NBCUniversal takes ‘bold stand’ to promise to audition more disabled actors

NBCUnivertsal’s announcement on Friday of its intention to adopt the Ruderman Family Foundation’s guidelines on hearing actors with disabilities for its new productions is a wonderful step in the right direction to increase the representation of people with disabilities in the world. ‘screen.

The Ruderman Family Foundation is an internationally renowned philanthropic organization that advocates for greater social inclusion of people with disabilities.

Concerned about maintaining a dynamic approach to philanthropy, the Foundation’s guidelines are as follows:

1. We recognize that disability is at the heart of diversity, that the disability community includes one of the largest minority groups in our country, and that people with disabilities face exclusion in front of and behind the camera.

2. We understand that increasing auditions, regardless of the size of the role, is an essential step towards inclusion in the industry.

3. The company will continue to increase the number of television and film screenings of disabled actors and actresses.

This commitment represents a group-wide commitment encompassing Universal Studio Group, the NBC Network, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and the Peacock streaming service.

Janine Jones-Clark, Executive Vice President of NBCUniversal, Inclusion – Talent & Content, Film, Television & Streaming, said: “We are proud to join the Ruderman Family Foundation’s commitment as the calls to action as theirs are important and hold the industry accountable for the work. we still have to do to see systemic change. ”

In November 2020, the media and entertainment giant received Ruderman’s Authentic Representation Seal for It’s us.

The family drama starred actor Blake Stadnik, who has a visual impairment known as Stargardt’s disease, as blind musician Jack Damon.

Ruderman Family Foundation President Jay Ruderman said, “By having such an influential entity like NBCUniversal take this bold stand, we hope to continue to see others join us in striving to create more opportunity. for people with disabilities in entertainment. “

NBCUniversal has now become the second major media organization in the United States to weigh in on the guidelines following a similar commitment from CBS in 2019.

Lead by example

Disability activist and actor Eileen Grubba, who starred in HBO Guardians and CBS ‘ New Amsterdam believes in the potential of a viral effect to trigger action when pillars of the industry demonstrate clear leadership.

Grubba, who uses a leg splint as a result of spinal cord injuries in the child, said: “Both of us together, standing up and saying, ‘It will happen, it will be done,’ puts the pressure on the rest of the industry. “

Further, he adds: “This is a massive victory for this community and for inclusion, and I hope for all of the people who have been in this industry for many years without ever having any opportunities.”

The integration of Disney, Sony, Netflix and Amazon would certainly represent a new positive dynamic.

While auditions are no guarantee of casting, Grubba believes that increased audition opportunities will ultimately have a trickle down effect in favor of greater inclusion.

“It takes repeated attempts to get there,” she says. “And when you’re competing with people who audition 10 times a week and you only show up one to three times a year, if you’re lucky you don’t have the same skills to manage better. to overcome them.

Calls for change

This past year has seen momentum build up as Hollywood begins to wake up to the shame of the industry for regularly casting able-bodied actors to “crip-up” for roles involving characters with disabilities.

Such a practice is akin to men playing women in theatrical productions until the 17th century and white actors portraying black, Asian and Native American characters.

At the end of 2019, the Foundation published a white paper showing that only 22% of disabled characters are portrayed authentically.

At the same time, Hollywood A-listers, including Danny DeVito, Edward Norton and Ruth Madeley, put their names in an open letter excoriating the widespread exclusion of actors with disabilities.

Last summer, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences included disability in its mandatory diversity standards for films to be eligible for a Best Picture nomination.

If, as is hoped, a commitment to more inclusive auditing practices leads to more talent with disabilities onscreen, there will remain a number of challenges for offscreen creative staff.

Not least, striking a balance between placing disability at the center of certain stories in order to show audiences what it can be like to live with physical difference and other forms of neurodiversity, while creating complex and multi-faceted characters. where the handicap is present but above all incidental.

To do full justice to these two aspirations, the entertainment industry will need to be equally vigilant in employing diverse talent behind the camera as well as in front of it.