Kapital Entertainment Opens Hollywood’s Doors to Developmentally Disabled
”Making it” in Hollywood is hard enough, but those with extra challenges can face an even harder time breaking into the business. Aaron Kaplan, founder of Kapital Entertainment — the production company behind Fox’s Terra Nova and ABC’s upcoming GCB – is giving Hollywood hopefuls with developmental disabilities a chance to shine.
Kaplan has teamed with Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films to staff two of his pilots, NBC’s Daddy’s Girls and ABC’s untitled Dan Fogelman project, with graduates from Inclusion Films, a workshop that teaches adults with developmental disabilities such as autism, Down’s syndrome and cerebral palsy, how to create short films.
“When I heard about the inspiring work that Inclusion Films is providing to adults with developmental disabilities, I reached out to Joey immediately,” said Kaplan. “We’re thrilled about providing these graduates a real-world opportunity and equally excited about the skills they bring to our team.”
The 20-week workshop guides students through the process of writing scripts, building sets, using film and editing equipment with the help of professional production crews. The goal of Travolta’s workshop is to help those disabled adults obtain employment in the entertainment industry.
Flavia commented:
I work in a state prison I have just rnruteed to work for the 2nd time after 2 bouts of lung cancer. I received accomodation from the 1st bout of cancer in being allowed to bring in alcohol based hand sanitizer into the facility. When I rnruteed this time I was denied the accomodation. It is also noticible that management is not keeping the handicapped staff parking area clean from snow and ice as they are for management, handicapped visitor, visitor and other staff parking. At one time disabled staff were allowed to enter the Officer's Dining Room on their way to their worksite to get fruit and take it to their worksite. A lot of the handicapped staff because of the size of the facility and the distance we have to walk go to their workstation and do not leave it again until their workday is over. This accomodation is not being allowed anymore and shows disparity because others who are not handicapped can walk to the Dining Room on their lunch period and return in the allotted amount of time for lunch.