'Special People' director Justin Edgar attacks 'Blindness' for ignoring talented disabled actors (From Hereford Times)

'Special People' director Justin Edgar attacks 'Blindness' for ignoring talented disabled actors

5:00pm Thursday 1st January 2009 in

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THE director of a film which was partly shot in Herefordshire is embroiled in a row over the use of disabled actors in films.

Justin Edgar directed Special People, one of the UK’s first movies to use only disabled actors in a documentary-style comedy which mocks the film industry’s perceptions.

Herefordshire schoolgirl Robyn Frampton, aged 15, became one of the stars of the film when she swapped the classroom for the silver screen.

Special People’s release coincided with the Hollywood production, Blindness, a $25million film by Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles which features actors with perfect vision playing the roles of blind people.

The Special People crew, including wheelchair-user Robyn, condemned Blindness on its release, claiming the careers of talented disabled actors were being hampered.

Mr Edgar said it was time for that to change, adding that people like Robyn could easily perform such roles.

“To me, it’s very sad that disabled characters are invariably played by able-bodied people,” he said.

“We have so many disabled actors who are being denied work because people view their disability in a negative way.

“The time has come for that to change – I am lucky to have employed some very fine actors in this film, and that is why it has been so well received.”

Mr Edgar also complained to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) after Special People received a 12A rating and a warning it featured disabled people.

But local audiences have been appreciative – it received a great response when screened at The Courtyard earlier this year during the Borderlines Film Festival.