Blindness Advocates on Why There Should Be Audio Description Oscars

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As a passionate advocate for inclusivity and representation, I am deeply moved by the extraordinary journeys of both Jaimee and Paul. Their stories are not only inspiring but also serve as powerful reminders of the importance of empathy, understanding, and accurate portrayal in media.

Paul Castle and Jaimee Kadish have several shared traits, among them a witty humor and an admirable resilience that uplifts. Both of them suffer from retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a rare condition that gradually leads to vision loss; Castle was diagnosed at 16, while Kadish was diagnosed at 21. In different spheres, they have raised awareness about this condition and served as valuable role models.

As a passionate movie reviewer, I found myself deeply moved by the heartwarming documentary titled “Blink,” produced by National Geographic. This extraordinary film follows the Lemay-Pelletier family, who, after discovering that three of their four children have Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and will eventually lose their sight, embark on a global journey to explore the world’s most remarkable sights before this unfortunate eventuality.

As an ardent cinephile, I’ve found myself under the public eye, not necessarily by design, but more so through the organic process of sharing my cinematic journey with others. So, I guess the question that intrigues me is: how did I wind up in the limelight or find myself engaged in media?

Jaimee Kadish chose to work on “Blink” because she works at a secluded retreat center in Mexico, far removed from any roads, and one of the producers was staying there during her retreat. The producer got Jaimee involved in the project, which eventually led to her role as a consultant and later the audio descriptions.

Kadish: It’s been truly inspiring to witness how you and Matthew handle your RP dynamic in your relationship. It was nerve-wracking for me to incorporate this aspect into my own identity, but seeing how you both make it playful and enjoyable instead of a burden has been incredibly liberating. I’m just so thankful that our openness about this allows us to express joy without it always being a heavy, burdensome experience.
Castle: Your words mean a lot to me. It’s heartening to know that by sharing our journey, we can positively impact others. I was diagnosed at 16 and didn’t meet another person with RP until I was 19. At a support meeting, when it was my turn to speak, I broke down for the first time in three years. It was healing to be surrounded by people who truly understood.
Kadish: I can relate; I was diagnosed at 21 and initially found it difficult to discuss RP without becoming emotional because I wasn’t ready to embrace what it could teach me or the opportunities it might bring.
Paul, have you ever found any limits to Matthew’s pranks? Castle: We recently shared something where he worked with a preschool teacher to send back my book with a list of complaints. However, the complaints were actually praises like “liked it too much” and the book itself had teeth marks because the children didn’t want to let go of it, and pages were torn out because they wanted to keep it. It was sweet but the way he set it up made me very upset. For the first time, I decided to establish boundaries: no more pranks related to my art or creations.
Note: RP stands for Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare genetic disorder that affects vision.

Kadish: Artists can be sensitive, I understand that!
There have been numerous representations of visually impaired characters in entertainment and the media, and I’m sure some are more accurate than others. Have you ever found any of these portrayals downright offensive?

Castle:  Well, I’m, I’m not easily insulted.
Kadish: (Laughing) Obviously!

Castle: In terms of advocating for my community, I may not always be the most suitable individual to consult. I tend to see the good in people and assume their intentions are benign. One issue I’ve noticed with media portrayals, which I believe we can both agree on, is the misconception that being blind means having no vision at all. This has always been the portrayal. So, when someone hears “blind,” they often think it implies no vision whatsoever. This oversimplification neglects the spectrum and subtlety of the experience.

Castle: It was extraordinary! The way they painted the scenes with such vivid and detailed descriptions truly captivated me, as someone who relies heavily on that. To be honest, I’m usually quite taken aback by AD; it’s a remarkable art form. There’s an episode in Season One of “Only Murders in the Building,” and I didn’t even notice there was no dialogue. The AD was outstanding, and she kept adding intricate details without pause. It’s done exceptionally well and keeps you on the edge of your seat. They paid attention to every detail.

Kadish: I really feel like AD is an art and would love to have more conversations around different forms of AD and thinking about it at the start of a project, not just something you do at the end as an afterthought. I’ve heard stories about people are told the last month of production they need to provide AD, and they don’t have the time or resources to really focus on it. You can tell when much effort hasn’t been put into it. And AD has the potential to make everything so much richer — even for sighted people — because it can add to the process.I actually did a PSA with the director of “Blink” for NatGeo internally where we talked about this as an art form and how there should be an award at the Oscars and Emmys for audio description. I feel like that would shift the creative value in that space.
Castle: It should be a category! The thought that goes into it is incredible. And I think if we can bring more attention to it, things will only get better and better.

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2024-12-16 20:18