Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Neale Donald Walsch

UNSCRIPTED LIVES

What happens when a small New England town and an enrichment center for people with disabilities attempt to stage an original musical together?

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Neale Donald Walsch

UNSCRIPTED LIVES

A Film by James Sadwith

What happens when a small New England town and an enrichment center for people with disabilities attempt to stage an original musical together?

Trailer - Pure, Unfettered

Trailer - Countdown

Director’s Statement

To be honest, I had not always felt completely at ease with people with disabilities. But then I agreed to direct one of the Zack’s Place-Woodstock, VT annual musicals, and I was touched by a kind of magic that many people describe working or volunteering with the participants.

Cast

Shannon Seery

“Snow White”

Shannon, 30, has worked as a Materials Lab Assistant for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, NY, since 2020. She enjoys working there three days a week from 9 am to 3:30 pm. She is helpful and reliable and feels part of the team.

In October 2023, Shannon moved into a transitional housing arrangement in Nyack, NY, and lived there successfully where she shared an apartment with a roommate and safely traveled to and from work independently. This summer she moved into an apartment closer to her job and now lives independently!

Erin Norton

“Dwarf #3”

Erin is 28 and lives in Woodstock, Vermont, with her parents. She is happiest ripping down the slopes on her bi-ski, riding along trails in her bike cart, sailing on Lake Champlain, dancing in her wheelchair, horseback riding, cheering on the Boston Red Sox, traveling to new places, and hanging out with friends at camp or Zack’s Place.

Over the years, she has had several volunteer jobs reading and leading musical activities on her iPad for preschoolers at area daycare centers. She loves musical theater, films, all things Dr. Seuss, and indoor beach volleyball.

Along with a bit of help from her family and friends, she is willing to try any new activity involving action and taking risks.

Patrick Green

“Another Handsome Prince”

Patrick Green is 33 years old and has lived in Lebanon, NH, for most of his life with his mother. Music is his great love, as well as seeing live performances of all kinds, and traveling.

Patrick has traveled to many countries throughout Europe. His wide-eyed wonder and appreciation of each of these experiences is an inspiration to all who meet him. He also loves acting, singing, and dancing and has participated in the Zack’s Place annual play productions for the last several years. People know Patrick to be a kind, gentle soul with a great zest for life and a natural leader who inspires others with hard work, courage, and a can-do spirit.

Keegan Moriarty

“Search and Rescue Team”

Keegan, 45 years old, continues to be a very prominent figure and a new voter in the Woodstock, VT community. His nickname is Big Dog. He continues to serve as the Get Back Coach for the Woodstock Union High School football team and is now sporting the 2025 Woodstock State Championship ring.

In addition, he works part-time at the Woodstock Village Market. He can also be found working out at the local gym, participating in Special Olympics events, and all the Zack’s Place activities.

He also enjoys going to weekend dog shows with his caregiver, Jen, and her two Irish wolfhounds. They call him the Big Dog whisperer!!

Life is good for the Keegster.

Tanner Dow

“The Beazt”

Tanner is 34 years old. Tanner’s family feels that growing up in a small town was the best thing that could have happened to him. Through elementary and high school, Tanner thrived with all the special care and attention he received from teachers and peers alike. An accomplished young man, Tanner published a children’s book and acted in a Hallmark movie all before his 21st birthday. To say he is loved in his town is an understatement.

He spends his days working at the local grocery store, visiting the library, reading to elementary students from his book, and drawing the stories his mind creates. As part of a loving family, Tanner also enjoys spending time with his parents and two siblings, visiting zoos, aquariums, and anywhere else that sparks his imagination to create a new story.

Molly Kirby

“A Forest Tree”

Molly’s mom describes her as “Our Lady of Perpetual Joy”, a constant source of warm light in a world that has many dark days. She lives in Reading, VT, with her parents and her two doodles.

Her favorite place is Zack’s Place, where she meets friends and engages in many enriching field trips. She loves singing and dancing and has a phenomenal knowledge of songs, performers, and movie stars. She is a lover of holidays, always dressing for the occasion. She loves the annual Zack’s Place musicals and has played Tinkerbell, Glinda, a Tree, and a Leopard. She does not know the meaning of stage fright.

Her best attribute, though, is celebrating the small and beautiful things in her day, bringing our attention to the wind and the stars and the bugs and dog kisses, as we rush around forgetting to look.

Jack Rasmussen

“Search and Rescue Team”

Jack, 23 years old, lives in Killington, VT, with his mom, dad, and favorite family member – Thule, a chocolate lab!

He graduated from Woodstock High School in 2023 and completed a job training program with Project Search. He works part-time for the Town of Killington, VT, at the Transfer Station and Firehouse, doing various jobs with the support of an aide. Jack loves to work.

His favorite pastimes include the various activities at Zack’s Place, such as skiing, mountain biking, hiking, karate classes, Special Olympics basketball, and traveling to his family’s beach house to swim and metal detect. He has a great sense of humor and loves being around people.

Jack’s goals include taking on more hours at work and growing his network of friends.

The Production Team

Jim Sadwith

Writer / Director / Editor / Executive Producer

Jim is a screenwriter, director, and producer. His TV movies, miniseries and drama series have won or been nominated for over thirty-five Emmy Awards and Golden Globes.

Read The Full Bio

Nerissa Edwards

Producer

Nerissa wears many hats. She has been a school counselor for all grades, from elementary through high school. She has served on numerous boards, including Zack’s Place, and is an independent counselor for individuals seeking post-high school education or other opportunities.

This was her first role as producer of a feature film. She single-handedly kept the production running professionally and on schedule.

Josef Beeby

Writer

In Toronto, Canada, Josef has been a writer, director, editor, and post-production supervisor on many short films. Jim discovered him through his writing work on the touching award-winning short “My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes.”

Jim Cole

Cinematographer

Jim Cole graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2018. He is now a Brooklyn-based cinematographer & photographer. While behind the camera, he aims to reflect authentic moments that naturally capture his attention daily. Jim’s film “Pothos” was featured in Slow Burn NYC’s 2020 show, “Nature vs Technology.”

Taylor Wedding

Cinematographer

Taylor graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2019. She lives and works in Dallas, Texas, and has pursued a career as a wedding photographer.

She writes: “Photography does the same thing for me as my inhaler does: gives me fresh air. Capturing images with the story, fostering community through creativity, generating art out of instances; all these things wildly boost my serotonin levels and fuel a constant, passionate pursuit of learning more and more about this nifty little art form.”

Luke Kellerhouse

Producer and Co-Director

Luke’s childhood was split between San Diego, California, and Telluride, Colorado, establishing his love for the outdoors and adventure sports. He found a way to inject this love of the outdoors into his documentary and music video production work at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he earned a BFA in Film and Television in 2019.

Luke then found his way to Germany, where he received his master’s degree in Documentary Directing through Metfilm School Berlin in 2024.

Luke is currently working on other projects and is a Festival Producer at the Mountainfilm Film Festival in Telluride, CO.

Franky Gonzales

Production Sound

Franky joined the crew in 2021, having just graduated from the Music Production and Engineering and Electronic Production and Design programs at Berklee College of Music.

He is a mixing and mastering engineer, sound recordist (and rock climber!) from Costa Rica, currently based in Brooklyn. He has recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered albums with several Grammy award-winning artists.

Tim Vece

Editor

Tim edits documentaries, commercials for national/regional advertising agencies, and other interesting projects.

He has been the creative editor and owner of Outback Editorial for 27 years.

Lily Klein

Post Production Supervisor

Lily Klein is a film editor. Her clients have included Essie, Maybelline, Buffalo Wild Wings, Peloton, Macy’s, and more.

She has also edited narrative episodic work, music videos, an independent feature, and several short films. She teaches editing workshops, listens to true crime podcasts, writes for No Film School, and raises her infant daughter