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News Article

EM Media-backed short film receives international acclaim

Published: 26 July 2010

Nottinghamshire artist/filmmaker Andy Taylor Smith's EM Media-backed short film is currently making waves on the international festival circuit.

THIS CHAIR IS NOT ME - writer/director Andy Taylor Smith

Plot outline:
Alan Martin was born with a severe form of cerebral palsy and has been in a wheelchair since birth, he has very restricted mobility and his means of communication is very limited. He was 31 before members of the community pitched together to buy him his first communication aid. Until then communication had been a series of arm movements, facial expressions and grunting sounds.

For years Alan struggled to make his feelings and wishes heard, at times even his family would prefer him out of the way than have to deal with the responsibility of a son with a disability. Most of his life was spent being ignored or overlooked, he was incredibly unhappy, communication had become an unobtainable thing for him.

THIS CHAIR IS NOT ME focuses on the specific point in Alan’s life which acted as the catalyst for change; the point where Alan’s friends, community members and carers realised there was something seriously wrong. This was the point that transformed his destiny for ever.

Success:
JUNE 2010 - THIS CHAIR IS NOT ME won the Sterling Award for Best Short Film at the AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival.

The festival jury said the film, "strikes a perfect balance of substance and style", adding, "by mimicking the subject's refusal to limit himself, the filmmaker pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling techniques. Using an innovative visual language and complex narrative structure, it allows viewers an opportunity to experience the world through the subject's unique point of view."

JULY 2010 - THIS CHAIR IS NOT ME received 'Honourable Mention' at the 2010, Los Angeles, International Film Festival.

EM Media's involvement:
THIS CHAIR IS NOT ME was produced through EM Media's DV Shorts filmmaking programme - the digital filmmaking scheme designed to unearth the East Midlands' brightest and best new filmmaking talent. Through DV Shorts new talent enter an intensive phase of script development before entering the commissioning process.

THIS CHAIR IS NOT is Andy Taylor Smith's first film; before joining EM Media's DV Shorts scheme Andy was a successful artist and photographer, and is continuing this work alongside his burgeoning filmmaking career.

Image from THIS CHAIR IS NOT ME

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