Twenty percent of the United States population is living with a disability.
Amongst this population are some of the most talented people on earth!
NEWS
Diverse City Entertainment Participates in Laugh Factory Benefit
Diverse City Entertainment acquired Geri Jewell headlines the 2nd annual “Comedians with Disabilities Act” benefit show Nov. 13th in Hollywood.
The benefit show raised money for Los Angeles City College’s Office of Special Services (DSPS) which provides accommodations to students who happen to have a disability.
The November 13th show featured guest star Geri Jewell, the first person with a disability to have a regular role in a prime time series, “The Facts of Life” in the 1980s. In addition to her numerous television appearances, she is a veteran comedian as well as a motivational speaker.
The Comedians with Disabilities Act has a “special” brand of humor that both amuses and informs. The northern California comedians, featuring Michael O’Connell, who has muscular dystrophy, Steve Danner, who is a little person, Eric Mee, who is blind, and Nina G, who stutters, met each other through the comedy club circuit and decided to band together to treat audiences to a unique and unforgettable experience.
“Lots of able-bodied comedians out there tell blind or wheelchair jokes and get the audience to laugh AT the handicapped,” said Michael O’Connell, the group’s wheelchair representative. “But wouldn’t it be more fun for the crowd, we thought, to be invited to laugh WITH the handicapped instead? That’s guilt-free fun right there.”
Their comedy comes from the lifetime of experiences each has had due to their individual challenges. They see performing as not only a chance to entertain, but to educate people on disability issues.
“We’re all comedians first,” said Napa native Steve Danner, the comic who is a little person, “and it’s a comedy show. But who says you can’t make people laugh and send them home with something to think about too?”
Tobias Forrest Inspire’s at YouInspire
Singer/Actor Tobias Forrest showed off his known humor during the YouInspire “A Night of Embrasing Differences In the Media”panel discussion held on October 23rd. Tobias, who refines his craft from a wheelchair started the night by uttering “I thought I was going to be the blind guy”.
The evening’s discussion continued with the same humor as the panel openly talked about the feat of auditioning as an actor with a disability.
Along with Tobias, the panel consisted of Robert David Hall, a 13-season veteran of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and double-amputee; Push Girl, Mia Schaikewitz, who is also a wheelchair user; Breaking Bad co-star, RJ Mitte who was born with cerebral palsy; actor, Mark Povinelli, who is a little person; award winning poet, actor and former world champion of blind judo, Lynn Manning; actor, Chauntal Lewis, who as a result of a traumatic car accident, became an amputee of her left hand and moderator Becky Curran, also a little person.
The direction of the discussion continued on how people with disabilities are perceived by others in the entertainment business. On the subject, Hall expressed, “There are people who fear it and people who think it’s cool”. He asserted, “get over your fear, if you’re rude and obnoxious to everyone, be rude to us!” When conferring to the topic of auditions, Mia added, “It our responsibility to show them we can do it”. The conversation turned to whether an actor with a disability should have to hide the fact. Manning, who is blind, jumped in to make clear, “I can walk into a room with my glasses on, but I will still run into shit!” That remark pretty much summed up the night.
4-Wheel City Performs at National Constitution Center
At a special ceremony, held on July 28, 2012, the National Constitution Center and the Disability Pride Committee unveiled Justin Dart Jr’s wheelchair at a day-long event honoring Disability Pride and the Disability Rights Movement. Diverse City Entertainment talented hip-hop artists Namel "Tapwaterz" Norris and Ricardo "Rickfire" Velasquez of 4 Wheel City were amongst the cross disability performers chosen to entertain at this historical event.
The day’s events also included a Disability Pride March from the center to the Liberty Bell, a special Tom Olin and Harvey Finkle --- award winning disability rights photography exhibition, and guest speakers, including Yoshiko Dart who was Dart’s partner in promoting the rights and empowerment of people with and without disabilities.
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the groundbreaking Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability. Click on the link to read the act in its entirety. http://www.ada.gov/pubs/ada.htm
Sitting beside President Bush on that historical day were two courageous men who helped shape the landmark act, Evan J. Kemp Jr., chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Dart., an advocate who was instrumental in helping to pass the Act.
Dart was an American activist and advocate for people with disabilities. He helped to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and co-founded the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
Dart was born to privilege, he was the son of prominent American industrialists (Walgreens, Rexall, Duracell, Tupperware). Dart contracted polio in 1948 just before he was to enter the University of Houston. After two years in a hospital and limited to wheelchair use, Dart earned his undergraduate degrees in history and education from the university; however, the university refused to give him a teaching certificate because of his disability. Nearly 50 years later, the university honored Dart with the opening of the Justin Dart, Jr. Center for Students with Disabilities, a facility designed for students who have any type of temporary or permanent health impairment, physical limitation, psychiatric disorder, or learning disability.
After graduating, Dart was a successful entrepreneur who founded three Japanese corporations, but in 1967 he gave up the corporate life to devote himself to the rights of people with disabilities.
In 1984, Dart was ordained Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services by President Ronald Reagan and under President George H.W. Bush, he was named to chair the Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. In 1998, Dart received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton.
"The purpose of human society, is to empower every individual to live life to his or her God-given potential,” Dart has said. He certainly did live up to his. Dart died on June 22, 2002 at the age of 71, in Washington, D.C. from congestive heart failure related to complications of post-polio syndrome.
Recently, the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, in which both President Clinton and Bush have serviced as chairman, acquired the very wheelchair Dart used while flanking President Bush during the signing of the ADA document. “We are grateful to be the steward of this important piece of American history and look forward to inviting future visitors to reflect on the inclusive nature of “We the People”, the center expressed upon receipt of the wheelchair, gifted by Dart’s widow Yoshiko.
Diverse City Entertainment was honored to be a part of this historical day!
"The Sessions" now on DVD/Blue Ray.
Check out DCE clients Jennifer Kumiyama & Tobias Forrest in their roles of Carmen & Greg.
If you haven't seen the film yet, it is now available on DVD/Blue Ray. We highly recommend it! http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thesessions/
The Sessions is an independent film written and directed by Ben Lewin and cast by Ronnie Yeskel. Lewin and Yeskel were honored with the Writers Guild of America, West, Evan Somers Memorial Award and the Casting Society of America Award respectfully. The film debuted at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award (U.S. Dramatic) and a U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Acting. It is currently on limited theatrical release. It stars John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy. Keep an eye out for Diverse City Entertainments Tobias Forrest and Jennifer Kumiyama as Greg and Carmen.
The Sessions is based on the true story of Mark O'Brien, a journalist and poet who was paralyzed neck down by polio since his childhood. O'Brien breathed with the support of an iron lung for much of his life. At age 38, he hired sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen Greene to help him lose his virginity.
O'Brien wrote about his experiences with Greene in the article On Seeing a Sex Surrogate published in The Sun magazine in 1990. Lewin, a polio survivor himself, found this article on the internet and read about O'Brien's experiences. Lewin was looking for material on sex and the disabled for a sitcom project, and stumbled upon the article. Lewin explained, "I felt that if I could do on film what he had done to me with his writing, then I could potentially deliver something powerful." While writing the script, Lewin drew from his own experiences with polio and worked closely with Susan Fernbach, O'Brien's partner during the last years of his life, and Cheryl Cohen Greene, the surrogate.
O’Brien also wrote about his life in the book How I Became a Human Being: A Disabled Man’s Quest for Independence and was the subject of the 1996 short documentary Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. The documentary can be viewed at www.snagfilms.com/films/title/breathing_lessons
The Disabled Acting Community Works to End of Decades of 'Invisibility'
Great article by Greg Kennedy in "The National"
As Michael J Fox embraces his Parkinson's for a comedic return to television, the disabled acting community works towards the end of decades of 'invisibility.'
Television drama is all about make-believe - but the days of making us believe that people with disabilities are invisible or don't exist may soon be winding down.
Grass-roots activism by Hollywood unions to write more disabled roles and open up the audition process, a growing awareness that real-life people with disabilities give such characters greater authenticity, plus the electrifying recent news that the beloved actor Michael J Fox is returning to the small screen despite his Parkinson's disease - have re-energised both the debate and thespian hopes.
Read entire story at: http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/television/the-disabled-acting-community-works-to-end-of-decades-of-invisibility#ixzz2CpfwhqF7
DCE talent Kathy Buckley is featured in the powerful calendar "The Fearless Women, Visions & Wisdom"
The calendar evolved out of three Fearless Women® books. The women were chosen because of their passionate commitment to making this world a better place. Many of them have nonprofits and many work in careers that are committed to supporting people achieve their dreams or help with the vision of their business.
These visionary women work with passion and courage to change the world from helping children and parents, to building a village in Africa, to healing women oppressed, burned or abused, to helping families living with Alzheimer’s. The calendar is a fundraiser for all the nonprofits mentioned at the back of the calendar including No Limits for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, where Kathy serves on the Board of Directors. http://www.nolimitsspeaksout.com/
The calendar contains dates and events that celebrate women in history and is a powerful honoring of the women who blazed the trail before us. We hope you enjoy the fearless portraits, the fearless women, their vision and their wisdom and that the calendar will be a visual reminder of the fearless woman that you know you are! Be inspired! Be fearless.
Calendars can be purchase on the Fearless Women store website at:
Cityzen releases three new songs!
Available on itunes.
Cityzen just release three new songs on itunes. The soon to be classics Suicide Groove, Invisible Man and Cultural Vulture can be sampled here. Take a listen. They are amazing!
Kathy Buckley guests on Central Valley Today with Tony Miller.
Kathy Buckley was recently on Central Valley Today show KSEE 24 with Paul Mitchell the School Fresno owner, D'Ann Evans. The two were promoting their charity event at the school to benefit No Limits, a school for deaf children in low income families.
No Limits serves an unmet need in the community by teaching deaf children to confidently speak, achieve, dream, and inspire through its national theatrical program and after-school educational center.
Diverse City Entertainment show's off amazing Rhythm Rack at Abilities Expo!
DCEs Tobias Forrest demonstrated the amazing new percussion instrument Rhythm Rack by Tycoon Percussions at the Abilities Expo Los Angeles
The Rhythm Rack is a patented one-of-a-kind percussion mounting system which allows for players to easily and effectively play multiple mounted percussion instruments at once without ever picking up a stick. Rhythm Rack can be played by people with limited mobility of the hand, people without a hand, and people who are blind to name a few. This unique design allows for every hit to be right on the sweet spot!
Watch the video. It's amazing!
Geri Jewel's autobiography I'm Walking As Straight As I Can is released on CD!
Born with cerebral palsy, Geri Jewell inspired a generation of young people when she became the first person with a disability to appear in a recurring role on prime-time television, with her groundbreaking character, Cousin Geri, on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life. The book’s title — I’m Walking As Straight As I Can — has a double meaning, referring to both Jewell’s sexuality and her extraordinary struggle growing up with cerebral palsy.
This candid memoir details her experiences from her traumatic birth in Buffalo, New York, to her rise to stardom as a stand-up comic to becoming a television star. She documents the harsh realities of show business by recounting the relentless discrimination and abuse she suffered at the hands of people she trusted. Her experiences in the shark-infested waters of Hollywood led her on a journey from the Comedy Store to the White House, followed by a downward spiral, tax problems, drug addiction, marriage, and an accident that nearly claimed her life.
When Deadwood creator David Milch recognized Jewell at a pharmacy, he offered her a role in his new HBO series on the spot, and she began to find hope and happiness once again. I’m Walking As Straight As I Can is an inspiring story, told with grace and self-deprecating humor, one that gives listeners a rare glimpse of true courage and perseverance. To purchase, go to: http://www.brillianceaudio.com/product?i=9474
Steven James Tingus, former White House official for disability, joins Diverse City Entertainment as partner.
Steven James Tingus is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts and advocates on disability, aging and health care policy and is a strong voice for the disability community, fighting for equal access to employment, education, health care, and independent living. Tingus joins Michael Steiner, President of Diverse City Entertainment, as Partner focused on developing new storylines for film and television that accurately portray individuals with disabilities and others with health-related challenges, and through the development of strategic business partnerships to increase the employment of talented individuals with disabilities into all facets of the entertainment industry.
Tingus brings to Diverse City Entertainment his expertise in disability policy and personal experience to help the entertainment industry develop storylines and create characters that resonate with people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. “The entertainment industry can be an incredible ally in creating social change,” Tingus said. “Less than 1% of characters on television and in film represent people with disabilities, yet there are more than 56 million Americans with a disability. I look forward to working with industry leaders to make the business case for hiring people with disabilities onscreen and behind the camera.”
On February 1, 2001, President George W. Bush invited Tingus to The White House to deliver a speech for the unveiling of the New Freedom Initiative (NFI) before members of Congress, the press, and leaders from the disability community. Tingus helped craft the NFI which served as the blueprint for the Bush administration’s policy supporting people with disabilities. In addition, during his term in office, President Bush first appointed Tingus to serve as Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research at the U.S. Department of Education followed by a promotion to Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (Disability, Aging, and Long-Term Care Policy) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as chairing White House task forces focused on disability policy and research.
Tingus was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy at the age of three. With the use of his power wheelchair and the support from his family and community, Tingus was one of the first students with disabilities mainstreamed into the California public school system. Tingus went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees from UC Davis. He has received numerous awards at the federal, state and non-profit foundation level for his leadership in the establishment and implementation of public policies and research programs that enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.