Authentic, unvarnished representations of people with disability were few and far between on screens big and small when Latecomers co-creators Emma Myers and Angus Thompson, both writers with cerebral palsy, were growing up. When characters did appear, they were usually relegated to supporting roles, almost certainly had zero sex life and, more often than not, were portrayed by actors without lived experience.
“I can count on one hand how many times I felt connected to a character, and I wouldn’t even need all of my fingers,” Myers says. “Scarlett Johansson in The Horse Whisperer was about as close to feeling represented as I could get as an angry teenage girl who had to go through the reality of accepting disability while also going through puberty. I still cry at that film, but other than that, there was just nothing.”
‘Latecomers’ co-creator Emma Myers on set. Source: Renata Dominik
Determined to change the narrative, Myers and Thompson joined forces to write their own show, six-part miniseries Latecomers, funded as part of the SBS Digital Originals initiative to develop exciting new voices from under-represented communities. Thompson also stars as Frank, opposite prominent disability activist Hannah Diviney in her first screen role as Sarah, both tired of watching their mates/carers (Patrick Jhanur and Miriama Smith) have all the fun. The result is gloriously sex-positive, sassy, sweary, romantic and emotionally messy.
Angus Thompson as Frank and Patrick Jhanur as his carer Elliot in ‘Latecomers’. Source: Renata Dominik
Though fictional, Latecomers draws heavily on Myers’ and Thompson’s real-life experiences. “I’m 30 years old now, and throughout my 20s, I went to uni and lived on campus and made friends with girls quite easily, but I could never get past the friend zone stage,” Thompson says. “I always found it really frustrating it would never go any further, sexually, and I wanted to portray that frustration on camera.”
It’s a situation Myers, an accomplished journalist, knows all too well. “I’ve never had a first kiss, never mind sex,” she says. “It’s also a lot harder for women with disability to find a relationship, because women are still viewed as more acceptable in the role of caregiver. Society strips you of your womanhood, with men going, ‘Oh well, she can’t cook, she can’t clean or look after me and the kids,’ in that very 1950s way of thinking.”
Angus Thompson and Hannah Diviney as Frank and Sarah on the set of ‘Latecomers’. Source: Renata Dominik
As Myers sees it, humour lets people drop their guard and take more on board, Thompson suggests. “It lets the audience understand your frustrations, but also laugh along at the same time.”
Diviney, best known for schooling both Lizzo and Beyoncé on their use of ableist slurs, is a revelation in the role of Sarah. “I still can’t believe it was her first acting role,” Thompson says. “She was phenomenal, and we had great chemistry straight out of the gate.”
Hannah Diviney (Sarah), Patrick Jhanur (Elliot), Angus Thompson (Frank) and Miriama Smith (Brandi, Sarah’s carer) in ‘Latecomers’. Source: Renata Dominik
Apparently Diviney and Myers would giggle at this considerably buff actor [we’re keeping shtum as to who because *spoilers*] on set. “We knew that Sarah’s potential love interest had to be this parody on the good-looking rom-com guy,” Myers says. “Then he turns up on set and drops and does 20 [push-ups] between takes. We were like, ‘Who the hell is this guy?’”
It was a fun shoot, with the creators raving about the culture . “I immediately felt that she was the right person for the job,” Myers says. “She’s an incredible director and a phenomenal human being, and I really think we’ve created something special here. Each one of us has walked away changed for the better.”
‘Latecomers’. Source: Renata Dominik
Myers hopes representation will continue to improve on our screens, pointing to George Robinson’s wheelchair-using character Isaac on Netflix hit Sex Education as a great example. “I like the fact that he’s not a likeable character,” she says. “He’s a bit of a shithead, and his disability isn’t part of that. Just because you’ve got a disability doesn’t mean you’re an angel. Our sole purpose in life isn’t to be an inspiration.”
Thompson agrees. “That’s why even though my character Frank really wants to do right by everyone, through his frustration he makes a lot of questionable decisions.”
Myers chuckles, saying Frank is Australia’s Isaac. She reckons 15-year-old her would never have believed she’d make a show like Latecomers one day. “When you are young and have a disability and you constantly see other people your age hitting those milestones that you feel that you should be hitting, it does take an emotional toll. So I really hope this series educates viewers.”
And find out more in this Behind The Scenes video (via Screen Australia)
