Hollyshorts 2019 – Human Helper
In the near future, artificially intelligent robots, otherwise known as human helpers, are a regular part of life. However, they're not very inclusive. Dr. Rachel Hubbert and her assistant Tony have made it their mission to make them not ableist.
Interview with Director Shaina Ghuraya
Watch Human Helper on Facebook
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The Rebuilt Minds team made this short film for the three days Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, where the genre this year was Sci-Fi. Our mission is to embrace diversity and explore intersectionality, so naturally, this competition felt perfect for us to enter to create a meaningful yet entertaining film. As the first production of our film company, it also gave us the opportunity to really put our skills to use for a cause that we can all support - the awareness of content that includes people with disabilities. Personally, as a filmmaker with a disability, Easterseals was more than a challenge, it was a celebration of the skills and talent that so many undiscovered people with disabilities have.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Producer Kittsie Klaes and I both love comedy, so we knew we wanted this to be funny. We also wanted it to have a meaningful social message and felt that through comedy we could entertain to get a wider audience. Our cast also has amazing comedic timing. So if you want to watch a film that will put a smile on your face, check out Human Helper.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Our whole film centers around the theme of acceptance. Whether that is the acceptance of the outside world or personal acceptance, we cover both. A question we ask is, how can we expect others to accept us when we don't accept ourselves?
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Even though we only had a couple of days to write the script, it went through about 10 revisions. I would churn them out and our producer Kittsie Klaes would give feedback and we would keep it going until we were both happy with it. The essence of the script or the characters never really changed, the jokes just became funnier and every element started to become representative of the disability experience. The script changed again on set once we saw our location and knew what we had to work with. The challenge this year was Sci-Fi, and to do that with close to no budget was a hard task. Our brilliant production designer Rohil Khatke made it happen and transformed our location so that we didn't have to make too many changes to the script. But because the space was tight, there were a lot of angles that we had to compromise on. Our amazing Director of Photography, Ariel Cantrell, along with First AC, Abhichoke Chandrasen ensured that we were still getting the footage that was important to tell the story. Davy McCall, our First AD, also had the idea to go handheld with the camera to bring about a documentary type feel which was a compromise that helped tell the story better. Our actors also improvised on set, leading to some great jokes that really took the film to the next level.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We have received really positive feedback so far. Obviously, with a 3-day film challenge, not every aspect can be perfect, but we set out to make a film that would make people laugh while raising awareness of issues people with disabilities face. And we accomplished just that. I am so proud of our entire cast and crew who gave their 110% and believed in this vision.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The amount of positive feedback and people who have watched it has really just surprised all of us. We never realized how much of an impact we could make with a film that we made in three days, and it makes us excited to think about the social impact we can have with a feature film.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I'm hoping that our film, of course, can spread awareness towards the issues people with disabilities face but also, the sheer amount of talent we have to offer. I am also hoping our company, Rebuilt Minds, can gain more visibility so that we can raise some money to keep making meaningful and entertaining content.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We would love if buyers, distributors, film festival directors and journalists would come on board to help spread this film's theme.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We would like this film to make people more aware and sensitive to the obstacles people with disabilities face.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
A key question that would spark debate is even though we are progressing at exponential rates in terms of technology, are our social norms and acceptance as a society also progressing at the same pace?
Would you like to add anything else?
We are so incredibly appreciative of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge and Hollyshorts, and cannot wait to do it again next year. Easterseals is an incredible opportunity and we hope that other filmmakers and actors with disabilities watch our film and feel inspired to enter the competition next year.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Right now Rebuilt Minds is making a documentary on the first wheelchair Barbie doll ever made - Share a Smile Becky. She was such a landmark in disability culture that has unfortunately been forgotten. We would like to give her the spotlight and showcase the history in hopes of again furthering this message of how important diversity and inclusion is.
Interview: August 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Human Helper
In the near future, artificially intelligent robots, otherwise known as human helpers, are a regular part of life. However, they're not very inclusive. Dr. Rachel Hubbert and her assistant Tony have made it their mission to make them not ableist.
Length: 5:27
Director: Shaina Ghuraya
Producer: Kittsie Klaes
Writer: Shaina Ghuraya
About the writer, director and producer:
SHAINA GHURAYA jokingly refers to herself as a triple threat: she's disabled, Punjabi, and a woman. She found her passion for film when she made a documentary revealing the inaccessibility of her school for people with disabilities. Shaina is a graduate student at the University of Southern California’s MFA program in Film Production. Here she made the short Wheelchair Wendy and started Rebuilt Minds, a media production company focusing on embracing diversity and exploring intersectionality.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, KITTSIE KLAES moved to Scotland to pursue a degree in Film Studies from the University of St Andrews. Upon graduating in June of 2017, Kittsie moved to Los Angeles to pursue an MFA in Film and Television Production from USC. At USC, she selects classes that expand her knowledge of editing, writing comedy, and directing documentaries. Kittsie also enjoys cooking, traveling, and karaoke.
Key cast: Nicole Evans (Dr. Rachel Hubbert), Alora Kinley (Ali), Anthony Golden Jr. (Tony), Shauna Turnmire (Human Helper 1), Davy McCall (Space Station Guy)
Looking for: buyers, distributors, journalists, film festival directors
Facebook: Rebuilt Minds
Instagram: @disabled_desi
Hashtags used: #disability #inclusion #diversity #rebuiltminds
Website: www.rebuiltminds.com
Other: YouTube
Made in association with: Rebuilt Minds and the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? YouTube