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Scene from "Daruma" - Tobias Forrest (Patrick), Victoria Scott (Camilla) and John Lawson (Robert)
Forrest and Lawson have been involved in the project since the concept’s filming, patiently hoping the film would eventually get made. The film’s compelling writ- ing and vivid characters resonated with studio execu- tives, and it looked like the film was on its way to main- stream production.
disability inclusion in the industry.
“Kelli and Alex stuck with us through the whole thing. And they originally shot the script with studio funding and had interest for it. But the studio said, ‘Well, we need to replace these disabled people. We’ll put an able- bodied person in it’,” John Lawson recalls. “Then, the studio said, ‘Well, you can keep the amputee guy, but we’ll put an A-list actor in a wheelchair and let him pre- tend to be the paraplegic’.”
“The community we have built and developed with this project has been astounding. And I can’t even tell you what it was like coming out of that screening. Alex and I were just surrounded by hundreds of people wanting to shake our hand and tell us how much they loved the film. It was incredible. I’ll never forget it,” McNeil said. ”I don’t know where this film is going to land yet, but I have a feeling that the team we go with is going to see its value and help us get “Daruma” in front of as wide an audience as possible.”
McNeil and Yellen made the decision to walk away and produce the film on their own rather than submit to the studio casting directives. “Daruma” entered the realm of independent films where funding can be difficult to find. For Daruma, McNeil and Yellen used their own resources along with a crowd funding campaign to raise the necessary funds.
John Lawson remembers vividly when he heard about the “Daruma” casting call. It was memorable because with 40 years in the business, Lawson had never seen a notice for a double arm amputee. Despite the fact they were looking for a younger man, John decided to audi- tion for the role.
McNeil is thrilled with the current version of the movie and feels good about the prospects of securing a distrib- ution deal soon. She’s also grateful that “Daruma” has already succeeded in bringing attention to the issue of
“I figured I might as well go. I mean, from my experi- ence I was the only true double hand amputee around. At least as far as I could tell from all of the auditions I’d been on over the years,” Lawson said, with a laugh.
When Lawson learned the other lead role was a para- plegic, he immediately suggested his good friend and fellow actor, Toby Forrest audition. Lawson and Forrest
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