"A Loss For Words - Rose's Story"
Donation protected
Communication disabilities, such as chronic anxiety, autism, dyslexia & others, pose serious challenges to everyone in our society. Unfortunately, the most common reaction is to assume since these folks cannot express themselves ‘normally’ they are either ‘stupid’ or being consciously disrespectful. This reality has lead to innumerable stories of exploitation and loss over the years.
This is one such story.
This is a story about a clash or civilizations, a struggle to be heard and appreciated, of human perseverance, of love and loss, of fighting back no matter the wounds or the odds, of beautiful art unmarred by ugly experience. This is the story of a hero with amazing powers, yet catastrophic weaknesses. This is Rose’s story.
“Before I met Rose and her mother I knew very little about the challenges people like her faced. As I learned more my disgust and outrage was quickly followed by a realization that this was a real opportunity to shine a light on communication disabilities and how our society deals with them. The term ‘stranger than fiction’ comes to mind. Two disabled women, one a widow, one an artist, apparently beset by Mennonite neighbours trying to drive them off their land, a township unwilling to help, police unable to do anything but make things worse and a chain of events that are as incredible and dramatic as they are provable. I really believe Rose’s amazing story can help us all understand what its like to live with serious communication disabilities and how bad it can get without help. For this reason, and because Rose and her Mother deserve a break more than any two women I have ever met, I hope you’ll see fit to donate whatever you can to see this film produced. Thank you for your interest.” ~ Bryan Bakker
PURPOSE OF THE FILM
1. To help us all understand how it can be that two women, both with diagnosed communication challenges, could have ended up in such a horrible situation.
2. To help the average Canadian understand how our legal system and aid structures currently deal with people who have communication disabilities.
3. To show how easy and common it is for people (specifically lawyers, police officers and other professionals) to misread a communication disability as a lack of intelligence or as disrespect.
4. To show how this can therefore lead to calamitous emotional and financial distress for those with communication disabilities.
5. To show how bad things can get when these combining factors are put into a small county environment rife with politics, over-sized egos & rigid religious views.
6. To show ways in which the system can be made more fair and hopefully help Julia and Rose get their life back.
APPROACH TO THE FILM
The approach to filming will be open and documentary in style. We will endeavour to answer a series of tough questions through interviews, observation and organic film capture. We will tell the chronological story of Rose from childhood to now, parallel with her current activities lobbying and building a network of supporters. Through out we will pepper in interview clips of professionals contributing to the primary and secondary story arcs, along with information about communication disabilities and the supports available for people who suffer from them. At the end, we will offer inspirational solutions and, hopefully, show a marked improvement in Rose and her Mother’s situation.
STYLE OF THE FILM
Though journalistically driven, objective and fair, the visual style of this film will endeavour to be dream like, even wistful at times. An opening scene where a young girl (Rose as a child) runs through a country meadow on a sunny summer day, will set the stage for all the drama that will follow on that property up to the present day. We will endeavour to explore and showcase dramatic contrasts at every step. A documentary no one watches helps no one.
QUESTIONS THE FILM WILL ANSWER
1. How does the legal system support people who are disadvantaged by communication disabilities? Can it be improved?
2. How can we best educate the public so that people don’t immediately confuse a communication disability will low intelligence or disrespect?
3. What services are available out there for people like Rose and her Mother?
4. Why, with legislation and third party organizations in place, has their situation deteriorated to such a point? Where is the disconnect?
5. What are some of the solutions being talked about?
6. How has the township of Bayham handled or mishandled this situation?
7. Does the Mennonite community hold undue influence in Bayham township?
8. How has the OPP handled or mishandled this situation?
SUPPORT REWARDS
· $10 and above - You will receive an acknowledgment on our Facebook page and website.
· $20 and above – Your Name in the Credits. Everyone contributing $20 or more will get their name in the credits. In the credits of the film there will be a section that reads: “The following citizens helped to fund this documentary. Without their help, this film would not have been possible.”
· $25 and above - 12 “A Loss For Words” Promotional Buttons. We are encouraging you to share the buttons with your friends. This will help to spread the message.
· $40 and above – Private Link to Screen the Film. Coinciding with the commercial release of the film, you will be able to view the film online via a private link.
· $50 and above – A Loss For Words Branded Shirt or Baseball Cap.
· $75 and above – A Collector’s Edition DVD. A limited “funders” edition DVD that will contain several short exclusive features.
· $100 - Have Your Voice Heard. Record a short (60 seconds or less) account of why you think this film is important. It could include an editorial or a personal story. All videos will be posted on the “Personal Stories” section of the website. Edits of a selected number will appear in the film.
· $1,000 or more – Patrons’ Section Credit. You will be listed in the Patrons’ Section of the credits and have access to the password protected section of the website that will provide up-to-date information on the progress of the film and a producer’s diary.
· $10,000 or more – Associate Producer Credit.
SUMMARY
This documentary is sorely needed and would be very timely indeed. You can't turn on the news without hearing about communication disabilities in one form or another. Rose’s situation, her personality, her art and her coat, quite simply make her the perfect vehicle to help shine a light on communication disabilities and their societal implications. Please support our effort to produce this documentary by donating. Thank you.
(Bryan Bakker is the owner of Bizbio Inc. See some of Bizbio's work at www.bizbio.com)
This is one such story.
This is a story about a clash or civilizations, a struggle to be heard and appreciated, of human perseverance, of love and loss, of fighting back no matter the wounds or the odds, of beautiful art unmarred by ugly experience. This is the story of a hero with amazing powers, yet catastrophic weaknesses. This is Rose’s story.
“Before I met Rose and her mother I knew very little about the challenges people like her faced. As I learned more my disgust and outrage was quickly followed by a realization that this was a real opportunity to shine a light on communication disabilities and how our society deals with them. The term ‘stranger than fiction’ comes to mind. Two disabled women, one a widow, one an artist, apparently beset by Mennonite neighbours trying to drive them off their land, a township unwilling to help, police unable to do anything but make things worse and a chain of events that are as incredible and dramatic as they are provable. I really believe Rose’s amazing story can help us all understand what its like to live with serious communication disabilities and how bad it can get without help. For this reason, and because Rose and her Mother deserve a break more than any two women I have ever met, I hope you’ll see fit to donate whatever you can to see this film produced. Thank you for your interest.” ~ Bryan Bakker
PURPOSE OF THE FILM
1. To help us all understand how it can be that two women, both with diagnosed communication challenges, could have ended up in such a horrible situation.
2. To help the average Canadian understand how our legal system and aid structures currently deal with people who have communication disabilities.
3. To show how easy and common it is for people (specifically lawyers, police officers and other professionals) to misread a communication disability as a lack of intelligence or as disrespect.
4. To show how this can therefore lead to calamitous emotional and financial distress for those with communication disabilities.
5. To show how bad things can get when these combining factors are put into a small county environment rife with politics, over-sized egos & rigid religious views.
6. To show ways in which the system can be made more fair and hopefully help Julia and Rose get their life back.
APPROACH TO THE FILM
The approach to filming will be open and documentary in style. We will endeavour to answer a series of tough questions through interviews, observation and organic film capture. We will tell the chronological story of Rose from childhood to now, parallel with her current activities lobbying and building a network of supporters. Through out we will pepper in interview clips of professionals contributing to the primary and secondary story arcs, along with information about communication disabilities and the supports available for people who suffer from them. At the end, we will offer inspirational solutions and, hopefully, show a marked improvement in Rose and her Mother’s situation.
STYLE OF THE FILM
Though journalistically driven, objective and fair, the visual style of this film will endeavour to be dream like, even wistful at times. An opening scene where a young girl (Rose as a child) runs through a country meadow on a sunny summer day, will set the stage for all the drama that will follow on that property up to the present day. We will endeavour to explore and showcase dramatic contrasts at every step. A documentary no one watches helps no one.
QUESTIONS THE FILM WILL ANSWER
1. How does the legal system support people who are disadvantaged by communication disabilities? Can it be improved?
2. How can we best educate the public so that people don’t immediately confuse a communication disability will low intelligence or disrespect?
3. What services are available out there for people like Rose and her Mother?
4. Why, with legislation and third party organizations in place, has their situation deteriorated to such a point? Where is the disconnect?
5. What are some of the solutions being talked about?
6. How has the township of Bayham handled or mishandled this situation?
7. Does the Mennonite community hold undue influence in Bayham township?
8. How has the OPP handled or mishandled this situation?
SUPPORT REWARDS
· $10 and above - You will receive an acknowledgment on our Facebook page and website.
· $20 and above – Your Name in the Credits. Everyone contributing $20 or more will get their name in the credits. In the credits of the film there will be a section that reads: “The following citizens helped to fund this documentary. Without their help, this film would not have been possible.”
· $25 and above - 12 “A Loss For Words” Promotional Buttons. We are encouraging you to share the buttons with your friends. This will help to spread the message.
· $40 and above – Private Link to Screen the Film. Coinciding with the commercial release of the film, you will be able to view the film online via a private link.
· $50 and above – A Loss For Words Branded Shirt or Baseball Cap.
· $75 and above – A Collector’s Edition DVD. A limited “funders” edition DVD that will contain several short exclusive features.
· $100 - Have Your Voice Heard. Record a short (60 seconds or less) account of why you think this film is important. It could include an editorial or a personal story. All videos will be posted on the “Personal Stories” section of the website. Edits of a selected number will appear in the film.
· $1,000 or more – Patrons’ Section Credit. You will be listed in the Patrons’ Section of the credits and have access to the password protected section of the website that will provide up-to-date information on the progress of the film and a producer’s diary.
· $10,000 or more – Associate Producer Credit.
SUMMARY
This documentary is sorely needed and would be very timely indeed. You can't turn on the news without hearing about communication disabilities in one form or another. Rose’s situation, her personality, her art and her coat, quite simply make her the perfect vehicle to help shine a light on communication disabilities and their societal implications. Please support our effort to produce this documentary by donating. Thank you.
(Bryan Bakker is the owner of Bizbio Inc. See some of Bizbio's work at www.bizbio.com)
Organizer
Bryan Bakker
Organizer
St Thomas, ON
