Disabled Artist Showcase:Creating Our Spaces (20)
We examine the work of four disabled musical and film artists living with Cerebral Palsy and SMA (Spinal Muscle Atrophy) who are helping to lead the movement that is advocating for inclusion of more disabled artists in the music, film and entertainment industries. Their extraordinary talents are showcased for all to see.
Their advocacy work for disability inclusion leads them on a difficult path demanding more access for disabled creators. They use their creative gifts to make their statements and to move their work forward.
We showcase their talents and messages in this film produced and directed by disabled filmmaker Emmitt H Thrower.
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Emmitt ThrowerDirectorWhere is Hope:The Art of Murder
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Emmitt ThrowerProducerWhere is Hope:The Art of Murder
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James IanKey Cast"self"
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Dominick EvansKey Cast"self"
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Leroy Moore Jr.Key Cast"self"
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Keith JonesKey Cast"self"
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Project Type:Documentary, Short
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Runtime:19 minutes 58 seconds
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Completion Date:October 31, 2022
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Distribution Information
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Rare Outreach Coalition LLCDistributorCountry: WorldwideRights: All Rights
Emmitt is an award winning disabled filmmaker who is a stroke survivor with impaired vision. His award winning documentary "Where is Hope: The art of Murder" on the subject of police brutality against people with disabilities is available in libraries , universities and colleges worldwide.
He has produced and directed other documentaries such as “Happy”, a feature documentary about life at a Bronx senior citizen center.
"New Borning: The Creactivist" is a short documentary about a photojournalist from Prague' and her journey of discovering the Bronx, New York. Jana Hunterova an international award winning photojournalist had so badly wanted to experience the Bronx for herself. We were brought together and we explored the Bronx in this collaboration. Through my activism work and my creativity she created a story through her lens.
“For the Love of Ebony” is a feature documentary about a Bronx child who was abandoned in a Bronx shelter by her drug addicted mother. Her journey of survival and trauma.
“ Silent Sellers” is a short documentary about the struggle of street vendors in the South Bronx trying to survive. They resort to renting expensive vendor licenses from the black market just to make a living and to care for their families.
“Soul of a Priest” is a feature documentary that tells the story of a Bronx poet/artist who was raised in a foster home struggling with alcoholism and self hate. He pours his emotions into his art. He is stuck mentally at a distant time during the turbulent 1970's.
“Disability and Cultural Activism” is a feature documentary that chronicles the efforts of a disabled poet/artist/activist and Bronx native in his fight against police brutality against people with disabilities. He is using hip hop music and poetry as a tool for his activism. We chronicle his efforts in organizing disabled musicians worldwide to create a CD around the subject.
Emmitt was awarded the 2016 BRIO Award from the Bronx Arts Council for his excellent film work as well as receiving "The Independent Spirit Award" in culture.
Creating film, for me, is the revolutionary process of communicating ideas and concepts that remind us that we are human. As humans, we all differ, but at the same time, we share a common humanity.
Our views of the world are formed by our personal experiences. that moves us forward towards a better understanding of the world we live in.
We escape the confines of our own skin by exploring our world through open eyes and taking on new challenges. This allows us to view our environment in broad and exciting new ways. We are reshaping who we are and uncovering the true nature of our relationships.
When we are acting outside the confines of our personal histories it encourages us to grow. Changing our point of view can reveal original ideas and concepts. So that we are able to develop a deeper understanding of who we are as a community.
My film work revolves around breaking down old boundaries and actively contributing to an ever-evolving view of ourselves. I am a storyteller using images, words, and sounds to explore our stories of failures and successes.
I do it all from a uniquely different angle that is based on my own worldviews, my own limitations, and my own life choices. My films may at first seem familiar but by digging deeper you will uncover the uniqueness, impactfulness, and sometimes outrageousness. The films however always remain entertaining.
I aspire to teach about the diminishing art of human interaction. We are as a society losing our grip on the value of real human interactions. I want to break us out of our technology-based relationships and return us to real human personal interactions.
Films remind us that the life stories that we each are living are not pre-written or old reruns. They are original scripts that we can edit and re-work in a way so as to steer the outcome towards our true desires and passions.