Forefront of our slate:
It's about STORY and STRUCTURE.
Story First.
We are curators of the Deaf and Disabled communities.
Like Sound of Metal, our films will “burn in the mind.” Our protagonists overcome colossal adversity to secure their place in the world. Oftentimes, individuals with disabilities are relegated to minor roles in service to the able-bodied hero’s story.
MISSION STATEMENT:
Codaheart is a company whose mission is to present stories from unheard voices. We do that through the inclusivity of stories from Deaf and Disability communities, providing opportunities for artists, performers, and creators who are crying out to be heard and seen. These stories are soul-stirring, fighting prejudice, and embracing the human condition.
Our projects often feature a superhero’s journey for the underdog.
Codaheart represents scripts and will present unique projects from and about marginalized communities. To review the descriptions of projects currently in development, please send an email to codaheartpaul@gmail.com
PROJECTS
The SECRET ART of HUMAN FLIGHT
In Production- NOV '21
IN PRODUCTION
29 GIFTS
Feature
A film inspired byCami Walker'sbook, "29 Gifts". A high powered ad exec's life falls apart after she's diagnosed with MS, until a modern day Medicine Woman convinces her that a month of giving could be her only salvation.
BLIND TOM WIGGINS
Feature
(Comp – Rainman, Harriet, 12 Years a Slave) True story of Tom struggling to find his way home to family and Mother. Tom, a blind autistic slave transforms from a freak show attraction into a nineteenth century piano rock-star, while struggling against the unwavering grip of his slave master. In 1849, Tom Wiggins was born a slave and piano prodigy, who became one of the most highly compensated musicians touring America and Europe. (Creators Paul, Casey Adler and Chance Parker Script Ready April 2021)
The GHOST and MRS. M
Feature
On the verge of homelessness, a divorced mother of two children with special needs finds love … with a ghost.
HELA's UPRISING
Feature
(Comp – Euphoria) Hela's Uprising follows HELA ADISA, a Nigerian-Jewish American teen, as she transforms from an unfocused artist to a radical young activist. When the Chicago City School Board pushes through brutal budget cuts, she inspires students across the Chi, including Mihir, a teen bullied for his autism. To the ire of her parents, she parties, smokes pot, and ever so often ceases taking her bipolar medication. Inspired by Euphoria, The Queen’s Gambit, and Judas and The Black Messiah, Hela’s Uprising will be gritty and numbing, a fast-paced glimpse into urbanity and modern life. This compact, humane drama shines a light on school reform, mental illness, and social disempowerment. (Creators Casey Adler and Chance Parker) Script Complete
MITCH and MAGGIE
Feature
(Comp Last Picture Show, Summer of ‘42) Mitch chooses country over love. A coming-of-age story of young man in the late 1960’s, fearing the Vietnam War as it rages on and his eventual draft into the war. He joins the Navy to avoid being in the jungle and becomes a Hospital Corpsman where he meets Maggie, a much older woman with a horrible disfigurement because of a car accident. They both learn about love and acceptance before Mitch is finally sent on a ship to the Gulf of Tonkin. (Creators Paul Raci and John Sandel. Script Ready May 2021)
SECOND STORY MAN
Feature
A Feature developed for Paul to star. (Comp The Wrestler, The Verdict) An aging safecracker, betrayed by his old crew, trains a young protégé to help steal a safe full of their gold. (Paul and John Sandel. Script Ready June 2021)
CITIZENS UNHEARD
Feature
(Comp True Detective, Your Honor) Based on Paul's 25 years in LA Courts as a ASL Interpreter. Follows the murder trial of a Deaf gang member. Deaf Bloods and Crips, a sub-culture of Los Angeles gang culture, throw off investigators searching for the truth. A Deaf prosecutor steps out of line when torn between serving her office or serving justice in this “he said, she said” trial. (Creators Paul Raci and Angela Murphy. Script Ready April 2021)
SIDEWALKS
Feature
(Comp Crip Camp) A friendship spans decades to heal hearts Disability activists across two time periods in American history struggle to find equality. Based on the 1970s disability rights movement, a wheelchair-bound group fights for easier access in Los Angeles. Two women of different Era’s discover the real path to freedom. (Creators Paul, Casey Adler, and Chance Parker. Script Ready May 2021)