Above Suspicion
This is an old Christopher Reeve movie, from before his accident. In what I consider to be creepy irony, he plays a paraplegic. Sort-of. The basic plot is that there’s this cop who gets shot in the line of duty and paralyzed. Over time he starts thinking that his wife is cheating on him. He decides to kill her. It turns out that he actually is not paralyzed at all or no longer paralyzed or something. So he stands up and shoots her. Then he’s on trial and the entire trial focuses on the angle of the bullet wound and how he would have had to be standing up, but he can’t stand up because he’s paralyzed. In the most ridiculous dramatic act, the opposing counsel stabs a pair of scissors into his leg to prove his point and the cop manages to not...
Read MoreExtreme Ghostbusters
How about something positive for a change, a show that gets it right? In the mid-90s there was a cartoon show called The Extreme Ghostbusters. The idea is that a middle-aged Egon is teaching classes about paranormal stuff at a college when bad stuff starts happening and he recruits his class of four to become a new ghostbusters team. It was a little on the cheesy side, but pretty well written, especially for a spin off. One of the students is Garratt, a fearless adrenaline junkie in a wheelchair. His disability is very rarely mentioned, and no back story or explanation is given for it. There is only one episode where some FBI investigators mention that he was born disabled. He is a classic jock with a big heart, he is always ready to go in first and he’s...
Read MoreWay to go, Lost
Lost I’m being sarcastic. I know I’m way behind on this. I didn’t want to start watching Lost until I knew there was an ending. So I’m just starting Season 2 now. Here’s the scenario, Dr. Jack has a patient whose spine was broken in a car accident. His speculation is that it’s likely the woman will be paraplegic. Woman’s fiancee comes to see the Doctor. “Will she be able to make love?” Suggestive silence. Dr. says, “You should know that there’s a good chance Sara will need full time care for the rest of her life.” “Like she won’t be able to go to the bathroom by herself?” Horrified look on fiancee’s face. Great, Doctor, just great. First of all, the answer to the first...
Read MoreWhere are the disabled actors?
Maybe I don’t understand how TV and movies work, but is it really so hard to find disabled people to play disabled characters? There are so many little examples of disabled characters thrown onto shows or movies for diversity’s sake or for the main plot line and they are always played by non-disabled actors. Some shows hire consultants to make sure they are getting things right, but why hire two people? Why go that extra mile? Why not just hire someone who already knows what that disability is like? This might be a bit or a chicken and egg issue. I imagine there are few disabled actors because there are few roles they are accepted for. To me, the best solution would be for Hollywood to be okay with casting disabled actors for non-disabled roles. That...
Read MoreMystery Diagnosis
I was watching this show a couple months ago and there was a story that really distressed me. Here’s the scenario: A guy, middle aged father, suddenly starts having bouts of paralysis. Some days he wakes up and can’t move his legs, other days he is fine. Since this show is about mysterious illnesses, of course, doctors are having a lot of trouble figuring out what to do. The guy goes on disability leave from him work and sits around at home all day. But the money starts to run out and the guy is trying to figure out what to do. I was watching this with an able-bodied friend and I asked him, what does this guy do? Is he in construction? No, it turns out that he has a desk job that wouldn’t be effected at all by this new disability. He reluctantly...
Read MoreProgress Trackers
At proofreaders; available for pre-order
What Is Meant To Be
Second draft
Homework & Homicide (working title)
Second Draft
Book Montage
RFW winner October 7, 2011
