LAME

After her life goes up in flames, wedding vlogger Lauren turns to her friends for help cleaning up her mess, finding her new normal, and dismantling the nondisabled patriarchy one inspirational meme at a time.

  • Rachel Handler
    Writer
    Committed, The A Doesn't Stand for Accessible
  • Kara Moulter
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Television Script
  • Number of Pages:
    36
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Writer Biography - Rachel Handler, Kara Moulter

Rachel Handler is a filmmaker based in NYC. She won the AT&T Underrepresented Filmmaker Award for her short, “Committed” and the Sundance Co//ab June Monthly Challenge for her script, “The A Doesn’t Stand for Accessible.” Since joining the disabled community she's found a passion for writing, producing and directing; advocating for inclusion in every project she creates. Her writing credits include the award-winning short films, “HOW MUCH AM I WORTH?” “The Housewarming,” “Committed,” "The Vanished," and "Authentically Me" which won the Reelabilities 27 Second Film Competition and screened in taxi cabs throughout NYC. Handler’s short films have screened at Slamdance, Hollyshorts, Bentonville, Heartland, Newport Beach and more. Her TV acting credits include “Law & Order: SVU,” “Goliath,” “New Amsterdam,” “Bull” and “NCIS: New Orleans.” Some of her favorite stage credits include Marian in “The Music Man,” Lady Anne in “Richard III” and Maria in “The Sound of Music.”

Kara Moulter is an award-winning actress, voice artist, and screenwriter with roots on both coasts. In addition to holding an M.S. in Television Writing and Producing from Boston University, Kara works as a production coordinator on the Las Vegas Strip, teaches drama to elementary, middle, and high school students, and is active in improv and sketch comedy; including as a founding member of the Las Vegas based team Das Taco. As a performer, some of her favorite credits include Kate Monster in “Avenue Q,” Jeanie in “Hair,” and Mark’s Mom in “Rent.” A born storyteller, she is passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices and creating grounded comedic narratives centered around unique perspectives.

Add Writer Biography
Writer Statement

Are disabilities and differences assets or obstacles? Over 20% of Americans live with a disability and yet we’re seen in less than 2% of TV roles. Most disabled characters are portrayed as evil villains or inspiring paralympians. Well, our characters aren’t inspiring, or evil. In fact, they’re kind of lame.

Each episode of LAME explores disability as both an asset and an obstacle in a society driven by perfection and labels. Our characters encounter scenarios that raise questions like: Why isn’t government funded public transit accessible to all Americans? Why aren’t my thirst trap Instagram posts catching my ex’s attention? Why doesn’t health insurance cover wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs when necessary? And why doesn’t liability insurance cover animal attacks on sexual freedom retreats in the Catskills? This blending of real issues with quirky comedy is a hallmark of our series.

Disability is the only minority that anyone can join at any time. It’s completely intersectional and yet routinely left out of conversations on diversity. Our characters are diverse not only in their disabilities, but in their ethnicities, belief systems and sexual orientations. The exploration of how much or how little disability defines each of them is central to our series.

We hope LAME will raise awareness of the injustices disabled people face on a daily basis in a way that’s accessible to a broad audience. And we hope that LAME can change the narrative and shift perspectives from seeing the flaws in disability, to recognizing the strength in diversity of all kinds.