Junior Andrew Pilkington’s big idea is to become a professional film director, and the fact that cerebral palsy limits him to the use of his nose and feet sure isn’t holding him back. He types with his nose, uses a crew for camera operation, and edits with his feet and a joystick. “I don’t think of myself as a person with a disability,” he says. “I just do things in a slightly different way. Life is a challenge for everyone, and you have to adapt to the world. I like to go beyond what the normal standard is, so that I can NOT be known for having a disability.”
What this film studies major is known for at URI are his mad film-making skills. “Film and film making are subjects in which Andrew is highly knowledgeable. And his absolute professionalism rubs off on the people around him, both students and professors,” says Professor Robert Leuci. “To watch him work with his nose and feet, you might be surprised and unsure, but when you watch him in action and read what he has written, you come to the conclusion that you are dealing with a very special individual. He projects nothing but strength.”
Before Andrew arrived at URI, he had already taken two summer courses at UCLA for television writing, worked for a local cable station covering town sports, wrote and produced a series of short stories about kids in high school, and started his own independent film production company. Once here, he produced a series of videos exploring technology for people with disabilities, and reworked and produced Suburban Kings, a feature-length movie he wrote in high school about kids and crime. Modeled after the directorial stylings of Martin Scorcese, Suburban Kings won a screenwriting honorable mention at the L.A. Movie Awards in 2011. Andrew’s newest feature-length movie, Good Friday, is about intrigue and deception in student government politics.
Andrew chose URI for the campus experience it offered, intending to transfer to another school a year later. But during his freshman year here, he was elected to the Student Senate, became involved with Students for a More Accessible Campus, and met a group of people who made him want to stay. “I made a commitment to stay for the full four-year program, and I’m glad I did. URI offers a great undergraduate experience,” he says. During his final year at URI, Andrew hopes to make one more feature film. “I want to do something that has a positive lasting impact on URI,” he says. “I’ve always believed in leaving a place better than when you got there. Something you can look back and be proud of.”
Professor Leuci is now working with Andrew on an independent study project—a television pilot featuring a disabled lead character. “It’s set at a university and shows how the character deals with everyday life in school. It’s an interesting concept because Andrew sees the character as pro-active, not a victim. It’s funny and original and shows real creativity. He’s an outstanding writer,” Professor Leuci says. “Andrew is now, and will always be for me, the most inspirational person I’ve ever known. I expect huge things from him. In time, I expect he will make a significant impact in the film industry, that he will write, direct, and make a very important film someday.”
Related Links:
The Making of Suburban Kings: http://vimeo.com/47055937