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Dan performs his stand-up routine on-stage

Breaking Character

Breaking Character explores disability representation through the eyes of six performers with disabilities trying to make it onto the screen, stage, comedy club circuit, and runway.

Breaking Character

Breaking Character explores disability representation through the eyes of six performers with disabilities trying to make it onto the screen, stage, comedy club circuit, and runway.

About Breaking Character

Alexia Vassos smiles into the camera while having her hair touched up

In the past decade, less than three percent of films featured a character with a disability. And, more often than not, these rarest of roles have been taken by neuro-typical and able-bodied actors. But the industry is at a tipping point as it feels the push for a more inclusive representation. Major broadcasters have committed to auditioning actors with disabilities. Advertisers are creating campaigns that reflect disabilities in a relatable manner while promoting their products. Those leading the fight aren’t just the ones in front of the camera but the people representing them.

This candid 10-part serial documentary captures the journey of these mould-breaking performers as they navigate the fast-paced and sometimes cutthroat entertainment industry in Hollywood North. Each episode features two or three of the performers, delving into their daily life, and taking us behind the scenes as they go through the audition process, hone their craft, eagerly await news of whether or not they get the gig, and adapt to the pressures of life in the business.