Props No More: Redefining the Scene: Beyond Representation to Authenticity

Props No More is an intersectional documentary produced by GADIM (The Global Alliance for Disability in Media) and highlights disabled creatives and their efforts to change the stereotypical narrative around disability. The feature-length documentary begins by examining how disabled people have been marginalized, stereotyped, or entirely omitted from the mainstream media, which shape our understanding of the world.

Historically, the portrayal of disability in mainstream television, film, and news has often been reduced to a narrow set of stereotypes: most commonly, the pitiable victim or the inspirational hero. These damaging depictions have profound consequences. They underline societal misconceptions (or even implement them in the first place), fuel ableism, and perpetuate the exclusion of people with disabilities from various aspects of life. When the media fails to accurately represent a significant portion of the population—more than 1.3 billion people globally are disabled—it contributes to systemic ableism that affects every facet of society.

Props No More challenges those outdated and harmful portrayals by showcasing the work of disabled media makers and offer an alternative narrative: one where people with disabilities – journalists, actors, filmmakers, artists, disability study scholars and more – took matters into their own hands and through their work, are breaking down barriers, fighting stereotypes with their creativity and personal experience. Props No More will show how these individuals often have to navigate a media landscape that is not only inaccessible but also hostile to their presence. Yet, through creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience, they created spaces where their stories can be told authentically.

One of the unique aspects of Props No More is its commitment to inclusion both in front of and behind the camera. The film’s production team is composed largely of disabled individuals, many of whom belong to multiple marginalized communities. This intersectional approach ensures that the film is rooted in the lived experiences of those it seeks to represent. Moreover, the team’s diverse backgrounds bring an authenticity to the film that is rarely seen in mainstream media.

Throughout the documentary, we meet a variety of diverse and international contributors, each of whom offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of disability representation. We hear from an actress who has battled both physical barriers and stereotypes in Hollywood, a journalist working to improve disability representation in one of the world’s leading newspapers, and a filmmaker who emphasizes the importance of accessibility as part of the artistic process. These stories, told through a combination of interviews, personal reflections, and behind-the-scenes footage, highlight the innovative ways disabled people are reshaping the media landscape. All these interviews are complemented by experts from different disability-related fields and archival material of good and bad representation in the media.

Props No More also explores the broader impact of accurate and inclusive media portrayals (and production) and shows best practice examples. The film argues that when disabled people are represented authentically, it benefits not only the disability community but society as a whole. Inclusive media offers more rich narratives that reflect the true complexity of human experience. It also helps to reduce stereotypes and in the next step discrimination based on those harmful misconceptions.

In addition to the documentary, the film’s impact will be extended through a Props No More YouTube channel as part of an ongoing media platform, which will feature educational videos on the topic of representation, in-depth interviews with contributors, behind-the-scenes material, and short documentaries highlighting additional disabled media creators we could not feature in the main film. The Props No More media platform and YouTube channel will outlive the film and continue to elevate disabled media creators around the globe. Props No More™ the media platform will be a place for disabled media creators to teach and mentor disability community members worldwide who want to create their own innovative media content. It will offer webinars for disabled creatives on topics such as directing and writing, as well live online classes for disabled people on directing, acting, writing for screen, advocating for access, etc.

At its core, Props No More is not a film; it is a call to action. It encourages viewers to reflect on their roles in challenging the narratives they consume. The film demonstrates that slowly, we see change; we see a world where “Nothing about us, without us” is becoming “Nothing without us!”. This is possible when people with disabilities (are allowed to) take control of their own stories, when nobody talks about them but lets them speak for themselves. Props No More underscores the importance of an inclusive media industry in creating a more just and equitable society for everyone.

For more updates, follow our social media sites and YouTube channel: http://propsnomore.org/