Miss You Can Do It
| Miss You Can Do It | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Ron Davis[1] |
| Produced by | Ron Davis, Clay Westervelt, and Julie Anderson[1] |
| Music by | Joel Goodman[1] |
| Cinematography | Clay Westervelt and Arlene Nelson[1] |
| Edited by | Geof Bartz[1] |
Production company |
Docutainment Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 85 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Miss You Can Do It is a documentary film that follows contestants of the Miss You Can Do It Pageant, produced and directed by Ron Davis.
Overview
Miss You Can Do It chronicles young women with special needs and their families as they participate in the Miss You Can Do It Pageant, which was created by Abbey Curran, Miss Iowa USA 2008 and the first Miss USA contestant with a physical disability. Eight contestants from the Miss You Can Do It Pageant are profiled in the film. HBO described the film as also showing "the heroism of their parents and families, who openly describe how the heartbreak of learning that their child was different quickly gave way to loving patience, dedication and a new appreciation for the joys and challenges of raising a child with special needs".[3]
Development
The Miss You Can Do It Pageant was established in 2004. It was founded by Abbey Curran, a woman with cerebral palsy who became the first disabled woman to complete in the Miss USA pageant. According to the Daily Mail, "Ron Davis explained that the pageant is not only an amazing opportunity for these girls, but it also brings parents together who share similar experiences and struggles ... This pageant blows every preconceived notion out of the water about what a pageant could and should be about."[4][5] Following a reading a write-up of Curran in People Magazine, Davis contacted her to learn more about her role with the pageant.[6] Curran agreed to allow Davis access to the pageant's inner-workings. He has stated of the girls' behavior during the shoot as, "The girls didn't even notice us - they were having their own fun time. It was so much stimulation, between the pizza and Cinderella, the hairdressers, the escorts... On stage, they were looking at the audience, the judges and the lights. The parents were a wreck, but the kids were completely themselves."[7]
Release
The film premiered on HBO on June 24, 2013.[1] It also had screenings at festivals including the Palm Beach International Film Festival and the Dances With Films festival in Los Angeles.[8]
Critical response
The New York Times wrote of the film that, "Mr. Davis catches the excitement of the pageant nicely, but the real strength of this documentary is that he takes the time to show several of the families’ day-to-day lives, something invisible to anyone but close friends."[1] Parents Magazine wrote that, "the heart of this movie is about empowerment, and about the ability behind the disability—something every one of us wants for our children, and for the world to see," and called the film "one seriously inspiring film about girls with special needs".[9] Indiewire called the documentary "a wonderful, uplifting film",[10] and the Star Tribune called it "Moving stuff".[11]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NEIL GENZLINGER (June 23, 2013). "Challenged, but Determined to Compete for the Tiara". New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ↑ "Miss You Can Do It". LA Weekly. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ↑ "Synopsis". HBO. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ↑ MARGOT PEPPERS (June 25, 2013). "Beauty pageant for girls with disabilities celebrates its tenth year after being launched by former Miss USA contestant with cerebral palsy". Daily Mail. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ↑ "Everyone was a winner at the Miss You Can Do It pageant". Star Courier. July 30, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ↑ Anna Moeslein (June 24, 2013). "Why You Need to Watch Tonight's HBO Documentary Miss You Can Do It (Plus, We Chat With Founder Abbey Curran)". Glamour Magazine. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ↑ "Interview with Ron Davis". HBO. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ↑ CAMERON SINZ (May 10, 2013). "LA's Dances With Films Fest Announces Full Slate, Including Ron Davis' 'Miss You Can Do It'". IndieWire. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ↑ Ellen Seidman (June 24, 2013). "Miss You Can Do It: An Amazingly Special Movie". Parents Magazine. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ↑ Melissa Silverstein (June 24, 2013). "Miss You Can Do It Premieres Tonight on HBO". Indiewire. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ↑ Neal Justin (June 22, 2013). "TV picks for June 21–27: "Inside Man," "Miss You Can Do It," "Big Brother," "The Brokaw Files"". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2013.