October 16, 2024
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) held a virtual Topical Call event among network affiliates with Peter Saraf, producer of the Disney Original Movie Out of My Mind. In a conversation with UCP President and CEO Armando Contreras, Peter talks about discovering the book, writing the script, and bringing the film to fruition. Recently, Armando had the pleasure of attending a screening. “Out of My Mind is a poignant exploration of the challenges faced by individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), beautifully highlighted by Phoebe-Rae Taylor’s extraordinary performance,” he said. “The film sheds light on these real-life struggles and celebrates the remarkable contributions and love that such individuals bring to society.”
Out of My Mind follows the story of Melody Brooks, a sixth grader with CP, who has a quick wit and a sharp mind, but because she is nonverbal and uses a wheelchair, she is not given the same opportunities as her classmates. When a young educator notices her untapped potential and Melody starts to participate in mainstream education, Melody shows that what she has to say is more important than how she says it.
This coming-of-age drama is based on the novel of the same name by teacher-turned-author Sharon M. Draper. Released in 2010 and winner of numerous literary awards, the book has since sold more than 2.5 million copies. It is often used in classrooms and libraries to teach children about disabilities, overcoming obstacles, and empathy for others. The author provides study guides and classroom activities on her website. Draper wrote two sequels: Out of My Heart and Out of My Dreams.
For Peter, it all began when his daughter, a fourth grader, read the book and told him it would make a great movie. Having close friends with children with disabilities, he was inspired.
“When we got the rights to the book and started working on the script, the first thing we did was look for Melody. We knew we couldn’t make the movie without the right person for this role, and we would build the rest of the cast around her.”
“Our casting director did a lot of outreach worldwide to find Melody; we got hundreds of submissions,” Peter continued. “There were so many wonderful auditions, but Phoebe-Rae Taylor was just so natural with the camera.” It took nearly two more years to put the movie together after they cast Phoebe to play the role of Melody. “We feared she would age out of the role, but she presents a little younger, so it worked out.”
In terms of accuracy and authenticity, Peter and his team did a lot of research before and during production to get the details right. From the beginning of the writing process, they worked with wheelchair users and people with disabilities, including CP, to learn how to portray them best.
“One of the things we learned is that while the chair is a big part of their lives, it’s not always where they want to be,” he recalled. “And we learned from Phoebe herself — that she likes to get out of her chair when she can. So we have some scenes in the movie that reflect the balance of everyday life for someone with CP — both in and out of their wheelchair.”
Further, the book is set in 2003, and that’s a time when technology was not as forthcoming as it is today. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices weren’t accessible to many people; they were expensive and often challenging to get insurance coverage.
“So one of those stories in the film is the family’s challenge in affording that AAC device and how it could improve her life,” explained Peter. “And frankly, it’s not a magic bullet; implementing it comes with challenges. Using technology to say what you want is one thing, but getting people to listen is another.” These real-life narratives are central to the story and represent what it’s like to be disabled.
Peter hopes this movie breaks down barriers and creates understanding and empathy. “I hope you see an honest and authentic portrayal of one girl with CP. Often, we see stories about people with disabilities that focus on the people around them, and we wanted to make a film about Melody – a story through her eyes, her world. Melody is a great sixth-grade kid — and at the core‚ just a kid — who deserves to be presumed competent and able to do many things. Unfortunately, the default for so many is to assume the opposite.”
The takeaways are powerful. Throughout the process of making this movie, Peter learned a lot. “I learned that in the past, I was scared of disability; I didn’t know how to react to what is different, and that made me stay away. Through this process, I learned that you need to approach people with disabilities just like anyone else. It’s a fear-based assumption that you have to break down, and I hope this movie is a catalyst for that. For some people, that fear might keep them from wanting to see this movie — that it will make them uncomfortable, or they’ll walk away with pity or sadness. I encourage people to watch this movie to learn that there’s nothing to fear. I hope you see a story that resonates and creates visibility for these beautiful human beings.”
Out of My Mind comes out on Disney+ on November 22, 2024. Watch the trailer here.
About the Movie
“Out of My Mind” takes us inside the mind of Melody Brooks, a bright, curious 12-year-old girl who loves watching Friends, wants cooler clothes than her mother buys for her, and dreams of being accepted by her schoolmates.
As a nonverbal, wheelchair-using sixth grader with cerebral palsy, Melody is placed in a classroom for students with disabilities where her eagerness to learn and keen intellect are not fully recognized. When Katherine, a young educator, notices her untapped potential, Melody is moved to an inclusive classroom where she flourishes academically.
Adding to the usual middle school struggles of making friends and fitting in, Melody contends with a teacher who is reluctant to have her in his class and fellow students who look upon her as an uncomfortable disruption. Melody’s ability to communicate improves greatly when her parents get her an assistive communication device, allowing her to participate in class more fully and join and thrive on her school’s competitive trivia quiz team. But life still presents many challenges and Melody must continue to fight to be listened to. Learn more at www.ondisneyplus.disney.com/movie/out-of-my-mind.
About Peter Saraf
For the better part of two decades, Peter Saraf ran the indie producing and financing company Big Beach, which he co-founded in 2004. With that company, he produced a steady stream of critical and commercial hits including “Little Miss Sunshine,” “The Farewell,” “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood,” “Loving,” “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “Everything Is Illuminated,” “Kings Of Summer,” “Sunshine Cleaning” and the series “Vida” and “Sorry For Your Loss,” as well as the doc series “Nuclear Family.” Saraf began his producing career working with Jonathan Demme and Edward Saxon at Clinica Estetico, where he worked on films including “Ulee’s Gold,” “Adaptation,” “Philadelphia,” “Beloved” and the documentaries “Mandela” and “The Agronomist.” An Oscar, Golden Globe, and Tony nominee, he has won multiple Independent Spirit, Gotham and PGA awards.