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Disabled Award-Winning Filmmaker Emmitt H Thrower Is Going Beyond The Limits

Article By Steffon Olsen 4-30-2024 Scorpius Magazine

Emmitt Thrower is one of the most powerful and strikingly original forces in the independent film and theater world today. The revolutionary director and writer began his prolific and distinguished career as a stage actor/playwright. He garnered international acclaim, early in his career, with his undeniable acting genius and stage presence. Some of his most remarkable performances included the iconic Malcolm X to the revolutionary Patrice Lumumba, from the legendary Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson to the irreverent comedian Richard Pryor.

As Thrower established himself in the film industry, (IMDB) he quickly became known as unpredictable and enigmatic among audiences and peers.  He challenged Cinematic styles and the established approaches to filming, never concerned with following the rules. He never allowed any man-made boundaries, nor his own limitations to hold him back. His approach to both life itself and filmmaking is inspiring and brilliantly creative. His charismatic and original signature interwoven into each of his films is undeniable and compelling.  

Thrower has won countless awards around the globe for his provocative and emotive documentaries and short films as he continues to rock the Independent. film festival circuit with each new masterpiece. He is well-known throughout the world for championing disabled artists and bringing to light the disgraceful discrimination of disabled artists within the film and music industry. His documentary film, “Disabled Artists Showcase: Creating Our Spaces,” (Trailer) among many such projects, has already given a resounding voice to disabled artists around the world and brought to the attention of the film and music industry, the importance of addressing the issue of discrimination against disabled artists. 

Currently, Thrower is in preproduction of Beyond The Limits, a new short film series project that explores disability in the Twilight Zone, and features uniquely original sci-fi, horror, and fantasy stories from the perspective of mentally and physically disabled people. His latest autobiographical, full-feature documentary, “New Borning: A Bronx Tale,” ( Trailer) has been blowing up throughout the film world. Je also has an audiobook with the same name," New Borning: A Bronx Tale", on Amazon, Audible and Apple books. Recently, Thrower garnered two awards at Scorpiusfest for Best Documentary Short (Disabled Artists Showcase) and Best Music Video (So Hip-Hop- Video).

Scorpius recently had the honor and pleasure of sitting down with the iconic filmmaker/artist. Upon entering any room, his presence is immediately recognizable and powerful, yet he exudes a relaxed savvy, and humble demeanor.

As I began my conversation with the iconic filmmaker, I sensed his genuine nature and candid personality.

Scorpius: 

What can you tell us of your career as a stage actor/playwright and what are some of the most successful theatrical runs you've done? Memorable experiences in theater?

Thrower: My inaugural role as Duke Senior in Shakespeare's "As You Like It" performed in the picturesque setting of Fort Tryon Park in NYC, was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. Stepping into the world of theater at nearly 35 years of age was a daunting prospect, but the thrill of bringing a character to life on stage was intoxicating. From there, my passion for the craft only grew, leading me to delve into portraying a diverse array of historical figures at the Castillo Theater. It was at the Castillo Theater that I found my niche, immersing myself in roles that ranged from the iconic Malcolm X to the revolutionary Patrice Lumumba, from the legendary Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson to the irreverent comedian Richard Pryor. Each character presented its own set of challenges and rewards, demanding both emotional depth and historical accuracy in portrayal. Performing the Patrice Lumumba character in Martinique, with the esteemed playwright/poet, then-mayor, Aimé Césaire in attendance, stands out as a particularly poignant moment, highlighting the power of storytelling to bridge cultures and generations. Another memorable experience on stage was portraying Muhhamad Ali in my stageplay "Barry White: Guided by Destiny"  off-Broadway NYC.

Scorpius: What is the most powerful and influential force that inspires you as a filmmaker/storyteller?

Thrower: Perhaps the most profound influence on my artistic journey has been fatherhood. Crafting impromptu stories laced with the sounds of classical music for my three sons and myself sparked my love for storytelling. This experience ignited a desire to communicate my ideas and experiences to a broader audience. It was this innate passion for narrative that ultimately led me to venture into the realm of filmmaking.

Scorpius: Your award-winning documentary, Where is Hope: The Art of Murder was an enormous success. Where did it come from and what can you tell us about it?

Thrower: 0 my award-winning documentary exploring police brutality against people with disabilities was born from a chance encounter with Leroy Moore Jr., founder of Krip Hop Nation, a worldwide organization of disabled poets and musicians. Leroy is a disabled poet, journalist, and activist. Collaborating with Leroy on this project was both a labor of love and a deeply personal endeavor. Despite facing numerous obstacles in securing funding, we remained steadfast in our commitment to shedding light on this important issue. The documentary's eventual release and distribution through Kanopy Educational Streaming Services to colleges, universities, and libraries worldwide was a testament to the power of perseverance and the potential for film to effect social change.

Scorpius: You've recently won awards throughout the international film festival circuit, including Scorpiusfest, for both, "Disabled Artists Showcase: Creating Our Spaces" and "So Hip-Hop," featuring two Emmy Award Winning Disabled Artists, Keith Jones, and Toni Hickman. What can you tell us about those?

Thrower: In recent years, my work as a filmmaker has continued to garner recognition on the international stage. Films like those," featuring remarkable performers with disabilities like Keith Jones and Toni Hickman, have received acclaim at film festivals worldwide, Keith Jones and Toni Hickman ironically are also in "Where is Hope: The Art of Murder". I have collaborated on four films and music video projects with these Emmy Award winners. Hopefully, our work is helping to amplify disabled and marginalized voices in the Entertainment and Music industries. I have collaborated with Keith Jones over the past 12 years or so on numerous other projects as well. The latest is his song and music video “Magnificent” where I portrayed a character named Marcus, an OG and his mentor who helps to guide him on a mission to have a positive impact on a community.

Scorpius: You've recently released a riveting and emotionally charged new documentary, New Borning: A Bronx Tale. What can you tell us about it?

Thrower: "New Borning: A Bronx Tale," is my feature-length autobiographical documentary chronicling my life in the Bronx following me having a life-altering stroke. My life follows eerily in unison with the redevelopment and re-borning of the Bronx after it had experienced decades of its own debilitating destruction and now has morphed into full-scale gentrification. What began as an audiobook project of mine evolved into a visual film journey intertwining music, images, poetry, and narration,  offering a candid glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of rebuilding a life in the aftermath of adversity.

Scorpius: "Beyond The Limits," the revolutionary and enthralling new film series you are creating is now in pre-production.  What can you reveal to us about it at this time?

Thrower: I am excited to embark on this new creative endeavor with "Beyond The Limits," with my international collaborator award-winning filmmaker and animator Demeter Lorant from Hungary. This groundbreaking film series explores disability narratives in a manner reminiscent of the classic sci-fi series "The Twilight Zone". The Twilight Zone is one of my all-time favorite tv shows and director Rod Serling has been a major inspiration for my work in film. We are currently in pre-production and preparing to launch a "Proof of Concept"  KickStarter Campaign to help raise funds for the pilot episode as well as actively seeking out supporters willing to assist in any manner they choose to help make this project become a reality. We expect to begin crowdfunding in early June 2024 on Kick Starter. We hope the community of people with disabilities, our advocates, and supporters will be responsive and actively get behind our efforts. Creating authentic depictions to these original stories and including talent and creatives from the disability community is our goal. I am inspired by the opportunity to challenge perceptions and ignite conversations about the lived experiences of disabled individuals in our authentic one-of-a-kind film series.

Scorpius: If you were to die tomorrow and you could leave one last message to the world, what would it be?

Thrower: Well my plan in life is to never die but just simply transform into the next thing. But If tomorrow were my last earthly day in human form, my message to the world would be 3 simple things: Always wear clean underwear. Always Act with Love, and Never leave home without your mind.

Check out some of Emmitt Thrower’s unforgettable films today by visiting the following links:

Where is Hope: The Art of Murder

https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/where-hope-art-murder-police-brutality-aga

New Borning: A Bronx Tale Trailer

https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/791394905 

A Blind Man Stood On the Road and Cried

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tflRIr1I56g

SO HIP HOP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jimiAyCgIu4

Disabled Artist Showcase on the DISORDER CHANNEL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3aQ3er_VBU

SILENT SELLERS: Street Vendors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgivrCcnha4

Music Video and short film “Magnificent”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNnObWEiPk

Multi-Award-Winning Director / Writer/ Editor

Demeter Lorant has been making films for more than 20 years with several internationally acclaimed short films and more than 50 music videos and documentaries under his belt. He is the founder of Full Screen Studio and Full Screen Films. Demeter was born in Hungary. He is known for Sileo (2023), Possessed by Aliens (2020) and Lucky Girl (2016)I

 I'm an artist based in Budapest, Hungary. I started creating animation and graphics on the computer at the age of 14, since then I'm unstoppable, working on short films, animations, music videos, games, online and offline projects. 

In 1997 I went to my first demoscene party and I've been an active scener for few years as a graphic artist under the alias Immortal Rat. After almost ten years of absence, I've found my way back in 2012.

My dream was always to make feature films, especially horror and sci-fi. There were many times when I thought I'm on the verge of doing one but it turned out to be a harder-than-expected nut to crack.

Between 2002 and 2010 I've directed more than 50 music videos mainly for indie bands. During that time I've also produced a few short films, and documentaries. 

Since 2003 I also worked as a VJ on festivals, clubs, and events. In 2010 I won the first projection mapping contest in Hungary, after that I founded a company (Full Screen Studio) focusing on projection mapping and visual content for events and TV shows, but I keep doing stuff independently as well, waiting for the right time to make my first feature film.