ABC News Studios, in collaboration with All Ages Productions, ESS Projects, and Cedar Road, is set to release the feature-length documentary, Patrice: The Movie, on Monday, September 30, on Hulu, following its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by Peabody and Gotham Award-winning filmmaker Ted Passon, the film offers a unique perspective on the challenges of marriage equality for individuals with disabilities.
The documentary follows Patrice Jetter, a disabled woman who has found love with Garry Wickham, another disabled individual. As they plan their commitment ceremony, they face a difficult choice due to government regulations that could impact their benefits.
The film combines vérité footage with recreated scenes from Patrice’s past, depicting her struggles and resilience. Patrice also designed the sets and co-wrote the scripts for these recreations, starring a cast of children with herself as the only adult, portraying her life at various ages.
Passon emphasizes the significance of the story, stating, “as a disabled person navigating this system, Patrice’s story is unfortunately very common. We’re telling a very ordinary story but through the lens of a person who is, herself, completely extraordinary. She is a true Renaissance woman. We can’t wait for the world to meet Patrice..”
Patrice: The Movie is produced by All Ages Productions, in association with ESS Projects and Cedar Road, for ABC News Studios. The documentary is produced by Kyla Harris, Innbo Shim, and Emily Spivack, with executive producers Jim LeBrecht, Jennifer J. Pritzker, Chandra Jessee, Rebecca Lichtenfeld, Poh Si Teng, Peter Kenney, Claire Weinraub, and David Sloan for ABC News Studios. ABC News Studios is led by Mike Kelley, with Reena Mehta serving as SVP of Streaming and Digital Content.
