Gather around The Campfire with Emily Sullivan
We all want to feel like we belong, like we have a place in the world full of people we can connect with. Emily Sullivan struggled with CMT Type 1A, bullying in school and a sense of isolation until she watched the 1994 film Forrest Gump her first experience seeing a person with a disability succeed. On this episode join us on Emily's journey falling in love with films, navigating CMT to her discovery of Camp Footprint, to working on an upcoming documentary about Camp Footprint a summer camp for individuals with CMT and how this camp has brought people in the community together. To find out when the documentary will be coming out or how you can help make sure the documentary is able to complete production click the links below.
https://www.instagram.com/beyondthecampfire_film
This episode is sponsored by Community Living Trent Highlands and Job Quest https://www.clth.ca
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Until next time Keep Calm and Roll on.
Emily Sullivan
Director
When I was about eight years old, I watched Forrest Gump for the first time with my dad. It was the only time I had ever seen a lead character wearing leg braces. I had just stopped wearing my leg braces around that time due to relentless bullying from my peers. The movie didn’t inspire me to put my braces back on, but it sparked something else, the desire to share my story, to advocate, and to do it through filmmaking.
As a kid, I made short films with my friends, wrote scripts, and dreamed of being a director. But growing up with a disability, along with other childhood challenges, I often felt like I was stuck in survival mode, unable to fully devote myself to my passions. No matter what though filmmaking was always in my heart. I never truly let it go.
I studied film for a year at a college in Buffalo, my hometown, before deciding I needed a change. I craved new opportunities and an adventure, so I found a school in Orlando and convinced my parents, who have always supported and nurtured my dreams, to help me make the move. Again, I pursued filmmaking.
Then came the film set safety class. We learned how to wrap heavy cables, set up and take down C-stands, and navigate the technical side of set work. I watched my classmates move through it with ease, but I knew my grip strength and motor skills would make these tasks difficult. The floor was covered in thick cables, and I had to watch every step to avoid tripping. Instead of asking for accommodations, I assumed it would be too much for me and I switched my major to creative writing. I figured … Read More