News from Crip Video Productions Producer

The Producer and audio describer of our full length Crip Video Productions/CUNY PSC project co directed by Mary Lynn Navarro is hosting a number of fully accessible online classes! Dylan Rothbein Liberty Coalition is now hosting online classes via Zoom in various subject areas mostly pertaining to music, media and Judaic studies. Dylan Rothbein is a jack of all trades, musician and filmmaker, and disability studies scholar. See here for class types and prices https://dylanrothbein.weebly.com/classes.html Sign up NOW by emailing dylanrothbein@gmail.com

Disabled actors in the UK

During the COVID19 pandemic Margot of Crip Video Productions has had the honor of meeting people internationally via video call like Inclusion in Higher Education Advocacy Group which advocates for students with intellectual disabilities to be integrated into higher education in the UK. During a meeting in June 2021 there was an interesting discussion of disability terms and accessibility in the UK. One term that came up was “social-relational model” which was similar to the concept of social model of disability in the U.S but it acknowledges more of the biological aspects of disability in addition to society access barriers. One of the members in the meeting who had a disability himself mentioned in discussing approaching public figures and actors for their support for the IHE, revealed that actors who are disabled in the UK face many of the same challenges as disabled actors in the USA do, but the ableism is more blatant and casting notices can have sections in them saying particular roles are not open to a disabled performer or not suitable for a disabled performer. At Crip Video Productions we are honored to make our work as widely available as possible online so ableist attitudes and perceptions of what disabled actors can do can be changed so actors can access opportunity. Special thanks to Inclusion in Higher Education Advocacy Group IHE UK. This blog is posted with permission of Inclusion in Higher Education Advocacy Group.

Crip Video Productions films audio described!

This is an archived post from August 2018:

https://youdescribe.org/video/KIZProYn7R4?ad=5b730bb0e6cc7f461fb09d43

http://cripvideoproductions.tumblr.com/post/177003288296/a-stroke-of-endurance-audio-described 

“A Stroke Of Endurance” audio described by Tucker Salovaara 

Synopsis: A film about friendship, faith, and endurance. The story, written and directed by filmmaker, Margot Cole, is about how a college student named Ava, who has Cerebral Palsy and her classmates must deal with varying forms of fall-out when mid-semester, their professor has a stroke that leaves him disabled. 

Starring (in order of appearance)

Margot Cole as Ava

Jorgiana Cole as Ava’s Mom

Syndia Batise as Disabled Student 1

Emma Lemanski as Disabled Student 2

Betty Lewin as Professor 1

David Salsbery Fry as Professor 2

Jill Marrello as Academic Advisor

Tim Snoha as Professor Ben

Mark Pauling as Student 1

Pedrin Villaman as Student 2

Johnny Diodato as Student 3

Krysta Williams as Student 4

Ashley Villanueva as Student 5

Izabela Ginda as Bella

Ketrina Hazell as Alice

Written and Directed by Margot Cole

Story editing by Jorgiana Cole

Casting by Margot Cole

Cinematography by Jorgiana Cole. Additional Cinematography by Tim Snoha, Johnny Diodato, Krysta Williams

Music composed by Walei Sabry

Special thanks to

Kingsborough Community College

Lori Zucker

JoJo Tarnoff 

Super special thanks to Jorgiana Cole 

This film is audio described for blind and low vision viewers. Crip Video Productions is offering audio description on our films for the very first time. Crip Video Productions apologizes for taking this long to provide audio described versions to our blind/visually impaired/low vision fan base. We attempted to add audio description to the films multiple times http://cripvideoproductions.tumblr.com/post/155491546901/learning-to-audio-describe-film    https://plus.google.com/103662816758572885430/posts/QYAUkTfeQQv  Unfortunately the pervious attempts failed due to technical difficulties on my end. Luckily Tucker Salovaara who acted in our film “Crips Not Creeps” was kind enough to use a service called “You Describe” to audio describe the films for us. Special thanks to Tucker! If anyone reading this would like to use the audio described versions for screenings please contact us using our contact page http://cripvideoproductions.com/contact.php our main email cripvideoproductions@yahoo.com or our screenings email screenings@cripvideoproductions.com for instructions and details. 

©2017 Margot Cole  

https://youdescribe.org/video/KLl1NzexjP8?ad=5b71c97f7c83643ee058a9b4 

http://cripvideoproductions.tumblr.com/post/177002764186/crips-not-creeps-audio-described

“Crips Not Creeps” audio described by Tucker Salovaara 

Synopsis: A few months after the events of “Only Those Who Limp Allowed” Brandon and Randy (who both have Cerebral Palsy) are still living together and things are going well, until Brandon gets accused of stalking his ex girlfriend Madison and must prove he is innocent before he loses Randy’s trust and possibly everything else he has ever worked for.

This film is audio described for blind and low vision viewers. Please note that the use of the word “Crip” (which is a shortened version of the word cripple that people in the disability community use as a slang term to refer to physically disabled individuals) is not meant as an offense to anyone who is physically disabled (such as the characters in these films) or mentally disabled, or otherwise. All of the characters in the film who are disabled are portrayed by actors who are disabled in real life. We have full legal permission to use all of the locations seen in the full film. This film has cursing in it and may not be suitable for very young children.

Crip Video Productions is offering audio description on our films for the very first time. Crip Video Productions apologizes for taking this long to provide audio described versions to our blind/visually impaired/low vision fan base. We attempted to add audio description to the films multiple times http://cripvideoproductions.tumblr.com/post/155491546901/learning-to-audio-describe-film 

https://plus.google.com/103662816758572885430/posts/QYAUkTfeQQv  Unfortunately the pervious attempts failed due to technical difficulties on my end. Luckily Tucker Salovaara who acted in our film “Crips Not Creeps” was kind enough to use a service called “You Describe” to audio describe all of the films for us. Special thanks to Tucker! If anyone reading this would like to use the audio described versions for screenings please contact us using our contact page http://cripvideoproductions.com/contact.php our main email cripvideoproductions@yahoo.com or our screenings email screenings@cripvideoproductions.com for instructions and details. 

A Crip Video Production. “Crips Not Creeps” is the sole property of Margot Cole/Crip Video Productions.

https://youdescribe.org/video/zmE3aeMd1yc?ad=5b72fbc17c83643ee058a9d4 

http://cripvideoproductions.tumblr.com/post/177002446116/only-those-who-limp-allowed-audio-described 

“Only Those Who Limp Allowed” audio described by Tucker Salovaara 

Synopsis: The sequel to “Drama Sighted”. Brandon, now 23, is adjusting to life with a roommate named Randy who also has Cerebral Palsy after breaking up with his girlfriend. Randy sets Brandon up on a blind date in an effort to help him move on. Tensions arise as conflicting thoughts on disability, dating, and identity are brought into the open.

Please note: This film is audio described for blind and low vision viewers. The use of the words “Gimp”, “Cripple”, and “Crip” (which is a shortened version of the word cripple that people in the disability community use to as a slang term to refer to the physically disabled such as the characters in these films) is not meant as an offense to anyone physically or mentally disabled, or associated with these films or otherwise. All of the characters in the film are portrayed by actors who are disabled in real life. This film is for educational and entertainment purposes only. We sincerely apologize for any camera shaking which may make it difficult for those prone to dizziness/vertigo or certain types of seizures to watch the film. 

Crip Video Productions is offering audio description on our films for the very first time. Crip Video Productions apologizes for taking this long to provide audio described versions to our blind/visually impaired/low vision fanbase. We attempted to add audio description to the films multiple times http://cripvideoproductions.tumblr.com/post/155491546901/learning-to-audio-describe-film     https://plus.google.com/103662816758572885430/posts/QYAUkTfeQQv  Unfortunately the pervious attempts failed due to technical difficulties on my end. Luckily Tucker Salovaara who acted in our film “Crips Not Creeps” was kind enough to use a service called “You Describe” to audio describe the films for us. Special thanks to Tucker! If anyone reading this would like to use the audio described versions for screenings please contact us using our contact page http://cripvideoproductions.com/contact.php our main email cripvideoproductions@yahoo.com or our screenings email screenings@cripvideoproductions.com for instructions and details. 

https://youdescribe.org/video/WvxTwlzEAYk?ad=5b719fd25673f74614a1e3c6


http://cripvideoproductions.tumblr.com/post/176961547671/drama-sighted-audio-described  

“Drama Sighted” audio described by Tucker Salovaara 

Film Synopsis: A teenage boy with Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy named Brandon learns first impressions can be deceiving when he meets a drama teacher with Juvenile Macular Degeneration(a rare form of blindness)

This film is audio described for blind viewers and open captioned for deaf viewers. The characters in the film who are disabled are portrayed by actors who are disabled in real life. We were advised by someone who has Juvenile Macular Degeneration in real life when making the special effects. The special effects are based solely on this persons’ description of their disability. “Drama Sighted” was originally a one-act play that was performed at BrooklynOne Theater’s “A Playwright Grows In Brooklyn” youth playwriting contest in 2009. “A Playwright Grows in Brooklyn” was a short one act play writing contest for teens created by artistic directors Thomas Kane (who unfortunately passed away) and Anthony Marino of BrooklynOne Theater. Then it was turned into a short film. If you watch the film on Youtube you will see a logo saying “DISLABELEDtv Productions”. DISLABELEDtv was a media organization for and by people with disabilities. All the members had some sort of disability. Their original goal was to make a TV series and other short video projects centered around disability. “Drama Sighted” was one of these projects. Since “Drama Sighted” was a collaboration you may notice some slight style differences from other Crip Video Productions films. In 2012 DISLABELEDtv became “DISLABELED Film Series” http://dislabeledfilm.wordpress.com https://www.facebook.com/DislabeledPhilly which is modeled after the screening series disTHIS. https://www.facebook.com/disthis Once DISLABELED decided that they would no longer be making videos I had to branch out on my own with my own name “Crip Video Productions” “Drama Sighted” is the sole property of Margot Cole/Crip Video Productions.

Crip Video Productions is offering audio description on our films for the very first time. Crip Video Productions apologizes for taking this long to provide audio described versions to our blind/visually impaired/low vision fan base. We attempted to add audio description to the films multiple times http://cripvideoproductions.tumblr.com/post/155491546901/learning-to-audio-describe-film 

https://plus.google.com/103662816758572885430/posts/QYAUkTfeQQv Unfortunately the pervious attempts failed due to technical difficulties on my end. Luckily Tucker Salovaara who acted in our film “Crips Not Creeps” was kind enough to use a service called “You Describe” to audio described the films for us. Special thanks to Tucker! If anyone reading this would like to use the audio described versions for screenings please contact us using our contact page http://cripvideoproductions.com/contact.php our main email cripvideoproductions@yahoo.com or our screenings email screenings@cripvideoproductions.com for instructions and details. 

Crips Not Creeps" upload anniversary archive

This is an archived post from January 30 2016

Crips Not Creeps Upload Anniversary 

Today(January 30th) is the one year anniversary of the day “Crips Not Creeps” was uploaded to youtube! “Crips Not Creeps” now has 541 views on youtube as of this post. Spoiler alert for anybody who has not watched “Crips Not Creeps” . This post may also contain spoilers for anybody who has not seen our other 2 films. Please scroll down on this blog or go to the “Films” section of our website to watch the films.

Crip Video Productions has really come a long way. I guess it started when I met people within the disabled community. Meeting my disabled friends and disabled mentors inspired me in many ways. For the first time, I became interested in the lives of other people with disabilities. I originally wanted to write plays about my experience of being a disabled person. I heard about a playwriting contest in Bay Ridge Brooklyn called “A Playwright Grows in Brooklyn” when my mom took me to see one of their performances. Thomas Kane, the artistic director, suggested  that I write a play for the contest. I wasn’t even sure if I could write a play. My mom, who is also a playwright, promised to help me write the play. I decided to base the play called “Drama Sighted” on a little of myself plus other people I knew, creating a fictional story. I ended up winning the contest which was a huge surprise. A few months after that another friend of mine with CP(who saw “Drama Sighted” performed as a play at BrooklynOne) told me to join a group called “DISLABELEDtv” which made videos about people with disabilities. One day during a meeting at a cafe with DISLABELEDtv one of the other members, Walei Sabry who is blind and has always been a fan of “Drama Sighted”, suggested I turn “Drama Sighted” into a short film. I agreed to the idea. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had to learn the process of filmmaking from scratch. As I have said many times it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I had to cast the film myself, direct it, and eventually find someone to edit the film. I found an editor named Rich Brotman. The person who Lisa was roughly based on was kind enough to describe her blind spot to me so that Rich and I could make a special effect that looked like a real blind spot. Thomas unfortunately died before we finished editing “Drama Sighted”. “Drama Sighted” was uploaded to youtube on October 12 2011. Drama Sighted still gets positive feedback to this day! After that DISLABELED told me to make a special trailer for Drama Sighted to be shown at their first film screening in 2012 with their brand new name DISLABELED Film Series.

Once DISLABELEDtv changed their name to DISLABELED Film Series and decided to screen other people’s work instead of making their own films and media I had to branch out on my own with the name Crip Video Productions as soon as I had decided to go ahead and make “Only Those Who Limp Allowed”. I decided to make this blog and, much later on, my official website to keep all news and events related to Crip Video Productions in one central easy-to-access place. I had to take on a lot more responsibility with “Only Those Who Limp Allowed” compared to “Drama Sighted” like learning how to manage scheduling. I had to find my own voice a lot more with “Only Those Who Limp Allowed” Then I decided to make “Crips Not Creeps”. “Crips Not Creeps” is the first Crip Video Productions film that did not start out as a one act play with a play writing style or format. That’s why “Crips Not Creeps” experiments with visuals more.

I started developing “Crips Not Creeps” just days after I uploaded “Only Those Who Limp Allowed” I knew I wanted to write a fictional mystery plot. I wanted to explore the idea of morals. I wanted to try to have the disability be part of the plot without the disability being the main point of the plot. Frank is a guy who has let his pride and jealously towards Brandon turn him evil. He is smart in a manipulative way and stops at nothing to get what he wants. He feels that his position in the world of disabled performers is threatened by Brandon’s presence. Before Brandon came along Frank would get a lot of attention and had a reputation for being a great actor. Now Frank and Brandon and often compete for similar roles in stage plays. Frank knows that Brandon is more talented than he is, so he feels he has to go to drastic measures to get Brandon out of the way. I wanted it to be clear in this film that Frank is NOT jealous of Brandon over physical abilities. Frank is not bitter over being disabled. Frank just has an intense fear of being replaced. I absolutely hate being falsely accused so I wanted to explore the idea of what would happened to Brandon if he was falsely accused by his able bodied ex girlfriend due to a misunderstanding. “Crips Not Creeps” involved a lot more planning in regards to locations and visuals. I was honored to work with all of the cast and crew. “Crips Not Creeps” quickly became the fan favorite.

Since “Crips Not Creeps” has been uploaded, my films have been getting a lot of attention in the form of good feedback,interviews, reviews, and successful screenings in Santa Fe New Mexico,Kingsborough Community College and through various outreach events. October 2015 was CVP film outreach month. The New Mexico screenings were special bittersweet experiences because I got to see some very old friends who I have not seen in years. I would advise anyone reading this not to take anyone they love in their life for granted. In terms of the reviews, I was able to teach an able bodied girl that CP comes in many forms, not just the most severe forms commonly seen in media and teach her about visual impairments. 

Although I did not mention this in the pervious posts, I met someone who injured himself in such a way that it caused his body to tense up tremendously. His alignment was actually a lot like a person with CP after this happened. He ended up asking me about my physical therapy experiences after seeing my films and I hope I was able to assist him in this area. Like many people I know, he found physical therapy to be incredibly boring. This person was able to look at the films and be encouraged in his road to recovery. Hopefully his bout with spasticity will not be permeant but even if he has continued muscle issues he knows tight muscles and loss of some balancing ability is not the end of the world. Life goes on either way. I think something people have to remember is unlike a person with CP like myself, who are born with a disability, people who become disabled later in life need to adapt to the new disability and may need that extra encouragement that some other disabled people don’t want or find patronizing. I happened to do a talk about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Cerebral Palsy where I met people with types of brain damage that I had never even heard of before, such as brain damage that effects sleep patterns and sensory processing. These types of brain damage are almost completely invisible. I see from meeting these people that these types of brain injury are a night and day difference from my own. These people had to adjust to doing things differently which was emotionally difficult for them because the disabilities happened instantly but they accepted it as just part of life, just as the characters in the films do. I got to meet people with conditions that I hardly understood like diabetes and epilepsy. For whatever reason these people felt that they could share the details of their conditions with me after seeing the films. The person with diabetes told me what low blood sugar episodes felt like. The person with epilepsy told me what a seizure felt like. I’m honored that these people were effected by the films in such a way where they would trust me without even really knowing me. It was a very brave thing for them to do. I also got a message online from somebody all the way in Italy who saw Crips Not Creeps. I don’t know how this person got around the language barrier since my film is in english on youtube but it sounds like he was somehow able to read the open captions in english or translate the open captions to Italian. He said he appreciated my work since he had been disabled through polio. Fans have told me that our films, particularly “Only Those Who Limp Allowed” and “Crips Not Creeps” seem to have the ability to break racial and language barriers. I have been contacted multiple times by both disabled and able bodied film students for advice. One of our actors, Dustin Jones, who plays Frank in “Crips Not Creeps” has also gotten a lot of attention when he appeared in various Uber related TV ads after the films release.  You can view these ads on our google plus page. I have built connections through the films that I never knew were even possible! I hope this continues! I hope to do more films one day in the future and make them even more accessible if possible. 

Only Those Who Limp Allowed

Only Those Who Limp Allowed ©2013 Margot Cole


Only Those Who Limp Allowed audio described version: (available as link,not embed) https://youdescribe.org/video/zmE3aeMd1yc?ad=5b72fbc17c83643ee058a9d4

Synopsis: The sequel to "Drama Sighted". Brandon, now 23, is adjusting to life with a roommate named Randy who also has Cerebral Palsy after breaking up with his girlfriend. Randy sets Brandon up on a blind date in an effort to help him move on. Tensions arise as conflicting thoughts on disability, dating, and identity are brought into the open.

Starring: 

Max Maksimaydis.

Daniel Liriano. 

Rachel Handler. 

Jamie Petrone. 

All actors in this film are disabled in real life.  

Please note: The use of the words "Gimp", "Cripple", and "Crip" (which is a shortened version of the word cripple that people in the disability community use to as a slang term to refer to the physically disabled such as the characters in these films) is not meant as an offense to anyone physically or mentally disabled, or associated with these films or otherwise. All of the actors in the film are disabled in real life. This film is for educational and entertainment purposes only. We apologize for any camera shaking or any problems with the captions.We are aware of the shaking with the camera but due to tripod issues we had to do the whole thing by hand. We apologize for that. Warning! Shaking may make it difficult for people prone to dizziness/vertigo or seizures to view this film. 

A Crip Video Production