2009 VSA arts Apprentices

Matthew Clark
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Age 27

“Most people have not seen dimensional, truthful depictions of people with disabilities because Hollywood does not know how to make them.”

Matthew Clark fell in love with animation at the age of three and spent eleven years practicing and studying including a degree in animation from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2004. His pursuits include puppetry, acting, documenting wheelchair ballroom and Latin dancing, and a trip to Afghanistan when he was 23 years old to assist with an organization called the Mobility Project. Clark, who was born with lumbar sacral agenesis, distributed refurbished wheelchairs including training recipients on their use and care. He recently graduated with a degree in film from Temple University in Philadelphia. Clark has planned a three-week trip to LA to work with friends in the industry. “I am beginning the next part of my life, one that I have been working towards since I was three years old.”

Don Edler
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Age 21

“I strive to investigate my own world, looking at details to find the truth.”

Don Edler’s interest in documentary filmmaking began during coursework at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University (NYU). He was active in critique and collaborative projects, and demonstrated a deep commitment to his educational experience. Edler, who has cerebral palsy, is also exploring video installation working toward a BFA degree in sculpture at the University of Florida. His work was highlighted at the Cinerama Film Festival in 2009 and selected for the NYU film showcase in 2008. Edler conveys, “Documentary films simply transcend the fictional limits of traditional narrative films, engaging the viewer with reality in a way that is uniquely compelling. As an artist, I plan to use documentary film as a powerful media to advance my future work.”

Elizabeth Dena Sorkin
Washington, D.C.
Age 27

“Documentary is a powerful way of breaking down ignorance and fighting against evil in the world. Using film as a medium, knowledge can be spread like wildfire.”

Elizabeth Dena Sorkin (“Lizzie”) graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2007. She is currently a specialist in digital video services at Gallaudet University where she is involved in all aspects of television production for web-based programs, documenting campus life, and enhancing the University’s recruitment efforts. Sorkin, who is Deaf, also has extensive international experience, serving as outreach director for the Global Reach Out Initiative with trips to the Philippines and Thailand. She earned 24 credits through a global studies program at the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Shipboard Education involving field work in 10 countries: Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, and Cuba. Sorkin explains, “As a person who grew up knowing I was different than most people, I seek new ways everyday to embrace that difference and let it flow through my filmmaking.”