Video Interview: Out of My Mind’s Cast & Director

Out of My Mind, an adaptation of Sharon M. Draper’s 2010 book of the same name, has begun streaming on Disney+ for viewers around the world. It centers on sixth-grader Melody, who happens to have cerebral palsy. Though she has a quick wit and sharp mind, she is often overlooked and not awarded the same opportunities as her classmates because she is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair. When an educator notices her potential, Melody is able to begin participating in mainstream education and finally show everyone that what she has to say—no matter what her method of communication is—is important.

Phoebe-Rae Taylor, in her first-ever feature role, stars as Melody, alongside Rosemarie DeWitt and Luke Kirby as her parents. Judith Light and Courtney Taylor play Melody’s neighbor and the young educator who spots her potential, respectively, the two people outside of her family who believe in her. Filmmaker Amber Sealey (No Man of God) helmed the adaptation as director.

In this video interview, Sealey and the cast talk about tapping into the vulnerability needed to tell the story in an authentic way and what they hope viewers (and other filmmakers) take away from seeing this story told on screen.