[Home-on-the-range] FW: News from the National Office: Blind Americans Protest Refusal of Entertainment Industry to Cast Them

Fri Mar 15 21:13:04 UTC 2019

Hi Everyone,

This is really GREAT!

Susie

-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Garcia <dangarcia3 at hotmail.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2019 7:51 PM
To: Daniel Garcia <dangarcia3 at hotmail.com>
Subject: News from the National Office: Blind Americans Protest Refusal of
Entertainment Industry to Cast Them

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBNet-Members-List [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Danielsen, Chris via NFBNet-Members-List
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2019 12:02 PM
To: Danielsen, Chris
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Blind Americans Protest Refusal of
Entertainment Industry to Cast Them

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Blind Americans Protest Refusal of Entertainment Industry to Cast Them

National Federation of the Blind Comments on Forthcoming TV Series

Baltimore, Maryland (March 12, 2019): The National Federation of the Blind,
the nation's oldest and largest organization of blind Americans, issued the
following statement today from its President, Mark Riccobono, regarding the
portrayal of blind characters and specifically the forthcoming CW television
series "In the Dark":

"The entertainment industry has produced dozens of movies and TV shows
portraying blind characters, usually offensively or inaccurately, and not
even one of them has featured a blind actor in a recurring lead role. If
blind people are included, they play supporting roles, and sometimes there
is a single blind writer or consultant. If organizations like the National
Federation of the Blind are consulted at all, the consultation occurs after
production, and the producers seek validation rather than collaboration. The
forthcoming midseason replacement series 'In the Dark' is no different. Its
producers sought to justify their exclusion of a blind actor from the
leading role in a session full of excuses at a recent conference. These
excuses were inadequate and needlessly dismissive of blind actors. We have
had enough! There are blind actors looking for work, and no sighted actor,
however accomplished or talented, can bring the same insight and
authenticity to a blind character. Sighted actors receiving attention and
awards for portraying blind people is itself deeply offensive. We, and our
lives, are not Oscar or Emmy bait. If the entertainment industry and the
viewing public are interested in learning about us, that is well and good.
But we will define how we are portrayed by taking our rightful place on
America's movie and TV screens.

"We demand that the CW network and the producers of 'In the Dark' withdraw
the finished episodes and re-shoot them with a blind actor in the starring
role. If this demand is not met, we call upon all advertisers involved with
the program to withdraw their sponsorship and urge all Americans to join us
in enjoying other viewing options if the show airs. Furthermore, the
National Federation of the Blind will not endorse or collaborate on any
scripted film or TV series with a blind character if its producers do not
develop a substantive plan to cast a blind actor. Finally, we will actively
oppose and boycott any project where no such plan is in place. We invite the
entertainment industry to work proactively with us to identify and develop
the talent of blind actors rather than focusing on casting sighted actors
under cover of the spurious claim that blind talent cannot be found. The
shameful history of Hollywood defining us without our participation ends
now."

###

About the National Federation of the Blind The National Federation of the
Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest
nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB
consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states,
Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people
of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind
children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the
hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into
reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at
www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org>.

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>

Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.
Director of Public Relations
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | cdanielsen at nfb.org
Twitter: @rlawyer

[National Federation of the Blind]<https://nfb.org/>

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The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.

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