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About The Film
Synopsis
Filmmaker Alexander Freeman who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of two, was raised by his loving and supportive parents but the one thing he has always wanted was to be in a loving relationship with a woman and to have a family of his own. When Alexander meets his life partner Orina by chance at a film screening his life changes forever for the better, especially when his daughter Maya is born. As Alexander and Orina raise Maya, have a commitment ceremony, start their lives together, and struggle with life's challenges, Alexander's parents learn to accept that Alexander can live a normal life independently and can be a great father despite their original views on the pregnancy.
Articles
Reviews
"My Own Normal is not just a documentary, it’s a powerful tool that challenges preconceived notions. Through methodical pacing and layered story structure, Freeman showcases his abilities and addresses the challenges that come his way. The documentary excels at highlighting the capabilities of a person with cerebral palsy, offering a fresh and fascinating perspective. My Own Normal is a gripping exploration of the challenges of new parenthood, heightened by the complexities of Freeman’s diagnosis. As a filmmaker, he masterfully unveils crucial details to amplify the emotional tension. This is a true-to-life portrayal that immerses the viewer in the protagonist’s world. In this regard, it stands out from the rest, and is a must-watch for its unique perspective.” - Bobby LePire, Film Threat
My Own Normal is, most appropriately, a documentary that reinforces the normalcy of the disabled life along with those with disabilities living, loving, working, playing, parenting, chasing dreams, and creating families." - Richard Propes, The Independent Critic
Featuring
Alexander Freeman
Orina Umansky Freeman
Maya Freeman
Linda Freeman
John Freeman
Susan Fellows
Barbara Hodge
Deanna Martinez Serrano
Brandon Golden
Erik Fattrosso
Dean Covert
Stephen D. Baker
Jeff Masotti
Alec Van
Jeffrey Salloway
The Crew
Alexander Freeman, Writer, Producer, Director
Alexander Freeman is an award-winning producer and director with cerebral palsy dedicated to producing and directing documentaries, feature films, and series that bring visibility to those otherwise ignored by society and reinforce themes of morals and ethics. He made his directorial debut with the documentary, THE LAST TABOO on YouTube and he has won multiple awards for his documentary THE WOUNDS WE CANNOT SEE which is available on Prime Video and other platforms. He has also written different feature narrative scripts, treatments, and a pilot episode of a narrative television series. He is the songwriter of WAITING FOR YOU TO COME ALONG and MY OWN LIFE. He graduated from Emerson College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Production with a concentration in Directing. He is the owner of the production company, Outcast Productions as well as the founder of the network FilmAble, a community of disabled entertainment professionals who are available to work.
Brandon Golden, Producer
Brandon Golden is a storyteller at heart and the co-founder of the production company, Project 10K Films Inc. He loves diving into anything from long-form narratives to short-form TikToks. Currently, he's the Social Media Manager at Vita Coco, where he crafts content that ranges from serious and informative to completely absurd and goofy. He met his fellow producer Alexander Freeman at Emerson College. Their friendship and subsequent collaboration was the entry point to his winding path in documentary filmmaking. Brandon's previous works, BARREN TREES, and THE WOUNDS WE CANNOT SEE are currently streaming on Prime Video. As a devoted movie enthusiast, his goal is to recreate the same sense of wonder and escapism he feels every time he walks out of a theater.
Ariana Garfinkel, Consulting Producer
Ariana Garfinkel has served as Producer on six feature documentaries: ON THESE GROUNDS (SXSW, STARZ), NEVER TOO LATE: THE DOC SEVERINSEN STORY (PBS American Masters), YOU DON'T NOMI (Tribeca, AMC+), I AM MARIS (Netflix), BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS (SXSW, PBS Independent Lens) and BOYS OF SUMMER (ESPN, PBS). She was Associate Producer of TRUMBO and SYMPHONY OF THE SOIL, and produced narrative films by Lily Baldwin, among other projects. Previously, Ariana held positions in New York City at Miramax Films, Tribeca Productions and Reno Productions, and she began her career on location for HBO Films and Columbia Pictures. Ariana currently runs development for production company Bright Productions, together with Kevin S. Bright.
Michaelle McGaraghan, Writer, Editor
Michaelle is an Emmy nominated film editor who has spent the past 12 years collaborating with influential filmmakers such as Marc Smolowitz, Michael Ardnt, Pratibha Parmar and Jacqueline Olive. Her work has screened all over the world including, SXSW, PBS, MTV, and Disney+. She is a Sundance Art of Editing fellow, Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellow and Sundance Doc Lab Contributing Editor.
Executive Producers
Kevin S. Bright
Kevin S. Bright was Executive Producer of the Emmy Award-winning television series FRIENDS for its entire ten-year run, directing over 50 episodes of the show including all 10 season finales. Bright’s television credits also include In Living Color and HBO’s Dream On. He is Executive Producer and/or Director of numerous award-winning documentaries, including NEVER TOO LATE: THE DOC SEVERINSEN STORY (PBS American Masters), SXSW feature docs BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS (PBS Independent Lens) and ON THESE GROUNDS, and NUREONGI. Bright was also co-director of the short documentary WHO ORDERED TAX? (Audience Award, Nantucket Film Festival) and director of THE LION, a filmed production of the acclaimed Geffen Playhouse musical. Bright has several upcoming documentary projects in development at his production company, Bright Productions.
Claudia Bright
Claudia Bright is Co-founder/CEO of DoVE Project – Dogs of Violence Exposed, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the dog meat trade in South Korea. Her childhood in upstate New York instilled in her a blueprint for a lifetime of advocacy for the underserved and undervalued, and to this day she remains a committed guardian of children’s rights, animals in peril, and our planet. Claudia served for 4 years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster children in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and is a Founding Board Member of Global Watch Foundation which oversees an orphanage in Southern India. She is Executive Producer of SXSW feature doc BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS (PBS Independent Lens) and NUREONGI which premiered at the Seoul Eco Film Festival, the largest international environment film festival in Asia.
Marianne Leone
Marianne Leone is an actress, screenwriter and essayist. Her essays have appeared in the Boston Globe, Lithub, Ploughshares, Post Road, Bark Magazine, Coastal Living, Solstice, and others. She is the author of three memoirs, Jesse (Simon & Schuster, 2010) and Ma Speaks Up (Beacon Press 2017) and Five Dog Epiphany (coming from Akashic 9/3/24). She had a recurring role on HBO's THE SOPRANOS as Joanne Moltisanti, Christopher's mother. She has also appeared in films by David O. Russell, Larry David, John Sayles, Nancy Savoca and Martin Scorsese. JESSE is published in Italy by Nutrimenti.
Chris Cooper
Chris Cooper is an American actor. He has appeared in several major Hollywood films, including A TIME TO KILL, OCTOBER SKY, AMERICAN BEAUTY, THE BOURNE IDENTITY, SEABISCUIT, CAPOTE, SYRIANA, THE KINGDOM, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, THE TOWN, THE MUPPETS, A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, LITTLE WOMEN. Cooper won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as John Laroche in ADAPTATION.
Full Credits
Directed by
Alexander Freeman
Produced by
Brandon Golden, Alexander Freeman
Executive Producers
Ladd Lavallee, Tammy Lavallee, Rory Read, Mary Savoy-Read, Claudia Bright, Kevin S. Bright, Chris Cooper, Marianne Leone
Written by
Alexander Freeman, Michaelle McGaraghan
Consulting Producer
Ariana Garfinkel
Directors of Photography
Mike Magilnick, Erik Fattrosso
Edited by
Michaelle McGaraghan, Ryan Egan
Music by
Chris Zabriskie
Stone Cold Fox
Camera Operators
John Freeman, Linda Freeman, Alexander Freeman, Orina Umansky Freeman, Bernard Pendleton, Deanna Martinez Serrano, Dan Halbert
Additional Cinematography
Asa Reed, Alex Monto, Jingnan Peng, Jeff Masotti, Brian Hale
Still Photographers
John Freeman, Linda Freeman, Alexander Freeman, Orina Umansky Freeman, Maya Freeman, Sara Nazim, Kirk Joslin, Warren Nelson, Jaylex Diaz, Sheri Lynn Johns, Deanna Martinez Serrano, Wes Reid, Stephen D. Baker, Curtis Knight, Linda Lee Scali, Ben Mercedes
Sound Recordists
Stephen D. Baker, Jack Bradley, Mark Gardner, Glenn Goettler, Jeff Masotti
Production Assistants
Orina Umansky Freeman, Wes Reid, Lily Kaufman
Gaffers
Asa Reed, Dean Covert
Colorist and Assistant Editor
Jack Ieronimo
Sound Editor and Mixer
Ben LeBeau
End Credits and Trailer Editor
Jeffrey McHale
Mastering Engineer
Tristan Snyder
Captions and On Screen Descriptions Michaelle McGaraghan
Audio Descriptions Narrators
Tristan Snyder
Nicole Cyrille
Graphic Designer
Drew McGaraghan
PR
Ry Levey
In the creation of the documentary "My Own Normal," I embarked on a deeply personal journey, one that explores the intricacies of life, love, and emotional pain. My aim was not only to share my own unique life story but to invite viewers into my world as a father, a partner, and a filmmaker living with cerebral palsy. Through this film, I aspire to foster a sense of connection, empathy, and a newfound understanding of the concept of "normal."
From the moment I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, my life has been shaped by the unwavering support of my loving parents. However, although my parents did their best I always desired to experience the joys of a romantic relationship and to create a family of my own. The genesis of this documentary lies in the serendipitous meeting of my life partner, Orina, at a film screening. Our love story became a catalyst for profound change in my life, a change that was undoubtedly for the better. With the arrival of our daughter, Maya, our world expanded and our lives became richer than we could have ever imagined.
It is my hope that viewers will not merely be spectators but will be able to step into my shoes and experience life as I have, from my perspective. I want the audience to feel the intimate moments of joy, vulnerability, and growth that have marked my journey as a father and partner. The heart of "My Own Normal" lies in the evolution of perceptions, both my own and those of my parents. The film documents their transition from holding reservations about my ability to live independently and be a capable father to embracing the idea that I can, indeed, lead a life that is rich in love, purpose, and fulfillment.
I want this film to be a source of empowerment, a reminder that love has the capacity to transcend all boundaries. As a filmmaker and a father, my greatest desire is that this documentary will touch the hearts of those who watch it, inspiring them to embrace their own unique path toward their own version of "normal."
Director’s Statement
- Alexander Freeman
Upcoming Screenings
World Premiere: Independent Film Festival Boston
May 7 at 5pm at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, MA
San Francisco Premiere: San Francisco Documentary Film Festival
June 2 at 5:30pm at the Roxie Theater, San Francisco, CA
Screening Requests
To request a screening for the film, please send a message with details about the event, preferred date and time, and any specific requirements or instructions. We will review your request and get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for considering our film for screening.
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