November 29, 2004: Headlines: COS - Sierra Leone: Hollywood: Documentaries: Movies: Autism : Syracuse University News: Sierra Leone RPCV Douglas Biklen, working with Oscar-winning filmmaker, releases film on autism
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November 29, 2004: Headlines: COS - Sierra Leone: Hollywood: Documentaries: Movies: Autism : Syracuse University News: Sierra Leone RPCV Douglas Biklen, working with Oscar-winning filmmaker, releases film on autism
Sierra Leone RPCV Douglas Biklen, working with Oscar-winning filmmaker, releases film on autism
Sierra Leone RPCV Douglas Biklen, working with Oscar-winning filmmaker, releases film on autism
SU professor Biklen, working with Oscar-winning filmmaker, releases film on autism
By Matthew R. Snyder
Douglas Biklen, professor of cultural foundations of education, disability studies and teaching and leadership in Syracuse University’s School of Education, is a nationally-known researcher whose studies of autism have advanced the controversial technique known as facilitated communication. Now, he has taken this work to the silver screen as co-producer of “Autism Is A World,” a documentary produced and directed by Oscar-winner Gerardine Wurzburg.
“Autism Is A World” is an inside look at autism through the eyes of 26-year-old Sue Rubin—writer of the screenplay—who negotiates the challenges of autism and a false childhood diagnosis of retardation to become a highly intelligent college junior, a tireless disabled-rights activist and an articulate guide to a complex disorder. The film will be screened in several cities across the Northeast; the following screenings are open to the public:
* Burlington, Vt.: Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. and Nov. 23 at 6 p.m.
Merrill's ROXY Cinemas, 222 College St.
* Cambridge, Mass.: Dec. 5 at 2:30 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 8:30 p.m.
Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St.
* Syracuse, N.Y.: Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.
Westcott Cinema, 524 Westcott St.
(Free screening, sponsored by CNN and State of the Art Inc.)
* Silver Spring, Md.: Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m.
AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd. (RSVP by e-mail: office@stateart.com).
The film will also be screened in January in New York City as part of the filmmakers’ effort to secure an Academy Award nomination.
“Autism Is A World” is narrated by actress Julianna Margulies. It offers an insiders’ look at Rubin’s mind, her daily life and her lifelong struggles with autism—and how, with a means to communicate, she can tell her story. It shows her relaxing and unwinding, and approaching the challenges of living on her own.
“There’s no documentary that’s ever been made to my knowledge in which a person with autism whose speech is severely impaired writes the story, tells the story and gives this insider account of autism,” says Biklen. “Sue Rubin’s accomplishment is absolutely distinctive.” According to Biklen, the movie is a cinema verité account of a week of Rubin’s life. He says, “We followed her around for a week and said we want to look at typical experiences she has in a week … it ended up being more than that. So we get to see her narrating her own life, and she’s captivating.”
Biklen and Wurzburg have collaborated previously, with Biklen serving as Wurzburg’s education advisor on the Oscar-winning documentary “Educating Peter” and on “Regular Lives,” which won a blue ribbon from the American Film Institute.
Wurzburg credits Biklen’s leadership in making the idea for “Autism Is A World” into a reality. “Doug and I wanted to do this film 10 or 12 years ago,” she says. “Doug has been busy bringing the notion of facilitated communication to this country, and it represents a community trying to bring change.” With “Autism Is A World,” says Wurzburg, “we are manipulating reality, as an art form does, but we are doing so honestly in order to take the audience on a journey they otherwise wouldn’t get.”
After the theater screenings, “Autism Is A World” will air in early 2005 on “CNN Presents.” For more information on the screenings, contact State of the Art, Inc.’s Elissa Ewalt at eewalt@stateart.com or by calling (202) 537-0818.
When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:
| Ask Not As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." |
| Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help? |
| The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005. |
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| Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors. |
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Story Source: Syracuse University News
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Sierra Leone; Hollywood; Documentaries; Movies; Autism
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