& Everyone - Bad day

[Guest guest]

Hey and ALL,

It's Judy. First I wanted to say in response to you not doing the

career you want to do,um - NO, NO, NO, NO, & NO! I really wish the

article the MDA wrote about me was up online so you could read it right

this second. I know it's tough, especially when you are about to enter

the 'real' world in a year & a half. But I don't ever want you to feel

like there is something you can't do with your life. Sometimes it takes

a bit of creativity, a dash of ingenuity and a bucket full of tenacity,

but you have the same options for your career as does, " Bob " who sits

next to you in your Trig. class. When I was 17 until I was 22, I

basically hid all of my symptoms and braces and when I was in public, I

would use every ounce of strength I had to look normal. I was killing

myself. Then I was in a serious car accident, ah something to " blame "

it on. I used 'that one' for many years. When I came to California, I

thought if I drove fast enough I could leave everything behind - IT

WORKED, for 3 hours, you know the time change and all

As I told you before, you can write me directly when you need to. There

are so many ways, so many choices - enjoy high school and your friends.

I know college applications will be coming up around this time next

year, figure out what you want to do first and then we'll figure out a

way for you to do it!

Aside from Reeves' directorial debut in a TV remake of

" Rear Window " - name one filmmaker in a wheelchair who is finishing up

on their own Feature Film, which received a great deal of attention at

the Independent Feature Film Market? And the Answer is: Judy Garland

Piersol - Ah, that would be me But seriously, I am a filmmaker in a

wheelchair and I write, shoot, direct, do lighting, editing, you name

it, I do it. And if I can't, it doesn't matter because I've been doing

it for 17 years and I am usually in a position where I can direct

someone else to do it! I even have a Master of Fine Arts in Film

Production, that I received Highest Honors and that was only 4 years

ago. It was about the time the doctors started telling me I needed a

wheelchair - but I wanted to wait until I graduated.

Anyway, I know this has turned into quite an epic posting, but I found

a few 'blurbs' from that upcoming article. I hope they help.

##

There are a lot of handicaps in the path of an aspiring filmmaker

lack of money, lack of equipment, lack of interest by people with money

and equipment.

To Judy Garland Piersol's path, add a few more handicaps: lack of

stamina, lack of strength, lack of mobility.

But no one ever got anywhere focusing on what they lack. So

Piersol, who has Dejerine-Sottas disease and uses a power wheelchair,

is achieving success by building on what she has: lots of perseverance,

lots of creativity, lots of skill, lots of belief in herself.

##

" The film is about pursuing your dreams no matter what obstacles

get in the way, " says Piersol, 36. " The main character has to come to

terms with the obstacles of her disability. "

After receiving a B.A. in Film and TV production from Temple

University in 1987, Piersol knocked around doing videos and ad agency

work for a few years. In the early 90's, her doctor pronounced her

permanently disabled and that meant shecould not to work. " But my mind

wasn't disabled, " she declares.

There was little doubt in Piersol's mind that she would be a

filmmaker. Determined to make a feature film out of Everyday People, an

18-minute short film she created for her thesis, Piersol teamed up with

one of her former students and formed -- with spit-in-the-wind defiance

- Strong Girl Productions, LLC.

And still only a few knew about the Dejerine-Sottas. " I spent a

large part of my life hiding that I have this disease, " she says. " I

hid my leg braces and used a cane and said I was due to the car

accident. It took all my energy to look physically the way everyone

else does. "

Why the charade? Fear, says Piersol. " I was afraid that if I told

the truth, it might limit my opportunities. I was afraid they would

say, 'How can you be a filmmaker from a wheelchair?' And I thought

that too. "

##

So now life mirrors art. Piersol also is coming to terms. Though

she thought she could leave her disability behind when she came to

California, it caught up with her. After years of hiding, she finally

has " wheeled out of the closet " in her power chair.

" It's only been in the last few years that I have started sharing

this with people, " she says. " I only got the chair in the last two

years, and for a long time I wouldn't use it except when I taught high

school. "

But the fatigue, muscle weakness and chronic pain finally reached

the point at which " I couldn't do this anymore. " She began to let

friends in on the realities of her life and discovered with relief that

" I have extremely supportive friends. "

When asked about her current obstacles, " My only obstacle is

stairs, " she laughs.

Asked about her long-term physical prognosis, Piersol is blunt. " I

don't ask, " she says shortly. " But I look at my mom, she's made it to

62 and although she's not in great shape, in and out of hospitals,

she's a fighter, she's my inspiration. "

" My mom says the Dejerine-Sottas builds character, " she laughs.

" And I say, I certainly am a character! "

##

Hang tough , you're gonna have good days and bad days, but never

have 'I give up' days!

Peace and Love to ALL!

Judy g.