It was an amazing honor for me to have the opportunity to speak at the 2024 World Down Syndrome Congress in Brisbane this week about Inclusion and Filmmaking. My presention focused on exhibiting the photographic work of Sam Chapman, whose collection of amazing photos formed part of a larger artwork that formed the key story behind our award winning film, 'The Way Sam Sees It.'
In my speech, I highlighted how integral it was for our film and creative industries to constantly look toward the power of diversity and inclusion, not just as a token behaviour, but an everyday practice. In working with Sam to create the rainbow artwork, as well as making the short film itself with him, his passion for photography has been further established to a wider audience, allowing for his creative voice to be heard even louder.
I'm incredibly grateful to the ACT Down Sydndrome and Interlectual Disability and the the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE), who sponsored my attendance to Congress in Brisbane.
The full transcript of my speech is included below and the film is also embeded at the end of this post to view.
SPEECH TRANSCRIPT - Wednesday 10th July 2024, Brisbane
Hello, my name is Dan and this is Sam!
Sam and I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters throughout Australia, and pay respect to the Elders past, present and emerging.
We acknowledge the Jagera people and the Turrbal people as the Traditional Custodians of Meanjin, the place we meet and share our stories today.
We also would like to acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngnambri peoples who are the traditional custodians of the lands in Canberra region from which we both come from, where we work and create our art that we are sharing with you.
We acknowledge the cultural practices and traditions still carried out today and being passed down to future generations.
Our presentation today will be an exhibition of Sam’s photography work, while I share how I believe how fostering inclusive creative practices opens unique opportunities for connection and understanding. You will see a lot of photography taken by Sam! We will finish with a 7 min screening of the award winning film, The Way Sam Sees It. You’ll see Sam’s photo credit appear in the bottom left corner. These photos and many more will also feature on Sam’s instagram page, Samchapman_takesphotos. And of course, and important note, all of Sam’s selfies are taken by Sam too! All of his selfies!
“Creativity is our most powerful tool to shape the world we want to live in.”
I have found that my life has somehow, always been centred around the strength and resilience of my own creativity, and that of others I be creative with. Creativity is a universal language. It bridges gaps, fosters understanding, and brings us together by shared experiences. This is the true power of art and storytelling. Our creativity can generate so much power that it can have the strength to move us - emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. We all connect through our creativity by how we communicate, share stories, we learn and grow and determine what our future might hold for ourselves.
Over the last 18 years, I’ve grown my career as a filmmaker. In my most current role, I work for the Academy of Interactive Entertainment Film School (or AIE) as a Producer, the Senior Filmmaking Teacher and the Virtual Production & In Camera Visual Effects Trainer. Through working on film productions within our wider industry, or supporting the emerging filmmakers who are part of a workshop or course that I am training, I’ve always been the type of creator who looks to support, encourage and inspire creativity in others. I feel privileged that through my work I have had the opportunity to meet my friend, the incredibly talented and creative Sam Chapman.
Over 3 amazing years from 2020 to 2022 I helped the also amazing Bus Stop Films establish their accessible film studies program in Canberra. I was appointed the tutor for class and worked to support the students develop, write and shoot a brand new inclusively made short film each year. Sam, every week, would bring his camera to class, but he wouldn’t always bring it out at first. There was a shyness, and he had a quieter reserved persona and I was feeling unsure if my lessons had connected with him enough. However, what I did notice was when Sam would get his camera out, there was a confidence and comfortability that I saw behind the camera, like it was a special shield of power and of creative expression! As I watched him bring the screen of his camera closer to his face and started clicking the shutter, I saw what could only be described as this creative aura around him, (a bit like we see him now with his camera) and I was instantly curious to see the outcome of his work.
Seeing this side of Sam, inspired me. My response was that I needed to encourage him to take more photos so that he had the opportunity to take more of an active part in the class. I’ve personally struggled with my self image in the past - and significantly for me, I was diagnosed only later in my life, as ADHD and autistic. More so, as I was discovering this about myself, I became more reserved and concerned about how I looked or came across in front of people or in photos or videos. I honestly personally prefer being behind the camera! But seeing Sam’s photos of me, it truly helped me renew the confidence within myself and realise it actually didn’t matter what others thought, that I could be just my unique and authentic self.
So, with the support of Sam’s Mum, Liz, I helped set up a Dropbox link for him to upload new photos he took every week after class. It wasn’t long until Sam became our unofficial class record keeper. Every week after class, I’d find a new email notification directing me to check out Sam’s latest work. And honestly, I was mesmerized scrolling through the photos, the faces, the positive vibes and expressions of his classmates, seeing his eye for composition, and an attention to detail and the story of what was happening in the moment. I was also very flattered by how many photos Sam took of me teaching the class. I didn’t expect him to do that, but I felt it was a connection he was trying to make with me.
I believe that taking photos is more than a hobby for Sam; I really do see it as his way of connecting with the world. Through his lens, I feel Sam captures moments that many of us might overlook. His photography is not just about images; it is about storytelling. I feel for him its about sharing his thoughts and emotions, and communicating in a way that transcends a dialogue he may not always be able to say out loud.
By encouraging Sam to express himself through photography, we all have helped open doors for him that might have otherwise remained closed if we hadn’t. This demonstrates the profound impact that inclusive practices can have, not just on individuals, but on our communities as a whole. Sam’s photography speaks of this, to us, even now as we see his work here on this screen. As a filmmaker, I have always believed in the transformative power of creativity. Creativity transcends boundaries and connects us in the most earnest of ways, regardless of our cultural backgrounds or personal experiences.
In my work, I have seen first hand how inclusion can really break down barriers and build bridges. When we invite people from diverse backgrounds to share their stories and perspectives, we enrich the creative process and produce work that is more reflective of the world we live in. This inclusivity not only enhances the quality of our art but also promotes a deeper connection among those who experience it. One of the most inspiring aspects of working with Sam is witnessing how his creative expression can touch the hearts and minds of others, particularly when seeing people react to his work. Sam's photography, for example, offers a glimpse into his world and invites us to see life from his perspective.
This kind of visual storytelling fosters empathy and understanding toward Sam, reminding us of what we share and we all have in common.
Respected advocate for disability inclusion, Judy Heumann, once said, "Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things we need to lead our lives." This resonates deeply with me because it underscores the importance of creating an inclusive practice particularly within the film industry that I love, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and contribute. The barriers that are created aren’t part of the system of filmmaking, but within the systems of exclusionary behaviour and ideals.
Inclusion in filmmaking is more than just giving individuals a platform; it's about recognizing and valuing their unique contributions. It's about understanding that everyone has a story to tell and a perspective worth sharing. By embracing this diversity, we create a richer, more vibrant tapestry of work. My more recent film projects have benefited from this. Being a tutor for Bus Stop Films has taught me the power of inclusive filmmaking to its fullest extent and it has made me a better filmmaker.
Now, working for AIE, not only in capacity as a teacher in our innovative and hands on industry focused film course, but also as a driving creative leader in our organisation, and an advocate for inclusive learning and practices in our curriculum, I have been able to guide, teach and support our student and teaching community, this powerful message that inclusive filmmaking creates, so as to not become a token practice, but a normal everyday approach to our creative work. And the results speak for themselves, not only the many short films we’ve produced in just the last year, but with our 2024 film student cohort seeing a significant increase in those identifying with disability enrolling, with the driving force behind the decision to enrol being that they felt welcomed and accepted. By highlighting the talents and perspectives of creatives like Sam, we challenge stereotypes and encourage others to see the value in every person. This is the essence of inclusive creativity—it is a celebration of diversity and a commitment to fostering meaningful connections through the arts.
The award winning short film, The Way Sam Sees It, is for me a demonstration of this entire thesis. I wanted to tell Sam’s story beyond just a standard documentary format, but by telling a story that highlights his unique view on the world and drawing us to see things the way he does. The ‘it’ is that Sam sees, is acceptance, inclusion, creativity, diversity and ourselves equally valued. In writing the script for the film, I decided to achieve this vision, I would give Sam a photography assignment - an opportunity to create a larger piece of work - and we’d capture his journey in creating this work. Many of the photos you’ve seen already in this presentation feature as part of the artwork that makes up the climax to the film, and hopefully you can pick them out when they pop up on screen.
You can find more of Sam’s work on his Instagram - samchapman_takesphotos. So I invite everyone now to enjoy ‘The Way Sam Sees It.’
