Ep. 18: Disability in the Media, Pt. 2 — Disability Representation & Inclusion in Canada’s Film/Television/Modelling Industry

Canada is known as “Hollywood North.” That’s because so many television shows and series, and theatrical and television films have been, and are filmed, in this country. They include Supernatural, Schitt’s Creek, Hudson and Rex, Deadpool, Star Trek Beyond, Star Trek Discovery and Hot Zone: Anthrax.

According to figures from the Motion Picture Association, film and television production in Canada employed over 240,000 people in 2021/2022. That includes everyone from acting talent and extras, to sound editors and technicians, to camera operators, to makeup artists, to set carpenters.

But of all the people who work on all these productions in all these capacities, how many are people who have a disability? What exactly is the state of disability representation and inclusion in the film, television and modelling industry in Canada? And how is disability portrayed in it?

That’s what we explore in this second and final part of our series on disability in the media.

Our three guests have some powerful industry-insider insights.

• Katie MacMillan, Founder and Director of Operations, Kello Inclusive agency
• Actors Natasha Urkow and George Alevizos, who both have a disability

Show notes:

• Learn more about Kello Inclusive, the only talent agency in Canada representing only disability talent: https://www.kelloinclusive.org
• Find out about the CBC Television series, PUSH: https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/program/push
• Learn more about ACTRA: https://www.actratoronto.com
• Listen to part 1 in this series: https://youcantspellinclusionwithoutad.podbean.com/e/ep-17-disability-in-the-media-pt-1-—-disability-coverage-in-the-media/