Trailblazers in Film: The History Making Movie 'Daruma'

A Long Awaited Journey for Disability in Cinema: Inclusion, Innovation and Unveiling 'Daruma' In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia Anderson welcomes actors Tobias Forrest and John W. Lawson to discuss their latest film, 'Daruma.' This film is making cinematic history by featuring two lead actors with disabilities in a narrative that isn’t centered on disability. Tobias and John share their seven-year journey in making the film, the importance of authentic disability representation, and the impact they hope 'Daruma' will have on the entertainment industry and beyond. The episode delves into the significance of perseverance, the power of community, and how the film industry can be more inclusive. Viewers are encouraged to support 'Daruma' by checking out the trailer dropping on November 8th and streaming the film, available on Amazon starting November 15th. Key Topics Discussed 🎬 Groundbreaking History in Hollywood 🌟 Authentic Representation and Well-Written Scripts 🌄 Challenges and Daily Life 🤝 The Power of the Disability Community 📊 Disability in Media Representation Statistics 🌐 Inclusivity in Daruma ❤️ Impact and Heart of Daruma 🎥 Industry Improvements and Inclusion 🌍 Global Casting and No Excuses 🎎 Daruma Doll Tradition 😂 Humor, Heart, and Personal Reflections 🌉 Broader Audiences and Bridging the Story of Disability in Movies ☀️ Optimism and Altitude Final Thoughts An Episode Timeline 00:00 Introduction to Pushing Forward with Alicia 00:25 Meet the Groundbreaking Actors of Daruma 01:43 The Journey of Daruma: Seven Years in the Making 04:14 The Power of Authentic Representation 06:43 Behind the Scenes: Challenges and Triumphs 10:33 Advocacy and Progress in the Entertainment Industry 12:38 Daruma: Release Details and Audience Engagement 14:54 The Importance of Inclusion and Representation 26:16 Final Thoughts and Inspirational Messages Quotes from Toby and John: “The power of entertainment is: one, to educate society, and two, to inspire conversations.” ~ Tobias Forrest “It’s just $5.99—yes, less than your morning latte. And those are metrics that we can then go back to studios and say, look at this film.” ~ John W. Lawson Learn more about and Connect with Tobias and his Favorite Organizations Tobias on IMDb | Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation | Media Access Awards | Tobias on Instagram Connect with John W. Lawson @jwlawson57 | John on Facebook | John on IMDb | John on LinkedIn Connect with Alycia: Feedback | Instagram | LinkedIn | Book Alycia for Speaking | Book Alycia to Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism | Alycia’s DEI Micro Learning Video Series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices