or


[10/08/12 - 12:12 PM]
Inspiring HBO Documentary "The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia," Showing How the Disorder Can be a Gift as Well as a Challenge, Debuts Oct. 29 During National Dyslexia Month
Directed by James Redford, the film is "a personal, touching and sometimes humorous look at this developmental reading disorder."

[via press release from HBO]

INSPIRING HBO DOCUMENTARY "THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA," SHOWING HOW THE DISORDER CAN BE A GIFT AS WELL AS A CHALLENGE, DEBUTS OCT. 29 DURING NATIONAL DYSLEXIA MONTH

James Redford Directs The Personal, Touching And Sometimes Humorous Film

Though up to 20% of students are dyslexic, many pass through school unidentified, misunderstood and performing below their potential. Paradoxically, these disorders are often found in highly intelligent, creative minds, and can also be seen as a gift, because many people with dyslexia naturally think outside the box and see the big picture, finding alternative solutions to problems that others might not see.

Directed by James Redford, THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA is a personal, touching and sometimes humorous look at this developmental reading disorder, offering a broader and clearerview of the minds of people with dyslexia. Spotlighting a cross-section of individuals, including Redford's own son, Dylan, and featuring interviews with notable dyslexics, including investment pioneer Charles Schwab, business magnate Richard Branson, high-profile lawyer David Boies and California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, the film reveals how an individual's unique strategies for coping can help lead to success in life. The documentary, which had its world premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, debuts MONDAY, OCT. 29 (7:00-8:00 p.m. ET/PT) during National Dyslexia Month, exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 4 (1:00 p.m.), 8 (10:00 a.m.) and 13 (3:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Oct. 31 (4:30 p.m.) and Nov. 7 (8:30 p.m.) and 11 (6:00 a.m.)

Redford set out to make the film he wished his family could have seen when his own son Dylan was diagnosed as dyslexic after encountering many problems through his early school years. A life-long educator, Dylan's mother, Kyle, had been excited to start teaching her son as he began to grow, noting, "I'd taught every single subject, and I couldn't wait to teach my own son... And boy, I got slammed really early on."

There were early signs that Dylan might have the reading disorder, such as not learning the alphabet or writing his name, but when Dylan was in first grade, the word dyslexia was avoided, as it was rarely used to label someone so young. When Kyle poised the question to the woman testing Dylan, she responded that it was "way too early [for a diagnosis]. We never diagnose for dyslexia until third grade." It is now widely understood that early diagnosis and intervention are not only possible, but critical to prevent learning loss and low academic self-esteem.

Problems persisted and Dylan was finally diagnosed in the fourth grade. He had to explain to his classmates why he'd be leaving for the majority of the day to attend a specialized learning program. Dylan wisely realized that "it's better for people to understand what I have than... be left in the dark, and then be left to make up their own conclusion."

Dylan struggled with many tasks, from remembering locker combinations to reading out loud, but ultimately his specialized reading instruction, hard work and persistence paid off: Not only was he accepted to Middlebury College, but also made the honor roll his first year there.

Among the other courageous individuals featured in the film are:

Skye, a dyslexic sixth grader who used to dread school, but thrived after she enrolled in a school that specialized in treating dyslexia and taught her how to "crack the code" of reading. Upon Skye's diagnosis, her father, Dr. Tyler Lucas, a surgeon, realized that he too had unknowingly been struggling with dyslexia his entire life.

Allison, a Columbia University grad student who was not diagnosed until she was 23. Persistence enables her to meet the challenges of dyslexia.

Bonnie, a successful litigation attorney, who acknowledges that college was easier, because unlike high school, there is only one exam, and you have time to thoroughly read and understand things. She explains that she "had that time to become the expert that I didn't always get [to be] in high school."

Redford punctuates these personal stories with commentary by Drs. Sally and BennettShaywitz of The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, who explain the most recent medical and scientific findings. Dr. Bennett Shaywitz uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify a neural signature for dyslexia and demonstrates the cognitive basis of the extra time needed by dyslexic readers on high-stakes standardized tests.

Dr. Sally Shaywitz conceptualized the "Sea of Strengths" model of dyslexia, which emphasizes an array of higher critical thinking abilities and creativity found in dyslexic children and adults who struggle with written language. She explains, "You may be dyslexic if you read slowly and with much effort. But you're often the one to solve the problem. You can't spell and have messy handwriting, but your writing shows terrific imagination. You have trouble remembering dates and names, but you also think out of the box and grasp the big picture. Youhave difficulty retrieving and pronouncing spoken words, but you also have an excellent vocabulary and great ideas."

Underscoring this point are British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, billionaire businessman Charles Schwab and noted attorney David Boies, who share their own struggles and triumphs with undiagnosed dyslexia. As with Skye's father, it is often the dyslexic's willingness to work harder and longer at a task, and the ability to approach things differently that yield such positive results. Dr. Lucas emphasizes that dyslexia should not be referred to as a learning disability, but rather a learning ability, in that it encourages deeper thinking.

THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA uses animation and figurative language to show what it's like to have dyslexia, providing a new way to comprehend this unseen and often misunderstood disorder.

Director-producer Redford hopes that the documentary will promote "a broader and better understanding of dyslexia and will help make the world a better place" for those affected. While the study and treatment of dyslexia has become more widespread, there remains much to be done in dispelling the myths surrounding it, as well as diagnosing and treating those in need.

James Redford writes, produces and directs for film and TV. His other producing credits include the acclaimed HBO documentaries "The Kindness of Strangers," which debuted at Sundance in 1999, and "Mann v. Ford." Redford wrote the original screenplay "Cowboy Up," adapted Tony Hillerman's "Skinwalkers" for PBS/Mystery! and wrote and directed the drama "Spin," based on Donald Everitt Axinn's novel. In 2008, he wrote and directed "Quality Time," an award-winning short comedy starring Jason Patric.

For more on the film, please visit facebook.com/HBODocs and twitter.com @HBODocs #Dyslexia.

THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA is directed by James Redford; produced by Windy Borman & James Redford; executive producer, Karen Pritzker; director of photography, John Kiffmeyer; editor, Jen Bradwell; animation by Mrzyk & Moriceau; original music by Todd Boekelheide; sound design, Bob Edwards; motion design, Mike Lowe; post producer, Chris Valente.





  [october 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[11/26/24 - 12:03 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of Nov. 18: "The Merry Gentlemen" and "A Man on the Inside" Take the Top Spots
Season 2 of the animated series "Arcane" laid siege to #2 (6.4M views), while Season 1 took #5 with 2.2M views.

[11/26/24 - 11:44 AM]
TNT Sports to Debut "Evolve and Flex" with Lance Fresh Friday, Dec. 6, on truTV and Max
The show is hosted by sports-lifestyle expert Lance Fresh and features candid conversations with guests to discuss how life's events have contributed to their sense of style.

[11/26/24 - 11:19 AM]
MGM+ Announces 2025 Premiere Date for "NFL Icons" Season Four
In the upcoming fourth season, the docuseries will feature Pro Football Hall of Famers Joe Montana, DeMarcus Ware, Kurt Warner and Gale Sayers.

[11/26/24 - 10:24 AM]
Video: "Rogue Heroes" (MGM+ 2025 Series) Season 2 Tease
"Rogue Heroes" is a dramatized account of how the world's greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two.

[11/26/24 - 10:09 AM]
Video: Acorn TV Releases Official Trailer for Second Season of Hit Australian Drama, "Darby and Joan"
The new season debuts with a two-episode premiere, exclusively on Acorn TV, on December 30, followed by weekly episodes through January 27.

[11/26/24 - 10:01 AM]
ABC News Studios Announces Fourth Season of Hit True-Crime Series "Wild Crime," Streaming Dec. 5 Only on Hulu
"Wild Crime: Eleven Skulls" delves into the haunting 2012 disappearance of Samantha Koenig, an 18-year-old Anchorage barista last seen leaving her place of work with an unknown man on a dark winter night.

[11/26/24 - 08:32 AM]
Bravo Greenlights "Vanderpump Rules" Season 12 with a New Group of SUR-vers
In addition, "Vanderpump Rules" will celebrate the past decade of heartbreaks, friendship rifts and scandals with a retrospective special highlighting the past 11 seasons.

[11/26/24 - 08:30 AM]
Video: Paramount+ and Nickelodeon Reveal Teaser, First-Look Images and Premiere Date for "Henry Danger The Movie"
"Henry Danger The Movie" will be available to stream in the U.S. on Paramount+ Friday, January 17, and premiere on Nickelodeon that same day at 7 p.m. (ET/PT).

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Makayla is a teenage girl who has spent her life grappling with a rare form of autism that rendered her essentially nonverbal until her parents, filled with unwavering belief in their daughter's potential, embarked on a transformative journey to discover the true depth of Makayla's inner world.

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Announces Ian Bonhote & Peter Ettedgui's Award-Winning "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story," Debuting December 7 on HBO and Max
The critically acclaimed film had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and recently won six Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

[11/26/24 - 08:00 AM]
HGTV Greenlights Gutsy Las Vegas Renovation Series "Sin City Rehab" (wt) Starring Indomitable Designer Alison Victoria
The eight-episode series will document Alison, best known for her Emmy-nominated series "Windy City Rehab," taking the biggest gamble of her career as she expands her successful design business out West.

[11/26/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Manny" Season 2 - Release Date Announcement - Netflix
A busy executive hires a cowboy to care for her kids in a moment of panic. Little does she know he'll challenge her views of gender roles - and of love.

[11/26/24 - 06:58 AM]
"The Talk" Series Finale to Air Live on Friday, December 20
Over the show's 15 season run, "The Talk" will have aired 2,993 episodes, garnered over 70 awards/nominations, promoted over 10,800 guests, gifted over $103 million in giveaways, and welcomed over 250,000 audience members.

[11/26/24 - 06:01 AM]
"Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" Will Debut Early - Watch the Two-Episode Premiere Streaming December 2 Only on Disney+!
Look for new weekly episodes every Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. PT on December 10.

[11/26/24 - 06:01 AM]
Paramount+ Sets December 9 Premiere for Docuseries on American Soccer Star Christian Pulisic
The first episode will premiere in December, while episodes two and three will premiere in January.