Who's Missing From Your Story?
A decade ago, my niece — who is hard of hearing — led me to produce a horror short about a deaf child whose mother was possessed. It was deeply personal. And it opened my eyes to something the industry still hasn't fixed.
Stories centering differently abled people are rare. Hiring differently abled actors and crew is even rarer. We live in a world full of people who look different, move differently, and experience life differently from us — yet we keep writing characters who only mirror our own experience. That's not just a missed opportunity for representation. It's a missed opportunity for better stories.
I challenge you: step out of your comfort zone. Include a character who is integral to your story, whose life is drastically different from your own. Do the research. Talk to people. Get it right. You'll be surprised by what it does for your story — and for the community of people who finally see themselves on screen.
Who's the character you're not writing because you're afraid to get it wrong? Drop it below. Let's figure out how to write them right.
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Who's Missing From Your Story?
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