Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
| Source: Southern PR
Nine high profile New Zealanders speak out about the strengths they’ve drawn from dyslexia in a powerful new documentary from 17-year-old first-time filmmaker Elliot Jones. The Whanganui Collegiate student, who directed and produced the documentary, sees it as a communication tool to help reshape society’s perception of dyslexia. Titled ‘Unlocking Potential’ it features interviews with actor Alex Tarrant, wellbeing coach Bridie Munro, Harvard University rower Fergus Ritchie, FTI Consulting managing director Josh Cameron, Soho House North America chef Jake Westacott, UNICEF CEO Michelle Sharp, Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson, Weta Workshop founder Sir Richard Taylor, and Olympic shot-put medalist Tom Walsh. It premieres in Whanganui on Wednesday 27 July, and will be simultaneously released to a wider audience online. Jones says the documentary aims to disrupt assumptions, stigma, and negative narratives around what dyslexia is, and make dyslexic thinking synonymous with entrepreneurship, big thinking, innovation, creative and business leadership. “I’m a 17-year-old dyslexic thinker, debater, distance runner, Dungeon and Dragons fan, dramatist, and now documentary maker. I set out on this journey to reframe the way people see and understand dyslexia,” Jones says. “I always wanted to change the way people have seen and thought and talked about dyslexia. It’s had this really negative talk around it and the idea that if you have dyslexia somehow you’re not smart or even that you’re stupid. Of course that’s just not true.” Alongside the documentary, Jones is raising money to support Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand (DFNZ), the country’s foremost lobby group working to foster understanding, recognition and support for dyslexia. He’s already raised more than $50,000, and has a Givealittle page for further donations, at https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/unlocking-potential Unlocking Potential – Power Up Dyslexic Thinking & Donate TODAY! Jones says his goal is to get people talking and thinking about how dyslexic thinking can really take you places. “There has always been a cloak of silence and shame surrounding dyslexia. I’m replacing that with insights from seriously inspirational New Zealanders to show how dyslexia can be a superpower, and that there are some real strengths and capabilities that people with dyslexic thinking have,” he says. For further information, please |
