When Unfettered

While writing this film in 2018, there was a bit of timidity to allow myself to actually make this film so I paused and thought about what originally drew me to writing this idea. I thought about what all I had learned from people that I had worked with in the past, what all I had learned from simply being around families and friends that had these special children.
What I realized is that, in every experience I’ve had with those with learning differences, I learned more about the human condition and humanity than with years of experiences with societies less “stigmatized,” with those that “fit in.” I realized what I already knew and what actually drew me to this idea. When you strip down human’s ego, you see the beauty of who we are. Kids can be incredibly honest and refreshing, then you meet the kids that don’t even comprehend the very idea of filters. You meet the kids that have already learned that what society deems correct is silly. All of it. And if you let it, their soul speaks to yours. They remind you that life is actually beautiful. That humanity can actually be good.
So I wrote and I reached out to friends with affected family. I showed the script to dozens of parents. I listened and I hope that what I created does some form of kindness to those that taught me so much more than one can express.
So much of that initial fear ended when I met the kids during casting and filming and fell in love. I hope this film makes them as proud as they made me.