BONUS - Song For Rent, After Jack Smith (2018) - Audio Description Breaking the Rules
In this Bonus Episode, AJ with fellow podcasters Cheryl Green and Thomas Reid discuss the short film, "Song for Rent, After Jack Smith" (2018), and its audio description. They are joined by guests, Malic Amalya - Director, Arthur Johnson Weiss - Audio Description, and Jade Theriault - Actress portraying Jack Smith as "Rose Courtyard." They discuss the process of making the film, and the inherint evolution of incorporating the audio description as a main feature to the film.
Song for Rent is based on the 1969 experimental short film of the same name by Jack Smith. Follow link below to watch.
Song for Rent (2018) - https://vimeo.com/278238847
20 Aug 2025
BONUS - Behind the Scenes - A Look Back on Season 1
Want to know what Acting Up w/ AJ is all about? Who are these voices that join his ensemble? Where did it all begin?
AJ takes a look back on the past 5 years and beyond in creating his podcast. Joined from the very beginning by friends and fellow podcasters, Cheryl Green and Thomas Reid. Influenced and inspired as a child by radio host, Tom Joyner, and later being joined by friend from Zeno Mountain Farm, Shawnsy Billops.
AJ recalls the events that have lead the podcast to where it is now.
14 May 2025
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) - When Art Finally Mirrors Reality
We are finally here on this season finale of Acting Up w/ AJ and Crew! We are so excited to have friend and author, Kathy Roberson, lend us her mirrored experiences in raising a child with a significant cognitive disability. This a very candid conversation about family dynamics, sibling care of a brother with a disability, and the exposure it brings in publics settings.
Prepare yourselves for an emotional ride in this extended episode of Acting Up w/ AJ and Crew! Thank you to all of our listeners for joining us on this expedition into Disability Representation in our Media Culture.
actingupwithaj.com
5 Mar 2025
The Ride Ahead (2024) - Part 2 - Ableism, Infantilization, and the Demand for Respect
Acting Up w/ AJ and Crew are back with Part 2! An Interview with Father/Son directing duo Samuel and Dan Habib. We dive deeper into the discussion about down talking, respect, boundaries, and the end of infantilization.
The Ride Ahead, is a feature film following Director Samuel Habib as he interviews many disabled celebrities, activists, and role models around the country. With daring discussions on the topics of being an adult with a disability.
This documentary has Audio Description and Captioning for access needs.
Check out their website for future screenings at RideAheadFilm.com.
11 Feb 2025
The Ride Ahead (2024) - Part 1 - The Importance of Telling Our Own Stories
Happy Black History Month!
After a short hiatus, AJ and his crew are joined by Father/Son duo Samuel and Dan Habib. Their new documentary, The Ride Ahead, is a feature length extension to the Emmy Award winning short film "My Disability Roadmap." In the episode, we discuss what it means to be a filmmaker with a disability, life after high school, and the meaning of love and relationships.
SYNOPSIS - Samuel Habib is a typical 21-year-old, itching to move out, start a career, and find love. But no one tells you how to be an adult, let alone an adult with a disability. Can a community of disability activists help him follow his dreams?
16 Jul 2024
Music (2021) - When Good Intentions Hit a Bad Note
Happy Disability Pride Month!
This may be the hardest episode that we have ever had to complete. Sia's film Music has been controversial since the 1st announcement of an able-bodied actress being cast in the role of a non-verbal autistic person. We dive deep into the discussion of Authentic Representation, Dangers of the Prone Restraint Method, and the Autism communities outcry of "Nothing About Us, Without Us." We strive to have a non-biased viewpoint and hope to continue this important conversation.
News Feed - Sia's New Film "Music" Isn't Just Bad Representation of Autistic People; It's Downright Dangerous - Kirby Kellogg - RootedInRights.org (voiced by Shawnsy Billops)
Content Round Up - Netflix Upcoming Releases (Tell Them You Love Me, Different Strokes) - "Netflix backs effort to support Filmmakers with Disabilities" - Disabilityscoop.com (voiced by Adam Grimes)
Disability Spotlight - Disability Pride Month Community Reflection (voiced by Cheryl Green)
18 Jun 2024
The Ringer (2005) - Good, Bad, and Going Beyond the Surface
An man imitates a disability in order to rig the Special Olympics for money. A movie as bad as it sounds? You might be suprised. We cover it all from Non-Authentic Casting, hiring 150 disabled Special Olympians, and will someone please strike down Uncle Gary with lightning.
News Feed - Privatizing Services for people with disabilities, Apple's New Assistive Technology, Para- Olympic Coverage 2024
Content Round Up - NPR’s The Indicator from Planet Money "How video games became more accessible"
Disability Spotlight - Zac Gottsagen, Actor
28 May 2024
Audio Description (1989-Present) - Public Television to Streaming to the Near Future w/ Thomas Reid
Audio description (AD) is a narration of important visual information in a video or multimedia product to make it more accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. AD can provide context, clarify speakers, and describe visual elements that are not obvious from the audio, such as on-screen text, graphics, or actions. AD is often inserted into natural pauses in the program's dialogue.
Special Guest Thomas Reid is back in the house to discuss his role and historical expertise in the formation of Audio Description and its potential for future accessibility for the visually impaired.
Thomas Ried is host and producer of the Podcast, Reid My Mind Radio
reidmymind.com
News Feed - Disney Parks Update Policy on the LINE -Cheryl Green
Content Round Up - Theatrical Release 'Ezra', May 31, 2024, -Adam Grimes
Disability Spotlight - The Social Audio Description Collective, -Nefertiti Matos Olivares
28 May 2024
Audio Description (1981-Present) - Public Television to Streaming to the Near Future w/ Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid, audio description expert, explores the history and future of audio description from public television to streaming services, enhancing accessibility for the visually impaired in an interview with AJ and Crew.
18 Apr 2024
Best Summer Ever (2020) - Behind the Scenes at Zeno Mountain Farm w/ Ila Halby
We sit down with Co-Director of Zeno Mountain Farm, Ila Halby, talking about the movie Best Summer Ever (2020) and Zeno's Annual Summer play production. Best Summer Ever, showcases the largest ensemble cast of disabled actors since Freaks (1932). We also talk about the importance of family, equality, and acts of service as the baseline for peer to peer relationships.
News Feed - SSI Benefits Update / Morgan's Wonderland
Content Round Up - NEW SHOWS: HBO's Hop / Hulu's Dinosaur
Disability Spotlight - Shannon Devido, Actress/Writer/Director
Link to Zeno Mountain Farm's 2023 play "Tomorrow", filmed by local TV staion NEAT (Northeast Addison Television)
https://videoplayer.telvue.com/player/6t4JFD38pkivJz72qlakWmYVbn6wB-u_/playlists/3413/media/815361?fullscreen=false
2 Apr 2024
My Left Foot (1989) - Life, Love, and Art with Cerebral Palsy
Today we are joined by dear friend of the podcast, Adriana Mallozzi, CEO and Founder of Puffin Innovations. We discuss the life of Christy Brown, Irish artist with Cerebral Palsy who paints his left foot.
News Feed - Prisoners with Developmental Disabilities face unique challenges
Content Round Up - Extreme Ghostbusters DVD Release & Ghostbusters Frozen Empire
Disability Spotlight - Diana Elizabeth Jordan, actor and director
2 Apr 2024
My Left Foot (1989) - Life, Love, and Art with Cerebral Palsy w/ Adriana Mallozzi
Adriana Mallozzi discusses Christy Brown's life, art, and love while living with cerebral palsy in the film *My Left Foot*, offering insights into disability representation in media; this is an interview.
4 Mar 2024
Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) - Wrestling Against Pre-Conceptions about Down Syndrome
A discussion about the persistance of a dream to be an actor, societal presumptions cornering us into a box, and saying the 'R' word without saying it. Down Syndrome has many different aspects and personalities as we dive into Zach Gottsagen's inaugural feature length film, The Peanut Butter Falcon.
19 Feb 2024
Ray (2005) - Adjusting to Blindness and Difficulty Around Representation
Happy Black History Month!
We are back with special guest Thomas Reid of Reid My Mind Radio, as we discuss the legendary jazz musician Ray Charles, played by Jamie Foxx.
19 Feb 2024
Ray (2005) - Adjusting to Blindness and Difficulty Around Representation w/ Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid joins the hosts to analyze Ray Charles's portrayal in the movie *Ray*, focusing on representation and adjusting to blindness, in this interview episode.
29 Jan 2024
Scent of a Woman (1992) and the Oscar goes to Blindness
On today's episode of Acting Up with AJ and Crew, we're talking with our very first guest, Thomas Reid, of Reid My Mind Radio.
https://reidmymind.com/
And we're talking about the movie, Scent of a Woman. We're going to be getting into tropes, stereotypes, guys who yell, guys who yell some more. And is it really a thing to feel someone's face, to get a sense of who they really are?
29 Jan 2024
Scent of a Woman (1992) and the Oscar goes to Blindness w/ Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid joins the hosts of Acting Up w/ AJ and Crew to discuss the film *Scent of a Woman*, exploring blindness tropes and the complexities of character perception in film in this interview.
8 Jan 2024
Champions (2023) - Disability on the Basketball Court
Hey, out there in podcast land. Thank you for being here. This is our very first episode, our inaugural episode. Thanks for joining us.
On today’s episode, we’re talking about coach's redemptions, misunderstandings, fish out of water. No, we’re not talking about Mighty Ducks! We’re talking about the movie Champions. It’s got Ernie Hudson, Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, and a whole cast of others. Let’s get into it. It’s Acting Up with AJ and Crew!
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