PosAbilities introduces arts correspondent extraordinaire
Natalie Hamilton

He’s gregarious, energetic and a loveable movie nerd.

Additionally describing himself as a gung-ho thespian, meet Jake Anthony, also known as “Spotlight Jake.” Jake is posAbilities’ new arts correspondent extraordinaire.

Jake will be reviewing movies and the accessibility features of theatres through his upcoming Spotlight Jake written installments on the posAbilities website.

“I’m very happy,” to be working for posAbilities, Jake says.

He’s familiar with the agency because he has been involved in advocacy work with posAbilities in the past.

Jake is engaged in the fringe and community-based theatre scene in British Columbia and also works as a theatre arts co-ordinator and instructor for the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion and Burnaby Parks and Recreation.

He has been acting since he was four years old. Jake has autism and says being involved in theatre has been beneficial.

“It really helped me to connect with people. For me, it’s a tool of life as well as a craft and a job.”

Jake hopes to help other people who have a disability reap the benefits of acting and theatre work.

“Being able to work for them to use my acting and script-writing skills clicked,” says Jake about his role with posAbilities.

He enjoys going to the movies and appreciates all genres of film, particularly comedy. While his gig at posAbilities is fairly new, he anticipates his role expanding to include reviews of events and activities in addition to movies.

Readers can expect his pieces to be entertaining and written in plain language, Jake says.

Look for Spotlight Jake’s installments following the Kickstart 5 Festival of Disability Arts, which runs Sept. 5-8 in Vancouver, and after the opening of the Vancouver International Film Festival Sept. 29.

In the meantime, check out Spotlight Jake on Facebook — spotlightjake — or on Twitter @spotlightjake.

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