Ep 047: Working with Disability and Mental Health Consultants
This mini episode discusses the experience of working with consultants and team members with lived experience on projects about mental health and disability. The conversation focuses on Kat and Niko Troubetzkoy, the co-creators of the show Sight Unseen, and their collaboration with low-vision and blind community consultants, writers, and team members.
They discuss the impact of the consultation on the project and the importance of representation and accessibility. The episode also touches on the role of sound for low-vision and blind viewers and the challenges and goals for future seasons.
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SIGHT UNSEEN is a series is about a homicide detective who rapidly loses her vision and has to quit the homicide force. When she leaves, she’s haunted by the cases she’s left behind and is determined to solve them with the help of her visual guide via a visual assistance app.
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Music: Deppisch
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ABOUT OUR GUESTS
Karen (aka Kat) Troubetzkoy is Co-Creator, Writer, and Executive Producer of the one-hour detective thriller Sight Unseen (the CW/Bell Media/Blink49) along with her sister, Nikolijne Troubetzkoy. Partly inspired by Kat’s experiences with retinal degeneration, Sight Unseen is the sisters’ first onscreen collaboration. Previous to Sight Unseen, Kat was Consulting Producer on the UK thriller Culprits for Disney+Star and Character7, Exec Producer on Amazon’s The Lake, and Exec Producer of the long-running sci-fi drama Killjoys (SyFy/ Space). Kat was also a Consulting Producer on Orphan Black S2 (BBC America/ Space) and Co-Created, Wrote and Produced the Award-Winning comedy 18 To Life (ABC / CTV) as well as the teen drama 15 Love (FR2/ YTV) which won Gemini Awards for Best Writing and Directing. As a network executive, Kat oversaw development of the police drama Flashpoint (CTV/ CBS). Her Producing debut, the BBC miniseries Magician's House, received a BAFTA nomination and won an International Emmy.
Nikolijne (Niko) Troubetzkoy is Co-Creator, Writer, and Executive Producer of the upcoming one-hour detective thriller Sight Unseen (the CW / Blink 49 / Bell Media). Previously, Nikolijne served as Writer/Co-Executive Producer on Paramount+ and CBS Studios’ high-octane rescue drama SkyMed, writer/producer on the CSA Award-winning Transplant (NBC/Bell Media) and writer/producer of the hit procedural Departure (Global/ Peacock/Universal TV UK). Niko got her start writing for sci-fi phenomenon Orphan Black (AMC/Space) and critically-acclaimed police drama 19-2 (Bravo) as well as the out-of-the-box award-winning comedy series Call Me Fitz starring Jason Priestly. Niko has received numerous accolades for her writing including a Canadian Screen Award nomination and several Writer’s Guild Award nominations for outstanding writing in a television drama.
TAKEAWAYS
Working with consultants and team members with lived experience can greatly impact projects about mental health and disability.
Representation and accessibility are important considerations in creating content that accurately portrays the experiences of individuals with disabilities.
Sound is crucial in enhancing the viewing and listening experience for individuals with low vision and blindness
Collaboration with consultants and individuals with lived experience can pave the way for future projects and improve representation in the industry.
REFERENCES
Instagram: Kat - @kat.troubetzkoy and Niko - @Nikolijne
Other episodes you’ll enjoy:
Vision Loss and Blindness on Sight Unseen - Episode 046
Causeway and Traumatic Brain Injury - Episode 042
Investigating Inequality Across Film and TV - Episode 041
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