Twelv-year-old Cale Ferrin hasn't seen many people who look like him in TV shows or movies. But in 2019, Ferrin represented people like him in the movie More Beautiful for Having Been Broken. He plays the role of Freddie, a young boy who has a rare blood disorder(血液病) in the countryside. Ferrin has the same disease in real life. He had more than 27 surgeries and more than 100 hospital visits before the age of 7. But none of these stopped his dream of acting.
"Special needs actors are just as good as other actors, and I just want to take away love. Love is the biggest thing," Ferrin said.
More Beautiful for Having Been Broken, directed by US director Nicole Conn, was inspired by Conn's child Nicholas. Nicholas was 100 days premature(早产的) and weighed only one pound (about 0.45 kg), but his mother never gave up on him. Besides, Nicholas is brave and does not bow to fate.
Some of the film's events are similar to those that Ferrin has actually experienced. For example, in one scene, the character he plays has a seizure. This brought back memories of being in the hospital and being hooked up to(与……连接) medical equipment for Ferrin.
Conn said that while there's a growing trend towards inclusivity(包容性) in films, Ferrin is still just one of the few disabled actors who are playing disabled characters.
"It just makes me feel amazed that I'm inspiring so many kids out there because I just want to show them that I get it. You're scared, but just go out there," Ferrin said.
