Looking to expand on the inclusivity the industry has been striving towards in the last few years, especially in the post-strike environment, the QueerCrip production company IndieVISIBLE Entertainment is announcing an expansion of its Production Accessibility training initiatives with the launch of the Access Instigators program.
Unveiled this past Friday, the Access Instigators program will be led by disabled industry experts and tailored towards disabled crew and creatives. The program aims to cultivate careers in Production Accessibility, a recently recognized film industry space that fosters accommodating production processes and spaces. This work was made possible through the support of the Pop Culture Collaborative Fund, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
The 8-month pilot program will be comprised of up to 10 multiply-identifying disabled trainees, providing them with essential hard and soft skills for practicing production accessibility in professional settings from development through exhibition. The program includes one-on-one mentoring, community building, and hands-on on-set experience, allowing trainees to connect with community and industry leaders and prepare for successful careers in the media industry.
“Disabled creatives have long been at the forefront of integrating accessibility into their production processes,” IndieVISIBLE said in a statement. “In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent union strikes, the broader industry is recognizing that the need for change extends beyond disabled individuals. Production Accessibility benefits all cast, crew, and creatives by fostering an environment conducive to producing groundbreaking content and maintaining safe, sustainable careers. Hiring Production Accessibility roles is a crucial step toward a more compassionate and inclusive industry.”
IndieVISIBLE was founded in 2018 as a QueerCrip-led productions company dedicated to crafting safe and accessible spaces to tell LGBTQ+/Disabled stories through perception-bending genre and experimental media projects. Their recent work includes Apple TV+’s 2023 Emmy-nominated family comedy “Best Foot Forward,” as well as “Patrice: The Movie,” a documentary rom-com shining a light on disability rights activist Patrice Jetter. The latter film will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. With aims of setting a new industry standard, IndieVISIBLE’s projects emphasize accessibility, authenticity, and human wellness.
Applications for Access Instigators are open through September 10. More information and applications are available here.
