RespectAbility Entertainment Professionals Lab, Summer 2021
Leo Allanach
Leo Allanach (he/him) is a trans, queer and disabled producer and writer. Originally from what he refers to as “the Oregon Hellmouth” and raised on science fiction, he’s driven by a passion for art that focuses on how we can disrupt and change society’s current overlapping systems of harm. Leo has worked across multiple disciplines of media – from creating the fantasy-mystery web series to producing and hosting a podcast on exploring how disability intersects with every aspect of life and politics. In 2022, he was a recipient of the Trans/GNC Screenwriters Grant award from Tea Ho for his television pilot script.
Leo graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2020 with a BFA in Film & TV Production and a minor in Screenwriting. While there, he pushed back against the school’s industry-based educational system that suppresses marginalized voices and resists any movement toward increased accessibility. Fueled by this experience, Leo dove into disability justice and became passionate about wielding art as a tool to fight back.
He is still (slowly but surely) working towards becoming a showrunner, and given the chance, will talk and write at length about heists, time-travel, or space pirates. Leo is a 2021 RespectAbility Summer Film Lab Fellow, and currently resides in Brooklyn.
Learn More
After an extensive search and interview process, 30 individuals were invited to participate in RespectAbility’s Summer 2021 Lab for Entertainment Professionals. This 8-week, 24-session virtual summer Lab series for people interested in – and with experience in – development, production and post-production, including careers as writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, animators and other production roles, will take place June 22 – August 12, 2021. Participants include diverse people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health and other disabilities. This Lab is a recipient of The Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award. Learn more: www.respectability.org/respectability-la-lab.
This program, which continues building the talent pipeline of young professionals with disabilities looking to work behind the scenes, is made possible with support by:
- Platinum Sponsors: Murray/Reese Foundation, The Harnisch Foundation, Pop Culture Collaborative, Sony Pictures Entertainment and The Walt Disney Company
- Gold Sponsors: A&E and Final Draft
- Silver Sponsors: NBCUniversal and ViacomCBS
