During a rigorous six-week study abroad program in Bonn, Germany, Skyler DeYoung ’21 developed, cast, shot, and edited “Nothing Down About It,” a documentary short that features Paul Spitzeck, a German man with Down Syndrome. To celebrate the program’s 20th anniversary, its founding members reunited with the LMU community in Broccoli Theater for a screening of her film and several others, and Dean Joanne Moore presented DeYoung with LMU School of Film and Television’s very first Social Justice Award.
DeYoung’s passion for the disabled community derives from her younger brother and best friend, Cadence, who was born with Down Syndrome. “I know that me talking about him, or sharing stories like his or like Paul’s is important, because sometimes I do get reactions that demonstrate just how much further we have to go,” she says. “There is an incredible lack of opportunity for this community, even as all these talks of representation are going on in the industry. Disability is often the last demographic to have a seat at that table… We as creators, the next generation – LMU SFTV – we should be cognizant about who is on our sets, who is in our stories, and what those stories look like.”
Though DeYoung never lacked conviction during the filmmaking process, she questioned her authority to tell a story that focuses on the disability community, and she faced a healthy dose of imposter syndrome. She consulted with figureheads in the Down Syndrome community for support, but it wasn’t until the day of the screening, when she was able to watch Paul’s positive reactions, that she knew she had achieved her goal.
“Bonn was an incredibly important semester for me as a person and as a professional,” DeYoung says. She credits the experience for helping her gain the confidence she needed to pursue the work she does now. Upon graduating with her BFA in Film and Television Production from LMU, DeYoung channeled her advocacy into a career. As a Diversity Commercial Agent at Kazarian/Measures/Ruskin & Associates, she creates opportunities for talent with disabilities and ensures they have comfortable, safe experiences on set.
DeYoung’s work is representative of the type of mission-driven storytelling SFTV champions, and the outcomes she extracted from her experience abroad illustrate why the university is committed to global education.
“The International Documentary Program in Bonn is a true testament to LMU’s dedication to excellence in experiential and global learning. For two decades our students have created high quality documentaries while learning a new language, embracing new cultures, and gaining a global perspective,” says Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas Poon.
To learn more about studying abroad in Bonn, check out the study abroad website or contact Bonn film program director Professor Glenn Gebhard.
