Disney Branded Television’s animated series Firebuds from Emmy-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (Disney’s Elena of Avalor and Sofia the First) follows a team of young first responders and their talking vehicle sidekicks.
Two upcoming episodes, titled “Cleft Hood” and “All That Jazzy,” will spotlight disability representation addressing volunteerism, community service, teamwork, wheelchair use, and cleft palate disorder. Each episode includes characters voiced by Lou Diamond Phillips, Melissa Rauch, Yvette Nicole Brown, Lauren “Lolo” Spencer, Tatiana Lee and Ali Stroker.
First up, “Cleft Hood” introduces a new vehicle character named Castor, who was born with a cleft hood. It was written by Jeremy Shipp, part of the Emmy-winning writing team behind Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure, and inspired by his own son, Henry, who was born with a cleft lip and palate.
“All That Jazzy” focuses on Spencer’s character Jazzy, who wants to be the star of a dance performance.
Two upcoming episodes, titled “Cleft Hood” and “All That Jazzy,” will spotlight disability representation addressing volunteerism, community service, teamwork, wheelchair use, and cleft palate disorder. Each episode includes characters voiced by Lou Diamond Phillips, Melissa Rauch, Yvette Nicole Brown, Lauren “Lolo” Spencer, Tatiana Lee and Ali Stroker.
First up, “Cleft Hood” introduces a new vehicle character named Castor, who was born with a cleft hood. It was written by Jeremy Shipp, part of the Emmy-winning writing team behind Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure, and inspired by his own son, Henry, who was born with a cleft lip and palate.
“All That Jazzy” focuses on Spencer’s character Jazzy, who wants to be the star of a dance performance.
- 3/8/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
I have to admit that last week’s episode of Ru Paul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race was one of the best episodes this season with every queen sticking to the 90s influence of the episode with a fabulous range of different perspectives which was great to watch! The episode ended with an expected top two lip-sync between Donna Belisama and Chakra Seven which saw the former claim her first-ever win of the season! This slight twist in the competition structure made total sense in my opinion as every performer did very well in their individual performances so having a battle for the overall winner made was appropriate! However, this was not the only dramatic twist of the episode, as it came to an end with Ru Paul announcing that as of next week there will be no more secrets. Usually, this sort of twist would have been reserved for the...
- 9/22/2022
- by Rhys Payne
- Nerdly
Disney Branded Television has set a celebrity voice cast for its upcoming animated musical series “Firebuds” including Padma Lakshmi, Melissa Rauch, Oscar Nuñez, José Andres, Pamela Adlon and “Weird Al” Yankovic. The series will premiere on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney+ on Sept. 21.
“Firebuds,” from “Sofia the First” and “Elena of Avalor” creator Craig Gerber, follows a group of friends who are the children of first responders who work and play with talking vehicles to help their community. Declan Whaley stars as Bo, a boy whose best friend is a fire engine named Flash (Terrence Little Gardenhigh). Also among the lead voice cast are Vivian Vencer as Violet, Lily Sanfelippo as Axl, JeCobi Swain as Jayden, and Caleb Paddock as Piston. Lou Diamond Phillips and Yvette Nicole Brown also star as co-fire chiefs, Chief Bill Bayani and Chief Faye Fireson, respectively.
The newly announced cast members include Lakshmi as Chef Pavani,...
“Firebuds,” from “Sofia the First” and “Elena of Avalor” creator Craig Gerber, follows a group of friends who are the children of first responders who work and play with talking vehicles to help their community. Declan Whaley stars as Bo, a boy whose best friend is a fire engine named Flash (Terrence Little Gardenhigh). Also among the lead voice cast are Vivian Vencer as Violet, Lily Sanfelippo as Axl, JeCobi Swain as Jayden, and Caleb Paddock as Piston. Lou Diamond Phillips and Yvette Nicole Brown also star as co-fire chiefs, Chief Bill Bayani and Chief Faye Fireson, respectively.
The newly announced cast members include Lakshmi as Chef Pavani,...
- 8/16/2022
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
In the past few years, Hollywood has been confronted by the MeToo movement, OscarsSoWhite, Black Lives Matter and, presently, members of the trans community calling out what they see as transphobic depictions of themselves in films, on television and in the media.
But there is another group traditionally under-represented in movies and TV whose population intersects at points with all those others: disabled people.
A new survey conducted by the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at the UCLA Psychology Department sought to examine the needs and opinions of disabled individuals in terms of media representation. The center said it “worked with the advocacy nonprofit organization RespectAbility after data analysis to ensure greater impact for this study.”
Survey data was collected on a nationally reflective sample of over 1,000 U.S. adults between the ages of 18-54. Of that sample, a subset of 268 people reported having a disability. They were asked three questions:...
But there is another group traditionally under-represented in movies and TV whose population intersects at points with all those others: disabled people.
A new survey conducted by the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at the UCLA Psychology Department sought to examine the needs and opinions of disabled individuals in terms of media representation. The center said it “worked with the advocacy nonprofit organization RespectAbility after data analysis to ensure greater impact for this study.”
Survey data was collected on a nationally reflective sample of over 1,000 U.S. adults between the ages of 18-54. Of that sample, a subset of 268 people reported having a disability. They were asked three questions:...
- 10/21/2021
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
A Sundance Institute program dedicated to cultivating and supporting diverse artists with disabilities is back after a pandemic pause.
The Accessible Futures Initiative returns for 2021 after launching in 2019, Sundance announced internally on Friday. The virtual program will work with filmmakers across genres and consult on projects and career strategy over a multi-day workshop.
This also includes making the annual Sundance Film Festival more accessible, in partnership with Easterseals Southern California and RespectAbility, which provides inclusivity training.
“We seek to assist participating artists in honing their creative voice and craft, finding a cohort, and building support for them to help surmount critical barriers in the field that has systematically excluded artists with disabilities,” an internal memo obtained by Variety read.
This year’s selected filmmakers include Nasreen Alkhateeb, Virtic Emil Brown, Shaina Ghuraya, Cashmere Jasmine , Luna X Moya, and Jennifer Msumba. Their advisors for the intensive include Day Al-Mohamed, Rodney Evans,...
The Accessible Futures Initiative returns for 2021 after launching in 2019, Sundance announced internally on Friday. The virtual program will work with filmmakers across genres and consult on projects and career strategy over a multi-day workshop.
This also includes making the annual Sundance Film Festival more accessible, in partnership with Easterseals Southern California and RespectAbility, which provides inclusivity training.
“We seek to assist participating artists in honing their creative voice and craft, finding a cohort, and building support for them to help surmount critical barriers in the field that has systematically excluded artists with disabilities,” an internal memo obtained by Variety read.
This year’s selected filmmakers include Nasreen Alkhateeb, Virtic Emil Brown, Shaina Ghuraya, Cashmere Jasmine , Luna X Moya, and Jennifer Msumba. Their advisors for the intensive include Day Al-Mohamed, Rodney Evans,...
- 6/25/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
RespectAbility will have a heavy presence at Sundance this year, with a lineup of virtual panels and discussions, all on digital Main Street.
The disability advocacy group is presenting five conversations under the umbrella title the Accessibility & Inclusion Lab; two of the events are in collaboration with Film Independent.
A goal is to encourage authentic representation of disabled people on screen, and to help change how audiences view people with disabilities. Another goal is to give filmmakers the tools to make films more accessible, both for disabled crew members and for audiences.
According to Nielsen, the disability market influences more than a trillion dollars in disposable income. However, with one-in-five people in the U.S. having a disability, there is a startling lack of representation – just 2.3% of characters in the 100 top-grossing films of 2019 and 8% in family films.
“What we see and hear on screen influences how we act in real life,...
The disability advocacy group is presenting five conversations under the umbrella title the Accessibility & Inclusion Lab; two of the events are in collaboration with Film Independent.
A goal is to encourage authentic representation of disabled people on screen, and to help change how audiences view people with disabilities. Another goal is to give filmmakers the tools to make films more accessible, both for disabled crew members and for audiences.
According to Nielsen, the disability market influences more than a trillion dollars in disposable income. However, with one-in-five people in the U.S. having a disability, there is a startling lack of representation – just 2.3% of characters in the 100 top-grossing films of 2019 and 8% in family films.
“What we see and hear on screen influences how we act in real life,...
- 1/28/2021
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
RespectAbility Entertainment Lab 2020 wrapped July 16, after 15 sessions intended to create an industry pipeline of professionals with disabilities behind the camera.
The five-week program is sponsored by the nonprofit RespectAbility and is run by four women with disabilities: Lauren Appelbaum, Tatiana Lee, Nasreen Alkhateeb and Leah Romond.
The program targets individuals who are interested in such jobs as writing, directing, producing, editing, sound and animation work.
It featured 30 participants, all of whom have experience in the entertainment industry prior to the Lab; however, most found they were stuck in assistant-level positions. The Lab is structured with two tracks: One for emerging talent and mid-career.
Speakers included reps from Bunim/Murray Prods., Film Independent, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Studios, the Walt Disney Studios, ViacomCBS and others.
The program is important because people with disabilities are frequently overlooked in Hollywood’s discussions about inclusion; their presence behind the camera is even rarer.
Lab members...
The five-week program is sponsored by the nonprofit RespectAbility and is run by four women with disabilities: Lauren Appelbaum, Tatiana Lee, Nasreen Alkhateeb and Leah Romond.
The program targets individuals who are interested in such jobs as writing, directing, producing, editing, sound and animation work.
It featured 30 participants, all of whom have experience in the entertainment industry prior to the Lab; however, most found they were stuck in assistant-level positions. The Lab is structured with two tracks: One for emerging talent and mid-career.
Speakers included reps from Bunim/Murray Prods., Film Independent, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Studios, the Walt Disney Studios, ViacomCBS and others.
The program is important because people with disabilities are frequently overlooked in Hollywood’s discussions about inclusion; their presence behind the camera is even rarer.
Lab members...
- 7/17/2020
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
RespectAbility has officially opened submissions for their second annual Summer Lab Program which further moves the needle when it comes to authentic stories and genuine representation of diverse people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health and other disabilities in film, TV and media. Applications will be accepted starting today and will be considered on a rolling basis through April 3.
The innovative Lab series is for emerging entertainment talent and includes a track for mid-level career professionals. The 5-week, 10-session summer Lab is for people with disabilities interested in – and with experience in – development, production and post-production, including careers as writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, animators and other production roles. Up to 30 participants will be accepted into the Lab.
More from DeadlineNew Hollywood Podcast: 'Gentefied's Marvin Lemus And Linda Yvette Chávez Talk Latinx Representation And How Netflix Series Reflects Their Own LivesBilly Porter On Playing Genderless Fairy Godmother In New...
The innovative Lab series is for emerging entertainment talent and includes a track for mid-level career professionals. The 5-week, 10-session summer Lab is for people with disabilities interested in – and with experience in – development, production and post-production, including careers as writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, animators and other production roles. Up to 30 participants will be accepted into the Lab.
More from DeadlineNew Hollywood Podcast: 'Gentefied's Marvin Lemus And Linda Yvette Chávez Talk Latinx Representation And How Netflix Series Reflects Their Own LivesBilly Porter On Playing Genderless Fairy Godmother In New...
- 3/12/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s roundup, Netflix releases the first trailer for the new season of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” and Showtime gives a sneak peek into the fifth and final season of “The Affair.”
Dates
Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Orange County” is set to return Aug. 6. Season 14 will bring back series regulars Tamra Judge, Shannon Storms Beador, Kelly Dodd, Gina Kirschenheiter, and Emily Simpson, who will be joined by new housewife Braunwyn Windham-Burke. Og housewife Vicki Gunvalson will also return for special appearances in the new season.
First Looks
Netflix has released the first trailer for Season 3 of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Premiering July 19, the new season will include comics such as Eddie Murphy, Seth Rogen, Ricky Gervais, Matthew Broderick, and Jamie Foxx as they discuss their careers and lives with one of the biggest names in comedy.
“Human Discoveries,” the...
Dates
Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Orange County” is set to return Aug. 6. Season 14 will bring back series regulars Tamra Judge, Shannon Storms Beador, Kelly Dodd, Gina Kirschenheiter, and Emily Simpson, who will be joined by new housewife Braunwyn Windham-Burke. Og housewife Vicki Gunvalson will also return for special appearances in the new season.
First Looks
Netflix has released the first trailer for Season 3 of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Premiering July 19, the new season will include comics such as Eddie Murphy, Seth Rogen, Ricky Gervais, Matthew Broderick, and Jamie Foxx as they discuss their careers and lives with one of the biggest names in comedy.
“Human Discoveries,” the...
- 7/2/2019
- by Anna Tingley
- Variety Film + TV
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