Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Haley Beauregard

There’s no denying that the film and television industry is an oversaturated market (ie too many actors, not enough jobs) and, as a visual medium, inevitably this market gives more opportunities to the physically blessed. Wrap all this up in a society that historically places a woman’s primary value on her youth and beauty, and you have a recipe for mischaracterization. If you don’t fit the stereotypical model mold, it can be easy to be passed over for work. Read more>>

Ichito Salazar

I’ve always wanted to be accepted by those around me. Most people, in all honesty, don’t accept me for who I am. They judge me for who I am on the outside, rather than who I am on the inside. They see a young guy dressed in a suit trying too hard and being an annoyance online and in person. Ever since I could remember, I have been misunderstood and misjudged by many I’ve come across with. I’ve always been considered different by those around me. Well, I mean, who isn’t? The first thing people would mischaracterize me was for my height. I’m taller than most people around me. Currently, I’m 6’5ft. I’ve always been the tallest in my class and workplace. At the age of three years, I was already too tall to sit in the shopping cart. Some people really thought something was wrong with me to be that tall at a young age. Read more>>

Anmol Sandhu

I believe that most people are multifaceted individuals with a diverse range of interests that have to fit within categories or check certain boxes in order to fill a specific role. The last thing I want to be is the filmmaker who’s known as, “Oh he’s that Indian guy who makes movies Indian movies about being Indian.” I think that was something that came up after my last two short films were based on South Asian stories, themes, and tone. Starting out in my filmmaking career, I feel it’s important to pay respects and notice to the identity you are and the upbringing that influenced you. Especially feeling the lack of representation growing up, I felt the need to help start putting my people on the map. But, I wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m more than just a specific genre or category. Read more>>