Michelle Asgarali is the series producer and writer of Breaking Character, AMI’s new character-driven docuseries offering a candid look at disability in the entertainment industry. The 10-part series premièring April 27th, 2022, follows six performers with disabilities hustle to make their mark on stage, screen and the runway in Toronto- aka Hollywood North. Her big break came only three years after working with THA Media as the casting and social media producer of the award-winning Employable Me Canada, following neurodivergent job seekers as they prove their disability doesn’t make them unemployable. Born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare neuromuscular disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness, Michelle is no stranger to the challenges of navigating the complex world of inclusive storytelling. She used her unique perspective to carve out a career in documentary and TV development, creating entertaining content accessible to all. Something Michelle hopes to foster in others within the industry. In a recent collaboration with ReelAbilities TO, she co-presented a workshop with Ophira Calof on documentary filmmaking from the perspective of Disability for the University of Toronto. In 2020 Michelle guest-curated a special shorts program at the North Bay Film Festival co-presented with ReelAbilities. Person Before Ability exploring disability representation through the language of film, where she organized and moderated an accessible Zoom Q&A with six filmmakers from Australia, Los Angeles and Ontario.
Michelle Asgarali
