Polydisabled and named to Gemini: “a huge step for inclusion on the screen” – Sylvain Parent-Bédard

Between two sobs, producer Sylvain Parent-Bédard tried to sum up what the nomination obtained by his polyhandicapped son, who plays his own role in the series, represented. About Anthonyfor the Gemini gala.

“It’s extraordinary,” exclaimed a proud and emotional dad on Friday, after the announcement the day before that Antoine Parent-Bédard was cited in the category Best supporting role: comedy or dramatic comedy.

All this a few days before Father’s Day.

“If someone had told me one day that Antoine would do something like that and that he would be nominated for Gemini, I would have said: ‘You take me for a cellar’.”

“This is an appointment that should, I hope, mark a step in the history of television in Quebec. It’s a huge step for people with multiple disabilities, but it’s a huge step for inclusion on screen. We tell all the Antoines around the world and their families that yes, it is possible to achieve great things.

“I exploded”

His wife, Cathleen Rouleau, mother-in-law of Antoine and author of the series, was unable to control her emotions when Antoine’s name was mentioned during the unveiling of the finalists, Thursday evening, in Montreal.

“I exploded. I started to cry and I was no longer able to manage myself”, shares the one who also plays her own role in About Anthony, which is made by Podz.

Antoine’s reaction? “Driving to Montreal, he was in a good mood as we hadn’t seen him for a long time. When he got there, he was very vocal and a bit in his head, hunched over his iPad like in the series. When they named him, he lifted his head in the air, he had a big smile and he leaned back to return to his world, ”says his dad.

Other ideas in the air

Cathleen Rouleau is currently finishing writing the second and final season ofAbout Anthony, which will be shot in the fall. This happy episode will therefore not be able to make its way through the new intrigues.

“There would be so many things to say, I could do a third season. This will not necessarily be the case, but we are not closing the door to other projects over the next few years, such as a film. There are ideas in the air,” she says.

According to Sylvain Parent-Bédard, Antoine’s performance on screen even influences the steps taken to sell the series abroad.

“After seeing the series, all our international partners come back telling us that they are going to take the original series, dubbed or subtitled. They tell us that the energy that Antoine releases on the screen will be difficult and complicated to find in a child with multiple disabilities like him or an actor.

• Series About Anthony is available on Club illico.
• She has six nominations for the Gemini gala, which will take place on September 17.