When it comes to talking about films that have disabilities in them, it’s often the case that we don’t see as much representation as we could. We have films that tackle a wide range of complex social issues, from sexuality to the nature of human existence, but there are very few films that tackle disability in a real and profound way.
While it is true that disabled characters and films are beginning to make their way into mainstream cinema slowly, 2022 didn’t quite deliver the progress that we hoped it would.
The award for best picture at the Oscars went to a film called CODA. It was a very important film because it honoured the authentic casting of people who had a hearing disability. Historically, the disabled have either been misrepresented or marginalised within Hollywood. To see the change is quite refreshing.
Why we may not expect a massive outpouring of movies about disabled people for a little while, the recent nominations of the Oscars confirmed that progress was slowly happening. Films like “Causeway,” “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” and “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” all had characters who were disabled in some fashion, authentically played by real actors with disabilities.
Generally speaking, the issue with representation for actors with disabilities in Hollywood has been largely a lack of opportunities. For reasons largely unknown, many roles involving characters who have physical or mental disabilities have been filled by mainstream Hollywood talent.
This lack of opportunity has led to serious discontent among the disabled cast of Hollywood actors, many of whom are perfectly capable performers, and would contribute greatly to a motion picture. However, without these opportunities, it would be impossible for many to even know who they were.
The issue is seemingly a lack of effort and coordination when it comes to accurately casting actors who have disabilities or even simply making accommodations for their disabilities. Many actors and directors don’t know how to work with somebody who is hard of hearing, or has a physical disability, because they can affect their creative vision. However, these kinds of films may have to simply compromise on creative vision in order to provide authentic casting.
As disability support workers Gold Coast, we are pleased to see that actors and films about people with disabilities are not only receiving public attention, but also featuring authentic casting. However, we also believe that this isn’t coming quick enough.
There is absolutely no reason why the lead role can be played by somebody who has a physical or mental disability, and to try and simply sidestep the issue by casting mainstream Hollywood talent is not acceptable.
Ultimately, those directors who are prepared to cast disabled individuals in lead or supporting roles are the true heroes of Hollywood, as they are championing a new era of equality. Authentic casting for disabilities is very important for representation among the disabled community, which makes films like CODA all the more important.