Tulgeen Disability Services has produced “Off the Wall”, a short film directed by staff member Craig Beale and starring clients Jacinta Robinson, Cornelius Moon, Mitchell Porteous, Colleen Barrett, Wayne Ramus, Beverley Mitchell, Graham Henkel, Bradley Gordon and Shannon Catt.

Tulgeen Group’s general manager of corporate operations Rachel Choy said the organisation’s first film is “absolutely awesome” and shows the success of the creation of Studio INSYNC in late 2014.

“It’s a small theatre group that is about encouraging the clients to be creative and some of them we’ve found to really love the spotlight,” Ms Choy said.

“The film is all about actors with disability showing off their abilities.

“The competition is important to us so we’re asking people to help make the film viral by promoting it on social media,” she said.

Click here to vote for “Off the Wall”

Meanwhile, The Long Lunch is about the interactions of a deaf girl with her family. 

The director of The Long Lunch, Patrick O’Halloran, said he tried not to be patronising with the issue in his film and as a result it was very subtle. 

The film has a personal element for Mr O’Halloran as it is dedicated to the man from whom he got his inspiration – his deaf brother.

“I grew up with someone who is profoundly deaf,” Mr O’Halloran said. 

“I felt I could shed some light on what it is like to live as a deaf person.

“The film was written to be viewed by and about people who are deaf. 

“I’m really happy with it as a film.” 

Mr O’Halloran intentionally chose to install subtitles that cannot be removed so the audience is aware at all times they are viewing a film made for a deaf person.

In addition, the sounds of conversation and the surroundings are juxtaposed with silence when seen from the deaf lead character’s point of view. 

Mr O’Halloran said his film was crowd-funded and put together within three months. 

Click here to vote for The Long Lunch

Voting closes on August 10.