Access All Areas launches production company and partners with TV Access Project
August 21, 2023
Access All Areas (AAA) is launching a new production company, co-led by learning disabled and autistic talent, that will focus on a three-part approach to improving learning disabled and neurodivergent representation in TV and film. This will coincide with a new push for inclusion by the TV Access Project (TAP) at a panel event at the Edinburgh TV Festival. Access All Areas joins the TV Access Project as a partner, as TAP sets out new standards for inclusion in Edinburgh.
Access All Areas (AAA), a company of learning disabled and autistic creatives, is joining TAP with a focus on inclusion for learning disabled and autistic talent. The company has already worked with major broadcasters and streamers to improve accessibility at different stages of production, on and off screen. Collaborations to date include I Used to Be Famous, The Crown (Netflix), Ralph & Katie (ITV), The Cleaner, Holby City, (BBC1), Hollyoaks (Channel 4), and an accessible Writers Lab with Sky Studios.
AAA’s new production company, which launches August 23rd, will work alongside streamers, broadcasters, and other production companies to offer training, support, and co-creation. Offering a three-part approach to collaborations in the industry:
1) Access Training
For production crews, casting teams, and wider TV and film staff. Trainings are co-led by experienced learning disabled and autistic talent, and will help to drive better understanding among production companies and commissioning teams of what is needed to create accessible filming processes.
2) 1:1 Creative Support for talent
Support provided to learning disabled and autistic talent in castings, in rehearsals, and on-set, to help them realise their best performances. Creative support includes access support, pastoral support, advocacy on-set, and accessible acting coaching. This will help to create more accessible and inclusive working environments.
3) Co-creation of scripts
Facilitating accessible Writers’ Rooms to support learning disabled and autistic talent to collaborate effectively with experienced writers. This will help to make sure that learning disabled and autistic stories are being authored by people with lived experience, and that more disabled stories are told.
Commenting on the TV Access Project partnership, Patrick Collier, Executive Director, AAA said: “TAP represents an exciting drive by the TV and Film Industry towards full inclusion of disabled talent. Access All Areas believes that, with proper training for the industry, nuanced support for talent, and meaningful inclusion in the creative process, learning disabled and autistic voices can be at the heart of this drive. Alongside our partners in TAP, we want to see real systemic change, where the inclusion of learning disabled and autistic voices becomes normalised in our culture.”