Okay Goodnight and Orchard Pictures will pair up to produce the documentary, “I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust.”
The short is based on Emily Grodin’s memoir of the same name. Marta Kauffman is on board to produce. Robbie Rowe Tollin and Hannah K.S. Canter of Okay Goodnight and Roberta Grossman are also set to serve as producers. Orchard Pictures’ Sophie Sartain will direct and also produce.
According to the logline, “I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust” tells the story of Emily Grodin, a nonspeaking autistic woman, discovering her voice. After decades of failed therapies, Emily has a breakthrough using an assisted-typing method that allows her to finally communicate. The first words she writes are, “I have been buried under years of dust.”
A co-production between Orchard Pictures, Okay Goodnight, LLC and ITVS, funding will be provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), “I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust,” will be broadcast in the United States on public television.
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“Working with Marta Kauffman and Sophie Sartain and their wonderful team on this documentary has been an incredible journey of collaboration and understanding,” said Grodin. “I am deeply grateful for their commitment to sharing my story, a story of hope and the power of finding one’s voice against all odds. My hope is that this documentary inspires parents and caregivers to never give up on their children, reminding them that every struggle is a step toward a brighter future. Together, we can shine a light on the possibilities that await when we believe in the potential of every individual.”
Kauffman said, “Emily Grodin’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and I am thrilled to be sharing her moving story and her autism advocacy.” Kauffman added, “Her courage in the face of adversity is a universally recognizable and educational message, which we at Okay Goodnight are collectively passionate to bring to life. We’re excited to be re-teaming with Orchard Pictures on this project and look forward to sharing Emily’s journey with even more audiences.”
Sartain said, “Collaborating with Emily and Valerie to bring their powerful story to the screen has been a privilege. I am humbled to have been allowed into their lives in such an intimate fashion, and l look forward to sharing their message about the transformative power of communication through this film.”
“I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust” marks the second collaboration between the Okay Goodnight and Orchard Pictures teams. The teams first worked together on Netflix’s 2018 documentary, “Seeing Allred.”