Do you have a Christmas story you think would make a good movie? A local film company wants to hear it and if it’s good, you may see it played out on the big screen. Inclusion Films works with developmentally disabled adults teaching them about filmmaking.
Their latest project is a holiday movie called "Miracle on Christmas" that’ll debut at the Fox Theater on December 11.
"It's a story about a mother that's just been laid off and her husband is in Vietnam and they haven't heard from him and knew he wasn't going to be home in time for the holidays," said Inclusion Films Creator Joey Travolta.
It's an idea based on a childhood story from Travolta. The group is already thinking ahead to next year and their next big idea.
"We're looking for that special story like I had all my life and I think everyone has a story like that," said Travolta.
KGET got a behind the scenes look a the movie's filming last year and saw first hand the kind of work disabled adults can do when given the opportunity.
"Everything that goes into life skills are applied in filmmaking. So it's a way to teach social skills, a way to give people confidence to go out into the workplace because not everyone is going to be a filmmaker," Travolta said.
Paul Gomez is a shining example of the project's success. Gomez is autistic and was doing menial landscaping jobs before Inclusion Films.
He's now a full-time video editor and worked on "Miracle on Christmas."
"I never thought I would see myself in this chair ever doing something like this, so it just happened, Gomez said.
At Inclusion Films, it's about learning by doing. The group just needs their next big idea from the community and it could land someone a nice paycheck.
"If we like the story, we'll pay $500 for it and then we'll make it into a short film for next year and make this an annual event," Travolta said.
A casting call for ideas will be held on Thursday November 8th from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Inclusion Studios at 1002 19th St.
