Many know book titles such as the “Bicentennial Man” or George Lucas’ “Star Wars,” but may not have heard about Judy Lynn del Rey. Del Rey was an editor and publisher that was instrumental in these two books as well as 65 other best sellers. Del Rey, who was born with dwarfism, started working at Galaxy Fiction and worked her way up to managing editor and then moved along to Ballantine Books and became vice president. In 1977, Del Rey received her own publishing company named Del Rey books and continued her triumph in the science fiction world through her critical feedback on the plot, language, and characters.
Del Rey’s life is the latest subject of “American Masters: Renegades,” a documentary series showcasing the lives and cultural contributions of little-known historical figures with disabilities. Each short is 12-minutes long and shines the spotlight on one individual.
“As a lifelong sci-fi fan, I’ve experienced firsthand how these stories can fundamentally shift our worldview in ways both thrilling and profound,” said Director Jeremy Hsing, who also is an alumnus of Disability Belongs™’ 2022 Entertainment Lab and 2023 National Leadership Fellowship. “The stories Del Rey published through her imprint Del Rey Books challenged the status quo, pushed the boundaries of inclusion, and instilled within readers a sense of wonder about what the world could one day become. Del Rey dedicated her life to championing her authors’ stories for the world to see. It’s about time that we champion hers.”
Even in media showcasing disabled figures, disabled crew rarely are involved in the making and producing of these films. This often leads to inaccurate and dehumanizing disability representation. The “American Masters: Renegades” series, however, aims to change this trend.
“Including a disabled crew ensures authenticity and depth in telling the stories of disabled people—because who better to capture those lived experiences than those living them? We’re able to capture sensibilities and raise questions that might have otherwise gone unasked or had their importance misunderstood,” said Producer Ryan Camarda.
As a disabled person myself, I can relate to this statement with how important it is to embrace people with disabilities by none other than those who are living it. When we include people with disabilities, we are reaching a diverse audience that needs to be heard. With Del Rey’s story shared through the lens of disabled crew members, I feel optimistic about the future of film and the closing of the gap to provide inclusive representation.
View the full piece on Del Rey on the PBS website. The crew for this film included Jeremy Hsing (director), Ryan Camarda (producer), and Colin Buckingham (writer), with original artwork by Adriano Araújo dos Reis Botega. The series creator and senior producer is Day Al-Mohamed, with executive producer Charlotte Mangin, series producer Amanda Upson, and producer Ryan Camarda.
“American Masters: Renegades” premiered on PBS on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, and will air a new episode every Tuesday through October 29, 2024. The episodes will be available on PBS.org, the PBS app, and the American Masters YouTube channel. Each episode will include audio descriptions, open captions, and on-screen ASL interpretation.
