By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
This summer, Cazenovia resident Caitlin Clonan, 21, submitted a short film to the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge — an annual competition that gives filmmakers, with and without disabilities, the opportunity to tell unique and personal stories that showcase disability in its many forms.
Each year, contestants are challenged to write, produce and complete an original three-to-five minute film.
Participants receive an assigned genre along with a list of required props and locations. Teams are asked to integrate story elements that acknowledge disability and to include at least one person with a physical or cognitive disability.
Winners receive prizes and access to entertainment professionals through the challenge’s industry sponsors and partners.
This year, due to COVID-19, filmmakers were invited to participate in a virtual “Home Edition” challenge from July 14 to 19.
The genre for this year’s special summer competition was documentary films.
Caitlin’s entry, “Starring Luke,” centers on her 13-year-old brother, Luke, who has Down syndrome and hopes to one day become a famous actor. Luke has been making movies with Caitlin, along with his other siblings, Carson, 20, and Lily, 15, since he was a toddler.
“When we were little we used to make up plays with our puppets and stuffed animals and that eventually evolved into making movies with Carson, Lily, and some neighborhood friends,” said Caitlin. “I think we started Glenwood Studios when I was about 12. Carson used to film and I did the story boarding and editing, but eventually I took over most of the filming too. I’ve just always loved creating stories and bringing my imagination to life.”
The siblings recognized Luke’s love of acting early on.
“I was like, ‘[Luke has] really got something here,’” Caitlin said in her latest film. “’Why can’t our lead actor be a kid with Down syndrome?’”
“Starring Luke” includes clips from a number of Glenwood Studios films, along with interviews with the Clonan siblings, their father, Rick, and their mother, Sheila.
“I love making movies because I can be whatever I want,” Luke said in the film. “I can be a superhero. I can be a detective. It makes me feel awesome.”
According to Caitlin, Luke’s current favorite role has been his portrayal of “Detective Luke” in the recent film, “The Mysterious Murder of Lucian Lucas” (2020).
“I think it’s because he likes the ‘crazy hair’ wig he wears in it,” Caitlin said.
Rick said he thinks Luke also enjoys the attention associated with his acting roles.
“Being the youngest child, and also being told what to do most of the time, he has one activity where he can really be in control and be the center of everything,” Rick said.
According to Sheila, the films have had a positive impact on her son’s development, serving as a form of “video self-modeling,” where Luke gets to practice — and then watch himself — engage in pro-social behaviors, good language, and clear articulation. He has also learned to take direction and work hard to learn his lines, songs and cooking skills for various films.
Caitlin, who is a rising senior at Cazenovia College, is a largely self-taught filmmaker.
“I learned all of the Adobe editing programs and practiced special effects in some of our crazier movies, like “The Cliff” and a lot of the superhero films,” Caitlin said. “It’s fun to look back on our earlier movies and see how my skills have improved over the years. I have also taken as many film classes as I can get at college and did a video production internship when I studied abroad at Florence University of the Arts.”
Caitlin’s Earth Day-themed film “Enviroman” (2020) won the student category of the Denali Film Festival.
Although the festival was canceled this summer, she will be speaking on a panel at the festival next summer.
Caitlin said she hopes her latest film will bring attention to actors and filmmakers with disabilities and advocate for disabled actors to be on the big screen.
After graduation, Caitlin plans to pursue a career in filmmaking and dreams of working for either Disney or National Geographic.
The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge: Home Edition announced the award finalists on Aug. 8.
The competition will culminate with a “virtual awards event” announcing the 2020 winners on Aug. 13.
Winners will be named in three categories: best film and best editor, which are chosen by judges, and best awareness campaign, which goes to the film with the most likes, shares, and views on social media.
“Starring Luke” is available for online viewing at facebook.com/watch/?v=1528417857343670.
To view more of Luke and Caitlin’s films, visit the Glenwood Studios YouTube page.
For more information on the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, visit disabilityfilmchallenge.com.
