Opinion | ‘View From the Floor’: What I Learned From Going on ‘Maury’

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with performing onstage. Since I was born with no legs, it wasn’t long before news crews, national telethons and even the talk show host Maury Povich arrived to capture me in action, always portraying my simplest activities as inspirational.

This kind of attention forced me into a lifelong struggle with impostor syndrome as I pursued my creative passions. The short film above, “View From the Floor,” captures my journey navigating tropes, exploitation and the question of whether I’m talented or typecast, superstar or supercrip (a person with a disability who is seen as a superhero for doing everyday things).

Along with Megan Griffiths, I’m working on a fully animated feature documentary that explores these themes, as well as sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll without legs.

Megan Griffiths is a film and television director. Mindie Lind is a musician, director and writer.

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