A new Wolverhampton film is currently in pre-production that aims to tackle an often misunderstood health condition.

Local writer-director Owen Williamson is based in the Midlands and has launched a crowdfunder for his new short DYSPRAXIA.

“As someone with dyspraxia, the film is inspired by the kind of misunderstandings that can come with it,” says Owen as the campaign gets underway.

DYSPRAXIA follows 14-year-old Elliot, a bright teenager who struggles with coordination, processing, organisation and everyday tasks that other people often expect to come naturally.

Because those struggles aren’t properly understood, he is often mistaken for being lazy, careless or difficult.

“These are side effects of the condition that something I know about personally”, continues the director.

“Growing up, I was picked last in PE, laughed at when I couldn’t answer questions quickly enough and made to feel stupid because I processed things differently. At the time, I didn’t properly understand my own dyspraxia either, so when people constantly treated me like something was wrong with me, I started to believe them.”

And that experience is a big part of why Owen is making the film. Dyspraxia/DCD itself affects around 5–6% of school-aged children, yet receives nowhere near the same level of public understanding as many other neurodevelopmental conditions.

The project is being made independently in Wolverhampton, and has already raised £850 through their Crowdfunder. And they’re continuing to push the campaign further so they can get the film into production and give the subject the standard of filmmaking it deserves.

“For me, this isn’t just about making another short film. I want to create something that could make a young person with dyspraxia feel recognised, while also helping parents, teachers and other people understand why certain behaviours shouldn’t automatically be labelled as laziness or lack of intelligence.”

To contribute to the Crowdfunder dead to the project page here to find out about the film’s goals

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/dyspraxia-1

And to find out more about the production’s progress follow the film’s updates on their official Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/dyspraxiamovie