The Other Screen
The Other Screen is perhaps best described as a series of events that explore, discuss and challenge representations of disabled people and the d/Deaf community in film. While Kyla and I do regularly review and adapt the format, our screenings often include a short followed by a feature-length production. We then deliver a Q&A with a guest speaker and conclude the evening with drinks, nibbles and networking.
My route into working on film events, and ultimately The Other Screen, came off the back of my film Democracy For All. As detailed elsewhere on this site, this documentary was well-received and screened and the University of Brighton’s Disability Research Network. I later helped transform the Network into a film screening event called A Different Lens. Hosted at the Fabrica gallery, the event featured the documentary Heavy Load (2008) and reunited the cast with the film’s Director Jerry Rothwell. One year later, Fabrica asked if I could share my experiences of delivering A Different Lens with artist and activist Kyla Harris. Since then, Kyla and I have been combining our skills to deliver The Other Screen.
We were delighted to be joined by actor and campaigner Adam Pearson for our first event ‘Disability on Show.’ The Other Screen has since welcomed Lotje Sodderland who spoke about her Netflix documentary My Beautiful Broken Brain. Eden and Andrew Kötting also collaborated with us to deliver ‘Spillage,’ a curation of films surrounding disability, family and creativity. In what has become our flagship event, The Other Screen challenged the problematic representations of disability in Me Before You through an irreverent, interactive and Rocky Horror Picture Show inspired evening!
We are proud to say that we have consistently attracted excellent attendances for each of our screenings and have been moved to learn about the positive impact of The Other Screen for those who have attended our events. We have even been able to welcome previous audience members as volunteers who have helped develop our programmes.
As we build our profile, we have also been able to reciprocate the support of those organisations who initially helped us start the project. This includes providing guidance to young film programmers from Fabrica’s Fresh Perspectives initiative. Our achievements have led to further opportunities for collaboration which have helped us to promote our work and continue our efforts to sustain and grow the project.
Such collaborations include delivering a presentation to Masters students at the University of Brighton, taking part in interviews with local media, sharing our experiences at a roundtable discussion with the BFI and working with Bohemia Media to deliver an online screening and Q&A for the film A Space in Time.
Most recently, The Other Screen was present at the Independent Cinema Office’s Screening Days Conference where Kyla and I delivered a talk and answered questions as part of the Reclaiming Space, Finding Community panel. Since then, I shared my experiences of starting and delivering The Other Screen for the ICO’s forthcoming course about getting into film programming.
Kyla and I are currently working on re-starting The Other Screen and delivering our first in-person event since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. We are also in the process of updating our new website, which not only contains our contact information, but will be where you can learn more about our upcoming events and projects. It will also host recordings of all the Question and Answer sessions from our previous screenings.
The Other Screen also welcomes opportunities for collaboration so if this would be of interest, or you would like to contact us about anything else, please head to theotherscreen.uk.