Roma Murphy has written a variety of content – from short-form comedic digital content to children’s animation – but when working on others’ projects, she was asked to write nondisabled characters. As a writer for Easterseals Disability Film Challenge’s One Night Stand, Murphy had the opportunity to go in a new direction.
“This is the first time I’ve written a disabled character and actually gotten to see them come to life onscreen,” said Murphy, who is a 2022 RespectAbility Entertainment Lab Alumna. “Nothing could have prepared me for that level of emotion.”
Founded by Nic Novicki, the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge (EDFC) is an annual five-day competition in which filmmakers must create original three-to-five minute films based on a different theme each year. This year’s theme is buddy comedy.
The team behind One Night Stand represents a multitude of disabilities. In this short film, Bex (Daisy Washington), a woman who uses a wheelchair, is preparing for her first one-night stand. She enlists the help of her quirky roommate Grace (Caitlin Parr), who offers to share “everything I’ve learned about sex from anime and fan fiction.”
As they prepare, Bex and Grace dance – showing that a woman who uses a wheelchair can dance – and share dirty pickup lines. Bex makes it clear that she is looking for something casual with her date Rachel (Alexis Rae).
“The only time anyone has ever seen me as a sexual being is in the context of some huge, slow-burn multi-year romance,” Bex tells Grace. “I just – I need to know somebody can want me without being in love with me.”
Both Murphy and her co-writer Shaina Ghuraya use mobility devices themselves and they had the opportunity to shine the spotlight on a topic hardly represented media – that disabled women can be sexy and desire to have sex – including one-night stands.
“In this industry, it’s so rare that us creatives with disabilities get to work with each other at every stage of the creative process,” said Ghurarya, who also directed the short. “To have a script written, directed, and acted by women with disabilities was not only fulfilling, but we were also able to portray an authentic, messy, sex-positive character with a disability. We were able to create something we’re proud of, which speaks to this challenge.”
“Rarely do you see disability and sexuality represented on screen,” added co-director Marie Rodriguez. “One Night Stand, co-written by Roma Murphy and Shaina Ghuraya, gave us an opportunity to feature a disabled character who simply wants to get laid. It’s a feeling and desire that most people can relate to. Normalizing any marginalized community in entertainment means showing BIPOC and disabled characters living everyday lives, with everyday feelings.”
Director Ashley Eakin, who is an alumna of the 2019/2020 RespectAbility Entertainment Lab, supported Rodriguez and Ghuraya throughout the filming of One Night Stand.
“I participated in EDFC this year as an EP to help uplift another director I admire, Shaina Ghuraya,” said Eakin, who served as Executive Producer and Creative Producer on this short film. “It’s important to me to elevate others as I progress along my own filmmaking journey. Marie Rodriguez is a powerhouse and always puts together the most professional crew, so it was an easy yes.”
In addition, both Lauren “Lolo” Spencer and Edgar Rosa lent their expertise as EPs and Creative Producers. For Spencer, the EDFC allowed her to try out a different production role as the EDFC provides a safe environment for creatives to do so.
“Working with such an amazing team to pull resources together and create such a fun story was a joy, especially since I’m usually acting in projects,” Spencer said. “Having the producer hat this time was super exciting.”
“It brings me much joy to have participated in the EDFC this year,” Rosa added. “There is a special bond when a diverse group of creative people are brought together to tell stories. This is ours.”
