I know this isn’t entirely NZ-focussed, but it’s a cool little movie this guy made and I’m all for giving credit where it’s due. And this kid deserves oodles of it, because it’s people like him, who are using new media in positive and powerful ways, which make people sit up and actually take notice.

US teenager Benjamin Snow, 19, recently entered his short film ‘Thumbs Down To Pity’ in a film contest created by the United Nations, ‘Film Your Issue’. Ben’s film focusses on Hollywood’s portrayal of characters with disabilities as patronising and pitiful, and his message is simple and powerful: “Thumbs down to pity!”. His film was voted on by the public, and out of a selection of more than 300, he was voted one of the 5 winners.

I think that’s just plain awesome. Hopefully the simple existence of films like this will help show those wrapped up in their gliterazzi lives that disabled people are, gosh!, people too.

To read more, or to order a copy of the film on DVD, click here. Otherwise check it out below!
Note: The flip4mac junk text was my unfortunate doing, not Benjamin’s. For a clean version and a transcript, check out this page.