Filmmaker Discovers New Perspective on Disability

Emma Buckley's short film, "Anything You Can Do," was commissioned as part of a Melbourne-based youth disability advocacy organization's push to shine new light on disability in society. In the process of making the movie, however, that new light shone clearly for the Australian filmmaker, and she recently shared her experience and insight with Axiom News.

AN: Tell me about how your idea came to be for this video. It is both simple, for example in the way there is no dialogue, yet very complex in terms of the emotion it evokes. For you, what was the best part about seeing the idea come to fruition?

EB: It actually took me a while to come up with the idea for this film. Basically I was commissioned by YDAS as one of four writer/directors to make a short film that addresses the representation of disability in a different way – other than the “inspirational hero” who overcomes their disability at great odds or as the poor victim/object of tragedy.

I worked very closely with the YDAS Working Group, which is a group of young people with disabilities between the ages of 14-25. I got to know some of them and hear their own stories and points of view. Slowly my aim evolved into trying to create a film that didn’t focus on disability so much as just try to tell a simple story about a boy who happens to use a wheelchair and the way this might sometimes affect children’s play. Eventually during this process an image of a cheeky young wheel-chair user poking his tongue out came into my head and in continuing the contest the story came flooding through.

The best part of seeing the idea come to fruition was seeing the two boys bring true character and heart to the roles. Finding Ben, the young wheel-chair user, was a Godsend during quite a difficult casting process. This was his first acting experience but he just totally gave his best and he was a pleasure to direct.

AN: What was the most important thing you learned in the process of making the film, and what do you hope others will take from it?

EB: This will probably reveal some of my own ignorance that I had prior to working on this project, but one of the most surprising and important things I learnt during the making of this film would have to do with my own perceptions regarding people with disabilities.

Prior to working with YDAS I rarely had any contact with anyone with a disability and had never questioned the representation or lack of representation of those groups. So I was excited to work with young people who I had initially thought would have had very different experiences to me growing up.

However right from the beginning of idea development, when I started hanging out with members of the YDAS working group, I was actually surprised by how similar they were to me. Our stories of growing up were often quite similar, although sometimes the details would be different. Now, that statement probably sounds a bit daft really – of course people with disabilities are similar to everyone, everyone is different and living different lives but we all have similar needs, feelings and wants. I think most people understand that in theory, but to be completely honest it still surprised me when I met these individuals. I realized how influenced one can be by societal generalizations about groups of people, and only by exposing such stereotypes with real stories and persistent and honest representation through the media, can we start breaking such widespread misconceptions down.

I guess I hope Anything You Can Do is a small, entertaining step towards that change in perception.

AN: What sticks out in your mind in terms of response? I mean was there a particular moment when a person responded directly to you to share their feelings about your work?

EB: One of the most memorable responses I got was from Rick Randall, the festival director of “Another Film Festival,” Australia’s biggest film festival with a focus on experiences of disability. He rang me up to congratulate me on the film and let me know it had done exceptionally well with audiences, but he had some advice for me regarding the ending. He mentioned that he actually would have loved to have seen Ben in the wheel-chair go down that crazy ramp and face-plant in the dirt. He just cracked up and told me not to be so P.C. (politically correct) next time, that most people with disabilities love the politically incorrect and I just thought that was awesome. It reminded me how my perception of people with disabilities has changed through this process and that everyone loves a good laugh… and a good face-plant in the dirt! And now I can’t watch the film without imagining this new ending.

AN: Can I also ask if you have a personal connection to the movement towards a more inclusive society, or are you simply a person who’s very supportive of social justice, because it’s right?

EB: Although I’m passionate about social justice and working towards an inclusive society, I have to admit that prior to my experiences working with YDAS I never consciously set out to make films with any particular message regarding such ideas. However, I guess I do feel now, as a filmmaker, that it’s important to create work that either promotes ideals of society, or can create a kind of platform that encourages awareness and discussion about such issues. I was really lucky to have had that opportunity through the YDAS Shorts program, and I hope that this film does help to inspire others and promote ideas of inclusion, acceptance and understanding.

Click here to learn more about the YDAS and its short movie initiative.

If you have questions or comments, please contact kristian(at)axiomnews.ca.