“I feel like my experience of disability is inherently artistic. It takes a certain amount of imagination and creativity to move through structures that weren’t built for you; you’re constantly imagining possibilities into being for something as mundane as crossing a street during construction season.
I think that’s why I love exploring stories through multiple lenses – writing, acting, producing, directing and more. How we tell our stories, the way we communicate, collaborate and learn both from and with each other, is deeply intertwined with the narrative and creative process for me. This industry can sometimes feel like a relentless machine that you’re just trying to survive, but I’ve found that my best work happens when I have the opportunity to pause, take a step back, and bring my world-building skills to life”.
This Disability Pride Month, our DSO Spotlight shines on writer and actor Ophira Calof. Ophira is a multi-award-winning writer, performer and facilitator who is drawn to character-driven stories and works to “crip the script,” questioning defaults in both narrative and process.
They’re also co-lead and co-creator of the Disabled Producers Lab, a project the DSO is proud to be a partner of, and the inaugural creative director of the Accessible Writers’ Lab. Ophira has helped design and facilitate several other programs, including AccessCBC and the ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto.
Learn more at ophira.ca and share this post to help more people discover this incredible talent!
DSO Spotlight is our way of celebrating the contributions of disabled creatives across the screen industry and making space for their work to be seen and valued. Share this article to help us amplify Ophira’s work!
