Easterseals Disability Film Challenge 2019 – A Swing And A Switch
Jealousy has kept two brothers apart, but a walk in each other's shoes is all it takes to reunite them. This film was made for the 2019 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge.
Interview with Director/Producer Shanalyna Cp
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I love the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. In a world where gender and racial bias run rampant, the film challenge forces filmmakers and audiences to review and expand their definition of diversity. Representation matters and the film challenge provides a platform that puts everyone on equal footing gives voice to those who often go ignored. This is the second year that I've participated in the film challenge. The first year, I was drawn to the challenge thanks to my nephew who is on the autism spectrum. This year, my focus shifted to physical disabilities in honor of my mother who's mobility was restricted following a car accident 20 years ago.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
A Swing And A Switch is a short, fun-filled film with a message. In the film, two brothers find themselves separated by envy and jealousy. I think everyone has a moment when they believe that someone else has the life they wished they could have had. This film speaks to that moment.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
For this year's film challenge, all teams were given a choice to use one of three themes. My team chose the theme: "learn from an unexpected teacher." Not to give the film away, but our film is a nod to filmmakers as the instigator or instrument of change. As filmmakers, we are given the opportunity to tell stories that reflect how the world was, is and can be. Our telling of a story can either change or reinforce the viewers' perception. This is why representation matters. Humans are diverse and complex, even the simplest of stories can reflect this.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
That's a good question. Since the film challenge restricts participants to 55 hours to write, direct and edit a 3-5 min film, the amount of time dedicated to each phase of filmmaking is limited. As the director, I'm usually very involved in the writing process as it helps me to get a clear idea of the story I'm going to tell when the cameras turn on. This year was different. As the film challenge began, I was heading to the emergency room with a family member. I called my friend Lucy A. Fazely, who was not only a member of my writing team but also a friend who I've collaborated with on several projects. She stepped up and ran the writers' room. For the first time ever, I allowed myself to trust the process and the writers - Lucy, Andria B. Chapell, Crystal N. Ramos, Bridgett Ladd, and Sean Garvey - delivered. The script is awesome. The few changes to the script that happened on set were due to my goal of limiting the number of shots so that less time would be needed for editing.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
A Swing And A Switch continues to receive positive feedback and has been the catalyst for possible future alliances with creatives whose paths I may not have crossed without the film.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Initially, the feedback did surprise me. At one point early on in the film, Troy Beecham who plays Adam struggles to get his lines out. With the magic of editing, I was able to "normalize" his speech pattern. Crystal Bennett, my editor, nicely reminded me of the mission of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. When my need to normalize was called into question, I knew, Crystal was correct, but I still doubted in my mind how well the film would be received. Shame on me and lesson learned. Representation is more than having a person play a role that fits your ideal. It's about allowing the whole identity, including perceived faults, to shine through without glamorizing. A big thank you to Troy and Crystal for teaching me this lesson.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope to encourage readers to view A Swing And A Switch and the 70 other entries in this years Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. All of the filmmakers who participated in the challenge are working towards changing the way individuals with disabilities are viewed, portrayed, and represented in film and other media.♿️ All of the film entries can be found on the Easterseals Disability Film Challenges Facebook page. WMS allows our films to reach audiences that we would not have otherwise.
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 to expand A Swing And A Switch into a sci-fi series along the lines of The Twilight Zone. Our series would continue to explore disability and inclusion as well as make diversity the new normal. Producers with funding and distributors would be a big assist.
Bloggers, vloggers, journalist, and public relation specialist would also be instrumental in amplifying A Swing And A Switch's message. The more audiences are introduced to works for and by individuals with disabilities, the more individuals with disabilities will be accepted for complex and complicated humans they are and rather than as beings who are less than.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I don't believe anyone who watched A Swing And A Switch wondered why Adam and Roy were brothers, adopted or otherwise. I don't think anyone who finished watching the film thought only a woman could have directed that or that there must have been more women than men on the writing team. I'm pretty sure that few could tell that our team included a writer with a seizure disorder, two crew members on the autism spectrum and a casting producer with disabilities. It wasn't a point of contention in the film that one brother was much older and shorter than the other. Our film is deceptively simple and while there are some finishing touches yet to be made, what we did accomplish in 55 hours is impressive to most. This film is an example of what diversity can look like on film and that's a take away that my entire team is proud to be a part of.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
As an African American woman who does not have a disability, do/did I have a right to tell this story, especially if I believe representation matters?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you to Nic Novicki for founding the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. And a shout out to Casting Producer Lordiel Palmer, Producer Forrest Tuff, Dp Roberto Hernandez, and to the entire cast and crew...thanks for joining me on this journey!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Casting Producer Lordiel Palmer, Dp Roberto Hernandez, Writer Crystal N. Ramos, Actress Angeletha Maaja, and Producer/Director Shanalyna Cp all work on Oh Jordan! An Autism Web Series in Atlanta, GA.
Season 1 is currently online at www.oh-jordan.com. Be sure to check us out!
Interview: April 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
A Swing And A Switch
Jealousy has kept two brothers apart, but a walk in each other's shoes is all it takes to reunite them. This film was made for the 2019 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge.
Length: 3:44
Director: Shanalyna Cp
Producer: Shanalyna Cp
Writer: Lucy A. Fazely, Andria B. Chappell, Crystal N. Ramos, Sean Garvey, Bridgett Ladd
About the writer, director and producer:
SHANALYNA CP is an award-winning Producer/Director who works with individuals and businesses to visually express themselves, and their stories, through film, video and new media. She believes the arts serve to feed and inspire the mind, body and soul. Creating narratives that both educate and entertain is her sweet spot. Shanalyna is the executive producer of Oh Jordan! An Autism Web Series and is currently seeking funding to create Season 2. Her short film, A Swing And A Switch was made for the 2019 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge and serves to encourage disability inclusion and representation in film and other media.
A Swing And A Switch is a collaborative writing effort. The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge is a contest which gives teams 55 hours to write, direct and edit a 3-5 minute short film that features creatives with disabilities in key roles. Teams are given specific themes, props and locations to choose from that must be used in the finished film. A Swing And A Switch is based on a story idea by MIKKEL PALMER and was written by award-winning writer LUCY A. FAZELY, ANDRIA B. CHAPPELL, CRYSTAL N. RAMOS, SEAN GARVEY, and BRIDGETT LADD.
Key cast: Troy Beecham (ADAM), Micah J. Oliver (ROY), Jetta Strayhorn (PHOTOGRAPHER)
Facebook: Shanalyna Cp
Twitter: @ATL_Filmmaker
Instagram: @shanalyna_cp
Hashtags used: #disabilityfilmchallenge #inspirechange #aswingandaswitch
Website: www.oh-jordan.com
Other: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=864654163869860
Funders: Self-funded