Michael Coffey: Writer/A Producer of Triumph, Starring, RJ Mitte

Welcome to Disability Matters with your host Joyce Bender. All comments, views, and opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the host, guest, and callers. Now the host of Disability Matters, here's Joyce Bender.

Hi everyone, welcome to the show, everyone in the United States and around the world. I have to say that, you know, a moment of prayer to all of our friends in the midst of this terrible crisis between Ukraine and Russia. There is no good war, never ever, under any circumstances. So, for those of you around the world, know that we care about you. I cannot begin to thank you, China, for your big listening audience. And I always say on every show, I don't care if there's only one person in the country listening, just one. That one person can make a difference in the whole world. One person. Also, a special shout out to Richard Roberts, my good friend from the State Department that I love so much. Gangyong Cho from South Korea, Benjamin from Kazakhstan, and especially Cheryl Harris, who I work with, with Tunisia, and now guess what? She is in the United States at the State Department. So a special shout out to all of you and to Yoshiko. Yoshiko Dart. Hello, Yoshiko. Keeping the dream of Justin Dart alive every day. And Highmark. Thank you, Highmark, who is the sponsor and lead sponsor of this radio show. Well, hey, I am so excited. Okay, we've had a movie TV star, and now we have a movie producer and writer. Is that exciting for all of you? Uh, and what's better yet, a person with a disability. That's what makes it the real deal. So Michael Coffey, I'm talking about you. It is an honor to have you with us today. But let's start by talking about you, like where did you grow up and how the heck did you move from IT to the entertainment field? That was quite a move.

Yeah, first, thank you for having me on your show. Thank you for having me on your show.

Oh, it's a pleasure to have you.

Yeah, you did a great interview with Ozzy, so that was fun to listen to.

Yes, we love him. RJ was awesome.

He is awesome. Great actor. So, you know, to answer your question, I love seeing Grubby in places like Southwest Kansas, small hometowns. I went to high school and college in Amarillo, Texas before moving back to Kansas for work in the IT field at a fire department. So that's how I got back to Kansas. I've been working in school for years. She said, "I call you Scrubs." So I named my first head by Scrubs. I called it "The Crying Kid Scrubs." So my dad learned to pull back, you know. So when I wrote my script back then, I titled my script Going the Distance. And over the years, I renamed it Triumph. So that was my first script I ever wrote before my IT career. Then I wrote more scripts as a hobby. And later, I decided to connect with filmmakers here in Kansas to help me network with people and learn from them. So that's how I got into filmmaking, is making good connections with local filmmakers.

Well, you know what, I mean, did you ever in a million years think you would end up in the entertainment industry like this?

Um, not really. I mean, I started out writing short stories. I wrote my first story in 7th grade. So I was always kind of into short stories. Then I tried screenwriting and I liked it, so I kept going. But yeah, it's kind of surreal that now I have a movie based on my life.

I know, I know, that is an amazing thing we're going to talk about. Uh, but you actually invested in two films, uh, Nailbiter and Triumph. How about you tell our listeners how you first became involved as a producer/writer of those two films, and then if you could explain to all of us novices What does a producer do?

Okay, yeah, well, first, I want to get, like I said, I want to get Neil and Snow some local filmmakers. So I think it was in 2006, I met with Jacqueline about it, and I decided to invest in it, and I did the same thing with Neil Barriere. I also helped with casting. I cast a boy actor. But that's how I kind of got into filmmaking, is investing to get the local people some— as far as they want to give some dance. And because it's like a home building, Homebuilders, they take your script with the Dragon Viewprinter and they figure out the budget, they pick a suitable location, they raise funding, hire film crew like Dragon, Casting Dragon, etc., to help make the movie. The last ones, they help with post-production for the editing, sound, music, and stuff like that. And then they help promote and sell the movie. So that is just a brief summary. It is a ton of work, but I like it. I have a degree in business. I love marketing. —and I'm promoting this song right now for Triumph.

Yeah, that is— it is amazing, and it's so great because, as you well know, people with disabilities don't get these opportunities because it's usually non-disabled people that are the actors or actresses playing people with disabilities, and rarely is the producer also a person with a disability, as you were the writer and producer of this, Triumph. That's rare. It's usually people without disabilities telling all of us. It would sort of be like, you know, I have epilepsy, but no one, no one could make a movie and depict what that is the way someone with epilepsy would. So, and that is the way it is with all disabilities. So that's why, hey, if you're listening to the show right now, we're talking to Michael Coffey, the writer, a writer and producer, film writer and producer with the most recent blockbuster triumph out with RJ Mitte from Breaking Bad, uh, playing— actually playing the part of Michael Coffey and his life in the movie Triumph. But you've got to follow this guy, Michael Coffey. He is really, uh, an amazing person and a very talented person, uh, and, and we've all got to get behind him. So let's talk about this great movie. Triumph. When— it is amazing. I'm wanting to know, Michael, when did you first become inspired? When did you first decide, hey, we're going to produce this movie? How did that happen?

Yeah, well, over the years I submitted clips to some studios. Like MTV, D-Works, and they like it. But they want some bigger pictures like Jurassic Park. So they kept hitting roadblocks with studios. So in 2014, I decided, screw it, I'm going to produce it myself. So I contacted Aussie's manager in the evening and worked to get Aussie on board. And I cast some more talent here locally. I then did a Kickstarter campaign, but I did not raise enough money in the goal time. So about 6 months later, I Producer from LA contacted me and wrote me that he wanted to help me make my movie and he could fund it. So we started to make plans in like mid-2015 until he got into lawsuits Both Skinny and Triumph and Justice, he's the bad guy. So that is a whole different story. And that's why it took 7 years, 7 years to make Triumph because of this con man. Anyhow, I had to fight the good fight to help give Triumph into the snow. Like in the movie, you never give up.

Wow, 7 years. Holy cow. Well, you never gave— you never gave up on that, uh, thank goodness. Thank goodness you never gave up on it. And whenever you were doing this, what did you do? Like, how did you get people to invest in the film? I mean, what made them want to do it when you got in touch with them?

Yeah, well, what happened was I decided to resign. I resigned from my job because I wanted to pursue filmmaking. So I moved, I went to Nashville for about 6 weeks, and I met investors face-to-face and talked with them. Some of them invested in the movie, and that's how we got the ball going around July 2015.

Wow. How did you know? You already must have known. How did you get, like, Terrence Howard? I mean, how did you get these people to be in the film?

Yeah, well, we had most of the people we casted Later, we cast Terrence Howard, uh, one of my producer partners. He was friends with Terrence, so he met Terrence in Vegas over dinner and kind of talked Terrence into joining the film in 2019, I think. So we were able to finish the last 5 days with Joyce Bender in Santa Monica.

Of everything that happened, Michael, what would you say, when you think about it, what would you say were the biggest obstacles in getting this film made?

Oh, by far, finding Lucy. Toughest obstacle is to get people to come in and talk and get into the depth. It was challenging. So, I think funding is probably the most challenging task in filmmaking.

Well, would you say the hardest thing then was what you were talking about earlier? Would you say the hardest thing was just getting people behind it, investing in this film.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe I had a great cast lined up and stuff lined up. This is hard to get investors out in Kansas and Tennessee. It might be easier if I lived in LA, but in the Midwest, there's not many film investors.

Wow. I mean, it's one thing I guess you have to say is you have to be tenacious, perseverant, never giving up. How about you? Like you, how did you do that? How did you personally stay motivated and not give up?

Well, I think relates to my mom and dad, where I was driving force in my education. And they kind of fostered the, like, never give up attitude towards homework and tests. And they were really strict. So I think I just have tied that with I do goals to strive to do the best I can.

And you just have it in you that you're not going to give up. So what do you do on those days where you just think, "Oh, it's not going to happen"? How do you get yourself going on those days?

Were throwing the towel up, but I was not about to just let my dreams slip away. So I used that fuel to make me more determined than ever to get this film done.

So I said, "Samba, now you're determined." Well, now we come to my favorite part, and that is that this great movie Triumph is based on your life. So I wanted to give you time first to just tell our listeners about the movie, and starting with like, how do they get to see it, or, you know, where does it— where is it, the whole thing. But tell us about this story?

Yeah, well, the book, "Triumph," is inspired by a true story that is based on some memories growing up with CP, like my dad trying to help me to ride my bike without training wheels, the coach I had in school whose name from Townshend My English teacher who inspired me, she's in the movie. But I thought about playing the evil myself, but I'm only great actor for SCP. So I want to get Aussie on board. I remember seeing him in Breaking Bad, but I didn't know he had CP for real. Until I read more about him in the report, he was seen arrested.

Well, but this story is about you. Is this you? Were you a wrestler? I mean, how does this all fit together?

Yeah, yeah, I wrestled for a little bit when I was stuck in the second degree Until, for some reason, I think the school made me quit. I think they were worried about me maybe getting hurt. They asked me, "Why is your kid— I had to quit wrestling, and I think it's so great." So I did wrestling when I was young, and I wrestled in PE. In 6th grade. However, in high school, I did not wrestle. I'm going into more weightlifting. But looking back, I wish I would have tried wrestling. I think I would have been a beast on the mat. I was really strong. But So, yeah, so this is what happened. But this story is kind of like a dream coming true about high school wrestling.

So this story— Oh, this is, this maybe is like what you wish would have happened then.

Yeah, in high school with Ralphie. Yeah. Yeah.

Now when you were in high— When you were in high school, were you bullied when you were in high school?

Yes, yes, I was called names. I was hated. They used to smack me on the movie. I often ate by myself because I was scared to sit down with me. In fact, one time I remember Going to put my feet down by some students I knew, and one guy got up and moved away from me. So some people were really isolating. So it's in the movie, The Life Happens to Me, in high school. The main part is Fiction, when I laugh from that part, the main fiction part, the other parts are pretty true.

So the bullying they show in the movie really happened to you, is that what you're saying?

Yeah, yeah, I remember one time in junior high, some guy ran at me and knocked me down. So he was being a bully, so I used that memory for my script.

So yeah. Wow, that is amazing. Well, you know, RJ, when he was on the show, you probably heard him about someone broke his hand or something. And you know what, it is, it is terrible how kids with disabilities are bullied. That's why I'm really glad that you have this, have that in the movie. I'm really glad you have that in the movie. I think that will be inspiring. And I just want to say, if you're listening to the show right now, you're a young person with a disability who is being bullied or has been bullied, look what we have here. A film producer, a film writer, a movie Triumph made about his life. And you know what, Michael, that is the real triumph. That is the real triumph, is that you accomplished all of this in your life because you believed in yourself, which I always tell people Disability rights are civil rights. And when you have a disability, you are proud of who you are. That's why I always tell people, I'm living with epilepsy and I'm not ashamed I'm living with epilepsy. And look what he has accomplished. You know what, Michael, we'll have to get a few posters of the movie or something from you that you autograph so I can give that away at some event. Uh, because these kids will have a hero now, Michael Coffey. Um, and I am, I am just so proud of you, uh, that you included that in this movie. Um, so tell our listeners, how did it come to be that you were able to get RJ Mitte to play you in the movie? Because like you, just so you know, The first time I saw him on Breaking Bad, I did not know he really had cerebral palsy. And you know why I probably didn't know and why you probably didn't know? Because we're not used to people with disabilities really playing the part of a person with a disability. We're so used to it being an actor that doesn't have a disability that that's, "Well, here we go again." But thank goodness there is an RJ Mitte. So you somehow got in touch with him. And told him about this movie. Is that what happened?

Right. Yeah, well, yeah, like I was saying, at first, back in like 2012, I thought about playing the movie myself because I like acting and I thought it'd be more realistic. But I wanted a great actor Who has to keep? So I went to get Ozzy on board. And it took like a month. I called Jason, waiting for Ozzy to read my script. And I must have to say, I spoke with Jason, and he said, "Yes, Ozzy is interested." So that's how I got Ozzy on board.

You couldn't have picked a better person. And RJ, RJ, if you're listening, I'm telling you, I'm gonna find you. I know you think you can hide. I know you're looking for that bus, RJ. I'm looking for that bus that you drive. You think you can hide? I told you you're gonna have to hide. I told him he's gonna have to hide from the paparazzi that are all after him. I'm gonna find you, RJ. But right now We have to go to break, to our news break. Advocacy Matters on the half hour with Perri Jude Radesik.

Perri, are you with us? Joyce, I am.

It's good to be here. It's good to have you. It's always good to have you, Perri.

It's good to be here. What do you have for us today?

Yeah, Joyce, I want to talk about employment.

I know you talk about employment all the time, but there are some policy updates We know effective employment policies and accommodations are just the key to increasing the employment of people with disabilities. So we want to recap two recent events that will help advocates and employers navigate COVID-19 in the workplace. We want to make sure nobody missed this, but in December, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, updated its COVID-19 technical assistance, and they added a new section to their guidance to clarify the circumstances under which COVID-19 may be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. They did this in an effort to address the possibility of the Long COVID-19 as a disability in the workplace. The concern that people are going to get Long COVID, that it may be a disability, and what impact that has on the workplace. The EEOC states that in some cases, an applicant's or employee's COVID-19 may cause impairments that are themselves disabilities under the ADA regardless of whether someone's initial case of COVID-19 itself actually constituted a disability. So you wanna check out that guidance. We have a link. If you go to disabilityrightsPA.org, click on today's Advocacy Matters segment, you'll find a link to that EEOC guidance because they really reinforce that the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act continue to apply during the pandemic and possibly post-pandemic, depending on long COVID. The second thing we wanna bring to your attention, in February, not that many weeks ago, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing focusing on innovations emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic that have created more inclusive practices and helped people with disabilities Overcome Barriers to Employment. Now, this was actually the first hearing on the employment of people with disabilities in the Senate HELP Committee since 2014. So it's really important. The hearing provided the committee and witnesses this opportunity to document innovations and successes, and we know what they are. They are things like remote work and flexible scheduling. The hearing also noted that these accommodations cost the employer absolutely nothing to provide, to do remote work or flexible scheduling. So advocacy matters, and it's important to stay up to date on policy developments impacting people with disabilities in the workplace. So please, if you want to find the information about the EEOC material and the U.S. Senate HELP Committee hearing, Go to disabilityrightspa.org and click on today's Advocacy Matters segment and you'll get all the information.

Thank you so much, Piri, but I have a question, you know, and you maybe can get back to us on the next show about this. My question is, if someone will say has post-traumatic stress disorder or if they have just a mental health disability, even if it's anxiety, whatever it would be, that was really multiplied by this, uh, COVID, you know, from being at home alone. What happens if they now do not want to go to work, you know, due to getting another disability on top of the disability they already have? Because I have people on two extremes. One, they did not have a mental health disability, but now they do have a mental health disability from being at home alone. Or number two, they had a mental health disability, but now it aggravated and they have another dimension to that disability. So my question is, uh, and as I said, you can get back to us. I'm just wondering what happens if there is a person, let's say they're blind, but through all of this with COVID they now have a mental health disability, would they be able to say to their employer, I don't want to come back to the office, I want to work from home?

Joyce Bender, we will go into that in more detail next week. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission does have some guidance around that, and we'll cover that. It's important that every employee who needs an accommodation and wants to continue to remote work should request that accommodation and engage in that interactive process with their employer, but we'll have more information on that next week.

Yeah, I would really appreciate that because a lot of our listeners and just people I know have been asking about that. So we will look forward to hearing more about that next week, Perry. Thank you, Joyce. All right, have a good day. See what I do, Michael? Is for years now, I have Perry on the half hour with a news break, and we are the only place you can go every week, every Tuesday, to hear news, national news or state news on what is happening to impact people with disabilities. So that's what we do. That's great. Yeah, I know. I really like it a lot. So you liked working with RJ, and I asked him, Did he have any issues? And no, he didn't have any issues. He loves you, loved this movie, loved everything about it. But let's get back to the movie. Okay, how the heck do we see the movie? When can listeners see Triumph?

I hope the Triumph movie available in the USA this spring, maybe April, May. June. So right now it's streaming in Australia and the UK, but I'm hoping USA before too long.

Oh, that's so exciting! You know, we— you need to let me— keep me abreast so I can let everyone know, because that is so exciting. Maybe the month that it is being debuted. If we know ahead of time, uh, we can have you and RJ on and advertise that.

I mean, it's gonna be great.

Yeah. Yes. Well, I want everyone to see this. It's— I'll tell you, I only saw, of course, only a trailer, but what I saw, everyone, you are gonna love this movie. And what I want to do, Michael, is I want to get people around the world, but definitely in the United States, behind this movie. Because we all wanted a movie where a person with a disability plays the part of a person with a disability, but what about a movie where not only does the actor that plays the part of someone with a disability really have a disability, but the producer has the disability. I mean, where are you going to find that? Nowhere. I mean, that is unheard of. Unheard of.

This is a unique, unique triumph that we have made. Ozzy, we're a great team, so that really helps triumph.

Well, we've got to advertise this. I mean, think about that. This is what the disability community— this is what we want. So now we got to get a surge going. We've got to get a surge. You've got it. Is, is, uh, Triumph on Facebook? I don't know if it is. Is it?

Yeah, yeah, we have a Triumph movie. We have all kinds of postings.

Yeah. Okay, so what I want all of you to do listening to the show, I want you to tell everyone you know about this movie coming out, Triumph. Producer, writer Michael Coffey with RJ Mitty. I want you to tell everyone, and then we're going to keep telling everyone, and then we're going to have a big movie debut. Um, it's going to be walking down Joyce Bender's Disability Matters show like you're going down the red carpet. But I want to see you going down the red carpet. We're going to have a big thing when we know it's coming out. So you have to let me know at least a month ahead of time. But I'll be telling everyone, go to Facebook, Triumph, T-R-I-U-M-P-H, Triumph. Go to Facebook, go to Facebook. Um, so I wanted to ask you, um, would it be okay for the Bender Leadership Academy to host a virtual screening of Triumph to focus on that important anti-bullying message.

Yeah, I know you guys are considering a virtual screening. I think that would be fantastic.

Well, you know what? It is our honor. You know that? It is an honor to work with you on this. I want everyone, everyone everywhere You know, following this movie, and you know, I know it did not get nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor, but the fact that it was talked about to be nominated is what makes this so great. But you know what would make it greater is if we have a big turnout to the movies. That's why we've got to have a national triumph campaign. And the disability community so we get everyone out there to the movie theater to see it. Everyone. So what do you have coming up next here, Michael? I know you aren't done. I mean, okay, we have this great movie, uh, but what's next? What do you— what are you going to work on next?

Well, yeah, I have two more Film projects I'm working on. One is a movie she— a movie she come with me with a guy with CP. I'm hoping, hoping to get Josh Bier to play the lead role. I met Josh before. He liked the story, so I'm waiting to hear back. For Josh if he's still interested. If not, I'm hoping to make my, um, thriller movie. It's kind of a Hitchcock-type movie. So I'm hoping to make one of those this year if I can get enough funding.

Oh, would that be great! You must be busy 24 hours a day. Oh yeah, yeah. I mean, nonstop.

Yeah, my mind is always working. I like it, it keeps me busy.

So— Well, you are busy if you're trying to get 2 more movies out, plus while you're marketing this movie. Uh, where, where do you live now? I live near Kansas City. Oh, you're still in Kansas. Okay. Yeah, yeah, that's good. I just wondered where you, uh, were at now. And you know, I, I've been thinking about you, and I've been thinking about what, what would you be doing next. And there you are, you're already working on to 2 other movies.

Yeah, in fact, this April I might be in LA to do an LA Fashion Show with me modeling, so I'm hoping that works out for the LA Fashion Show in April.

Well, you know what I need you to say? Michael, on the air, I need you to say, "I'm Michael Coffey, a producer living with CP, not ashamed." Can you say that?

I'm Michael Coffey, living with CP. I'm a producer writer and I'm not ashamed of having CP.

Wow, we're not ashamed either because you're a movie producer. But, and I could just tell from talking to Terry that you are really also a good man. I mean, you have so many people behind you, you know, behind this movie. But guess what? We're just getting started. Oh yeah, we're just getting started. About this movie, getting the news out about this movie. And the day I walked into that theater, I am going to have a huge showing, and I'm going to get that private showing at the cinema. I, I can't wait. I can't wait. Um, so, and how do people— how do people follow you?

How do people follow your work? IMDb. I have an IMDb page that has all my film credits and everything I'm working on. Or I'm on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I have a Twitter account.

So people can follow me. What's your Twitter account? It's MichaelDCoffee. And is the Facebook the same, Michael D. Coffey? This is Mike Coffey. Mike Coffey on Facebook. Okay, Mike Coffey. Um, and is, is those are the best places to go to know what's going on with you? Instagram? You're on Instagram, you said? How about Triumph? Is Triumph on Instagram?

Chinese, and so used to give, and Korean, yeah. So, it's all been changed.

Wow, so many great things you are doing. And now you are a great role model for kids with disabilities. That's why I love this movie so much, and I love you and what you're doing. Because at the Bender Leadership Academy, we train kids with disabilities to prepare for work, to build self-esteem, but also how to deal with bullying. And every time I hear them speak and I hear how brutally they are bullied and what happens on cyberspace, it is heartbreaking, but makes me fuming. Furious. It just gets me so— oh, it gets me so upset. But now they have a role model. They have someone that can show you, pursue your dreams, don't give up, uh, you know, and, and then encourage them to tell their own stories to people. Uh, what, what do you think about that, Michael?

I think it's important to help all models to be inspired by them. Actually, when I listen to Ozzy speak, he himself inspires me to be a better advocate and to keep positive. So gratitude is everything.

And Ozzy says, "Kid, easy decision." Well, I just, you know, I just think that's so great. Now, how about you? Who do you consider your role model?

I think Ozzy. When I hear Ozzy speak, he Inspires me with what he says about keeping a positive attitude. So other people who are motivated by Jesus, like writing his teachings, who inspire me to keep writing, keep moving forward. So Jesus has played a big part in my life. To give me to where I am right now.

Well, your parents were definitely encouragers of you, and your teachers at school were— because didn't you say that English teacher, is she in the movie?

Yeah, in fact, her name is Mrs. Payne, Payne, P-A-Y-N-E. She was like, she was keeping her kind of kept me going writing. She told me, "Mike, I want you to give me, give her my first autographed copy of my book," stuff like that. So she kept me inspired to keep writing. So I used to, in my script, In fact, the lady that saved her kind of looks like her, so that was pretty cool.

Oh, I bet she was excited. Yeah, yeah. And deserving, because people don't realize how a teacher can have such an impact on you and on your life. And really, As you said with RJ, he is a good role model. You know why? Because he's also an advocate. See, that's what I love about him. Just what you said. He's also an advocate. And I am, I'm looking for that pink school bus, RJ. I got my eyes open. I've got my eyes open. I'm looking out there. So let me ask you, what advice do you have for young people aspired— with disabilities that want to be filmmakers that people have discouraged or lowered the bar or told them they can't do it?

What advice do you have for them? Well, I would say if you want something, work hard for it and don't let anyone discourage you Follow your dreams. Believe in yourself. Believe to achieve your dreams.

And also, what about people that are being brutally bullied?

What would you tell them? Honestly, be a bigger person, 'cause they probably have something going on in their life They are causing them to be that way, so just try and ignore them and be a bigger person. Don't let them get to you. Sometimes you gotta stick up for yourself and fight them off, and hopefully they will just leave you alone.

Yeah, right, I agree with you. Uh, wow, I mean, you have accomplished so much in your life at such a young age. But from when you started, you know, in school to where you are right now, uh, what would you say is your greatest accomplishment?

Um, well, one thing that really sticks out is My mom, Joyce Bender, really, she was telling me to get a good education. So I ended up getting 2 degrees, and I'm working on my 3rd degree at the University of Kansas. So I like school, I like learning. Education has really helped me achieve goals and get work and learn new stuff.

Well, that is amazing. What are your degrees in, Michael?

Well, my first degree is in Celsius and like microcomputers. My second is in bookkeeping. Business and IT. And my third, I'm working on at KU, is like biology. I was thinking about being a physical therapist.

Well, physical therapist, but you're still going to produce movies, right?

Right. Yeah, yeah. I can juggle You can juggle?

How could you possibly juggle with everything you have going on? Huh? Yeah, I mean, yeah, you are superhero. I don't know how you would do all of that. I was gonna ask you, like, you must really like technology. I noticed from your degrees that you like technology.

Well, what happened is my grandma, grandma Steve Sidney, Steve Perry. In the 5th grade, I discovered my first computer and fell in love with computers. In high school, I got an Apple computer, so I learned a lot about computers self-taught. Now I went to school for Computers, yeah. And then career in IT, but I'm glad to just try something different. I like being creative and making movies, so that's my focus right now, making movies. So, well, what are you gonna do here?

If you get, you know, the investors in these other two movies and if Triumph really takes off, then what? How are you going to have the time to be a physical therapist?

Well, I know I'm still working on taking the required classes, so I might be leaving the pizza So I'm gonna get some films done first and then go back to school to be a slight star before clients.

Well, you know, because technology in the film industry today is a big thing, so that's another thing you could work on. But I'm— what I'm meaning is, if you become a successful film producer, which you will, you're not going to have time for all these other things.

Right, right. Right now, I feel my calling is filmmaking, so I'm pretty focused on filmmaking right now. So when I get time for all of these, I'll work on at least 2 more films and go from there.

Well, I'm going to tell you right now, When you get an Academy Award, you got to promise me you're going to say— hold it up and say, Joyce, you were right. Did you hear me? I mean it. I'll be mad if you don't do that. You guys say, Joyce, you were right, because— yeah, you were right— when you hold up that Academy Award, because I just believe that this is going to take off more than you're realizing. That is going to take off. And I know I am going to be one of the people, uh, behind promoting this movie, uh, as much as I can. So you better get me that poster so I can put it up on this wall here. Better get me that poster. Well, Michael, I want to say it was a pleasure having you on, but I'll be having you and RJ on together when it's time to debüt, debut of the movie in the United States, so we can get everyone to see it. So thank you so much for being with us today, Michael. Well, you too. We end every show, Michael, with a quote. So today that quote is: There were times when it would have been easy to fall apart or to go in the opposite direction. 'But somehow I felt that if I took one more step, someone would come along to join me,' said Rosa Parks. This is Joyce Bender, America's Voice, where disability matters, at voiceamerica.com. Talk to you all next week, and remember, choose joy.

Voice America would like to thank you for tuning in. Please join us next Tuesday at 11 AM Pacific Time and 2 PM Eastern Time for another installment of Disability Matters right here on the Voice America Variety Channel. We are the leader in live internet talk radio. VoiceAmerica.com.