Amber Sealey's film, 'Out of My Mind,' made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, leaving the audience at the Library Center Theatre emotionally moved. The Disney+ movie centers around Melody Brooks, portrayed by first-time performer Phoebe-Ray Taylor, a sixth grader living with cerebral palsy and navigating school as a nonverbal wheelchair user.
Melody's story showcases the power of assistive technology and the support of her devoted allies as she fights to be included in a mainstream classroom. The film beautifully exemplifies that what Melody has to say is immensely more important than how she says it.
Starring alongside Taylor are Luke Kirby, Rosemarie DeWitt, Judith Light, Michael Chernus, Courtney Taylor, and others. Jennifer Aniston lends her voiceover talents through narration, expressing her love and support for the film on Instagram Stories. Aniston, who did not attend the Sundance premiere, has a long-standing history with the festival, having previously featured in movies such as 'The Good Girl' and 'Friends with Money.'
Audiences warmly received 'Out of My Mind,' showering it with two standing ovations during the premiere. One attendee shared with The Hollywood Reporter, 'We were all wrecked!! Laughing and crying. What a film. What a movie.'
As a Disney original movie, 'Out of My Mind' is a collaboration between Big Beach, Participant Production, and Everywhere Studios. Director Amber Sealey, known for her previous works like 'No Man of God,' 'No Light and No Land Anywhere,' 'How to Cheat,' 'A Plus D,' and the short film 'How Does It Start,' brings her unique vision to the project. Screenwriter Daniel Stiepleman adapted the script from the novel by Sharon M. Draper.
The film's team includes producers Peter Saraf, Robert Kessel, Dan Angel, and Michael B. Clark, with executive producers Eddie Rubin, Alex Turtletaub, Brian Gott, David Calvert Jones, Tom Mazza, Leah Holzer, and Jeff Skoll of Participant, who played a vital role in financing the film. Notably, music superstar Linda Perry is responsible for the film's score.
Sundance Film Festival carefully selected 'Out of My Mind' to be part of its family matinee program. The official selection description highlights director Amber Sealey's ability to create a world around Melody that feels both familiar and unfair, reflecting the reality of love, fun, and opportunities hindered by systemic biases towards those who are different.
Disney+ plans to release 'Out of My Mind' later this year, giving a wider audience the opportunity to experience this heartwarming and important story. With its touching portrayal of embracing differences and fighting for inclusivity, the film promises to leave a lasting impact on viewers of all ages.
