On December 16, the Disability Committee (DC) meeting featured the conversation, Empowering Disabled Artists – The Creation and Foundations of the Disability Committee, with Director Jenni Gold.
During a conversation moderated by DC Alternate Co-Chair Matthew O’Shea, Gold discussed the formation of the Disability Committee, her experiences navigating the industry early on in her career, and the impact of her groundbreaking documentary, Cinemability: The Art of Inclusion.
Gold revealed the challenges of breaking into the industry as a filmmaker and the need for anyone who wants a career in this industry to live and breathe this work. She spoke about the challenges of balancing multiple projects — noting the importance of always having multiple irons in the fire because you never know what the outcome of a project will be or how long it will take to make. She also shared insight on her directing process and how she continues to champion inclusion on and off the screen.
Gold also noted the continuous advocacy needed to further the creation of an entertainment culture where all members are able to be accommodated without studios immediately assuming inclusion is an added financial cost. She encouraged members to really engage with the work of the DGA Disability Committee as not just a space for community but also a space for lifting up issues being faced by members with disabilities on set and while seeking out employment.
In addition to Cinemability: The Art of Inclusion, Gold’s directorial credits include the feature, Ready, Willing & Able; and the short films Shadow of Death, Dumpster Diving and SPF 1000. She has been a DGA member since 1997 and serves as a member of the Disability Committee.
About the Committee
The mission of the Disability Committee is to examine a broad range of issues DGA members with disabilities face on sets, with the goal of developing recommendations to address these matters. In 2023, DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter, announced its creation as a provisional committee, whose members would lead work to destigmatize disability as a way to empower other members to feel comfortable with disclosing their disability identity and push the industry towards greater acceptance of Directors and Directorial Team members with disabilities. In 2024, the Committee was designated a permanent committee by the DGA National Board.