“Cha Cha Real Smooth” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” are among the recent winners of the Ruderman Family Foundation’s Authentic Representation Seal, diverse I learned exclusively.
The Foundation recognizes films and television series that include authentic representation of people with disabilities. Vanessa Burghardt, an autistic actress, plays Domino’s (Dakota Johnson) autistic daughter in the comedy-drama Cha Cha Real Smooth.
“From the moment the film’s maker, Cooper Rafe, saw Vanessa’s audition, he immediately knew it was our Lola. No one could deny her talent but authenticity was important to everyone, so Cooper changed the script to advance the character and that was the end of it,” said producer Jessica Switch. In a statement, “Looking back, I can’t imagine someone else playing Lola. “Vanessa was perfect. She was very professional and nice to the group. She nailed every shot and was always prepared. She also brought her personal experience into character. The headphones she wears in the movie are her own, and similar to the character, Vanessa uses them as a source of comfort and safety.”
Burghardt added, “Everyone was very committed to making sure that Lola’s experience as an autistic character was accurate and I always felt that my input was important. As an actor with autism, I really have a lot to say and want to be part of other people’s stories. I feel that the authentic choice is very important because it gives me the opportunity to make so.”
The Authentic Representation Seal of the Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” was also awarded for representing Bruce Horak, the first legally blind lead actor for “Star Trek”, as Enterprise Chief Engineer Lieutenant Heimer. Additional honorees include HBO’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” Hallmark’s “Color My World with Love,” and the Apple TV+ series “Best Foot Forward.”
“The latest batch of studio productions to have earned the Seal of Authentic Acting has once again demonstrated that the practice of inclusive and authentic acting is not only a principled and ethically sound choice, but an important factor contributing to the actual success of a production,” said Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation. . “This is very evident through ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth,’ whose originality has led the film’s critical acclaim. We hope these results will encourage Hollywood to continue expanding opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly in roles that portray the same disabilities.”
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