John W.Lawson: Last News

Tim Gray Senior Vice President The indie film “Daruma” — which illustrates the importance of authentic casting with disabled actors — will hold its world premiere June 28, just a few days before the start of Disability Pride Month. The film is part of the Dances With Films Festival, which runs June 22-July 2 at the TCL Chinese theaters in Hollywood. The festival, in its 26th year, also will screen three documentaries about disabilities: “Abled,” directed by Einar Thorsteinsson about Paralympian Blake Leeper; “Baldy for the Blind” (producer-director Drea Castro), centering on a group of blind hikers attempting to climb Mt. Baldy; and “You Have No Idea” (director Alexander Jeffery), concerning a woman trying to get treatment for her autistic son.

Abigail Hawk (Blue Bloods), Tobias Forrest (Coffee Wars), John Lawson (Pet Cemetery – Prequel) and Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show) are among the cast in feature drama Daruma.

Selome Hailu editorActor, disability-inclusion advocate and double hand amputee John W. Lawson has been cast as Stanny in Paramount Players’ untitled “Pet Sematary” prequel directed by Lindsey Beer. “I have myoelectric hands… or what people commonly call ‘cyborg,’” Lawson jokes.