Clare Richards on making “Disabled and Looking for Love”
February 21st, 2007 by Zsofia
Last November, Clare Richards won the Grierson documentary award for her directorial debut “Disabled and Looking for Love” (the first ten minutes of which can be watched on Google video). Clare filmed four Briton’s with disabilities who spoke intimately of their lives while going through a unique journey to find a partner. The European Documentary Portal briefly spoke to the director about the film, and her life since the award.
Q: What suggestions would you have for filmmakers who want to work on the same subject matter?
The idea behind the film was that, even though it might be more difficult to find a relationship if you have a disability, to find a partner is a desire that everybody has regardless of whether you are disabled or not. It was important that the audience saw past the disability and saw them as people that they could relate to. So my only advice would be not to treat people with disabilities any differently than you would treat anybody else.
Q: How has your life changed since the Grierson award?
Well, people keep calling me ‘an award winner’ and I’ve just been able to buy a camera which will hopefully make my life a lot easier and I’m very excited about that.
Q: Do you find it easier to find funding for your projects?
The award was only announced in November - so it has made people sit up and notice, and it does make it easier to get meetings with commissioners. I’ll let you know later whether it makes it easier to get funding.
Q: What is your next documentary about, and what do you do differently than before?
I am working on a series about family life, in particular focusing on the relationship between teenagers and one of their parents. I’ll be making two films about two different families. The idea is that by giving each person the opportunity to make a film with us about their life, they might come to some great appreciation of each others’ perspectives. It’s a series for Channel 4 education and I’m working for Lambent Productions on it. 
