breaks my heart and feels so strange to think about starting an entirely new year without the people we’ve lost; kind of like we’re continuing some weird journey while a bunch of people we love are waving as we look out the rear window, as if to say “I gotta stay here.” I imagine them getting smaller and smaller as I move forward, like when I would leave my grandparents house as a child. My grandparents would line up on the driveway, waving, waving as the car pulled away until they were just dots on the horizon. 

 

There’s a cruelty to it, writing a year on a page that people you love won’t, adding to that unwanted collection of years in which they are nowhere in the world. Nowhere and everywhere and nowhere all at once. 

 

The thought of more time and space coming between us, so formally marked by a turned page, has always stirred a certain melancholy in me and a wish that I had studied the fine details of their faces for longer, taken more pictures, been able to do that lunch date we hoped for “when things get better.” We all, I suspect, have some unfinished plans with the people we’ve lost, and no platitudes like “they lived a good long life” can truly soften the blow. Of course, there is also the brutal truth that so many lives should have been much longer. 

 

I don’t think I will ever fully escape the New Year’s Eve feeling that I am leaving someone behind when the hands of time cross over the bridge of midnight. The folks waving as the car pulls away will never be “here” again in the way that I want or wish. 

 

Yet I know we never truly leave or lose people we love. The way we hold onto them now is different. I won’t try to tell you it’s just as good. But the fact is that we hold them still, and no clock inching forward or popped champagne bottles or midnight kisses can change that.

 

To all my beloveds who have “hopped out of the car” this year and each year before that, I will always grieve for you. Part of me will always look for you in the grocery store, hope it’s you when the phone rings, yearn for the feeling of your hands. But since you can’t walk with me into this new year, I will carry you. 

 

And everywhere I go, I will share the joy that was you. 


Is you. 

 

Always will be you.

 

 And I will shout into the wind that you were real. 

 

You were real and you loved me. 

 

When I watch the night become the dawn, the first dawn of this new beginning, you will be nowhere and you will be everywhere. But mostly, you will be everywhere. I will make sure of it.



Me and my late friend Joyce smiling at a camp dance. I have a red t shirt and she has a green jersey and cowgirl style hat
                                            ID: Me and my late friend Joyce smiling at a camp dance. I have a red t shirt                and she has a green jersey and cowgirl style hat