Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. Donate today and help bring Schlitzie: One of Us to life.

Logline

A love letter to Schlitzie, the 4-foot-tall performer with microcephaly who found fame in the 1932 classic Freaks—and left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire acceptance, inclusion, and compassion.

Synopsis

Schlitzie: One of Us celebrates the life and cultural influence of the iconic sideshow performer who touched generations—from Freaks to Zippy the Pinhead, The Ramones, and American Horror Story. Told through rare archival footage, interviews, and original animation and music created by artists on the autism spectrum, this documentary uplifts the beauty of difference and the power of belonging.

Meet the Filmmakers

Steve Belgard — Director/Producer/Writer/Editor
From Brooklyn, New York, Steve handled PR and marketing at the Starz Network and its 18 channels for 13 years. At Starz, he worked on all of their original programming, including “Spartacus,” “Camelot,” “Party Down,” “The Pillars of the Earth” and “Crash.” He did publicity for all of Starz’ documentaries including those on Hunter S. Thompson, Alfred Hitchcock, Hopalong Cassidy, John Ford, Sam Peckinpah, Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic, and genres such as horror, fashion, gangster films and Anime. He was responsible for getting actor/director Dennis Hopper a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame two months prior to his passing.

Before Starz, Steve worked at Rogers & Cowan and at Solters/Roskin/Friedman in Los Angeles. For six years, he was Director of West Coast Publicity at Dennis Davidson Associates. Steve was responsible for unit publicity and domestic film campaigns, and a slate of corporate accounts including Alliance Atlantis, Lakeshore Entertainment, The American Film Market (AFM), Dolby Laboratories, Scott Free Productions (Tony and Ridley Scott), the Berlin Film Festival, the Rome Film Commission (working with acclaimed Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni) to name a few. He headed the launch of the film school campaign at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. In addition, he handled films at the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival.

He has worked on projects for the Epix Network (New York), mOcean Marketing (Los Angeles), Shout! Factory (Los Angeles), Screamfest Horror Film Festival (Los Angeles), and the Denver International Film Festival.

Steve’s career has spanned over 80 film and television units, and directed his first documentary, Schlitzie: One of Us about the iconic performer from the 1932 Tod Browning classic cult film Freaks. Steve lives in Los Angeles with his wife Stacey, bass playing daughter Emma and his dogs Gianni and Jack. Waldo Dog Productions was named after Steve’s beloved West Highland Terrier named Waldo.

Adam Pearson — Executive Producer
Adam Pearson is an award-winning actor, presenter, speaker, and disability rights advocate. He has neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic condition that causes benign tumors to grow on his nerves and covers much of his face. Pearson has used his platform to challenge perceptions of disability and promote inclusivity and authenticity in storytelling. He has appeared in films like Under the Skin with Scarlett Johansson and A Different Man with Sebastian Stan.

He will soon start filming a new version of The Elephant Man as Joseph (John) Merrick. The film is produced by Stephen Nemeth for Rhino Films.

Stephen Nemeth — Executive Producer
Stephen Nemeth is the founder of Rhino Films, an independent film company known for producing critically acclaimed films and documentaries.
Background of Stephen Nemeth

Stephen Nemeth founded Rhino Films in 1998, originally as a division of the renowned record label Rhino Records. Before establishing Rhino Films, he worked as an independent producer and as a motion picture agent at the William Morris Agency. His career in the film industry has been marked by a commitment to producing socially conscious and impactful films.

Andrew Loog Oldham— Narrator
Andrew Loog Oldham[a] (born 29 January 1944) is an English record producer, talent manager, impresario and author. He was manager and producer of the Rolling Stones from 1963 to 1967, and was noted for his flamboyant style.[4]

Make a donation to Schlitzie: One Of Us.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.