From day one, CJ shared his dream of becoming an actor and seeing himself on the big screen. As a participant of our film program, Invisible Layers Productions (ILP), he was always the first to volunteer for acting roles. His excitement for self-expression through acting was contagious and his smile was unforgettable. That’s why when we collaborated with Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation on a video to support developmentally disabled people who experience dental-related anxieties, CJ was a shoo-in for a lead role.
In April, we held a special screening to debut the video. This event was attended by ILP participants, families, friends, Oklahoma filmmakers and the Delta Dental team. The evening was filled with stories and laughter over freshly popped popcorn, until it was time to watch the video. The room watched intently, riding the waves of emotion and care that sealed every moment of the motion picture.
When the video ended, the audience roared to life with excitement and awe, and the message could be felt resonating throughout the room. And in the back row was CJ, smile on his face, red in the cheeks and happy tears flowing from his eyes.
When the noise died down, CJ was invited to share his experience with the audience. He stood, walked to the front and addressed his audience.
“I’ve never seen myself on a big screen before, I was kind of nervous,” he admitted. “But I’ve always wanted to be an actor, and my dreams are coming true.”
In that moment, another ILP participant rushed by CJ’s side and took his hand, holding it high above his head victoriously and encouraged him to take a bow. As CJ lowered his head in true Hollywood fashion, the audience filled the room with celebratory applause, awe-struck by the radiant star CJ had become that evening.
