Lindsay Nyman
Lindsay Nyman is an American writer, director, producer and teacher.[1][2] Based in both Los Angeles and Berlin, she is an outspoken advocate for "disability visibility in the arts" and her films focus on "stories of resilience, identity, and women’s empowerment."[3][2] Nyman founded Film By The Blind, an initiative part of ArtsUP! Studios in Los Angeles, which celebrates and produces the creative works of blind actors.[2][4][5]
Early life and education
Originally from Long Island, Nyman began as a child actor and signed with Carson-Adler.[6] In her teen years, Nyman was in a girl-group Huckapoo, using the stage name "Joey Thunders".[6] She then studied at UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television and began to pursue a career in acting, writing and producing.[2] In her senior year at UCLA, she began volunteering for ArtsUP!, formerly CRE Outreach, as an assistant director and continued on to develop her own program.[6][4]
Career
Theatre
Nyman began volunteering with the theatre troupe Theatre by the Blind in the early 2010s. In 2014, Nyman directed the play Sit for the company.[7]
Film By The Blind
Film By The Blind is an educational film program founded by Nyman, composed entirely of blind and visually impaired acting students.[4] The program is designed to encourage and facilitate blind students becoming autonomous filmmakers by creating a supportive environment and teaching "the technical, physical and emotional strategies needed for film acting."[4] This includes learning a range of practical skills like "on-camera acting techniques in relaxation, concentration, sense memory, emotional recall and improvisation."[4] The course also incorporates visits from industry professionals to prepare students for working within their selected sectors of interest.[4] In an interview, Nyman said: "No matter what I do in my career, I will always be working in some capacity with blind actors [...] it's my home base."[6]
The Blind Center (2017)
In 2017, Nyman wrote and produced her debut short film "The Blind Center" alongside director Tim Cruz.[1] The film is an autobiographical mockumentary comedy based on Nyman's real experiences working with blind actors.[8]
Nyman initially worried that the project was too "risky" to produce, due to the blend of "irreverent" comedy and commentary on the lives of blind people.[6] Her students, however, encouraged her to complete the project as they observed that "the trepidation of sighted people leads to inaction in engaging with the blind community."[6] In this way, Nyman suggests, by making a lighthearted comedy about blind people, it starts a conversation, "allows people to laugh, [...] breaks barriers" and bridges a gap between sighted and blind individuals.[6]
They Call Me The Tattoo Witch (2024)
Nyman's directorial debut They Call Me The Tattoo Witch is a documentary short film following Vietnamese tattoo artist Tran Ngoc, who specialises in the delicate art of tattooing over scars. The film was shot in Hanoi with Nyman's all-female cast and crew and focuses primarily on healing and empowerment, discussing the impact of women reclaiming their bodies through tattoos, especially after facing trauma or illness.[9][10] The film has screened at "over 40 international film festivals,"[11] with a theatrical run throughout 2025. Nyman hopes to eventually be able to distribute the film more widely to the public.[10]
Awards and nominations
The Blind Center
- Grand Jury Prize, Film Invasion Los Angeles 2017[1]
They Call Me The Tattoo Witch
- Best Short Documentary – Carmarthen Bay Film Festival (BAFTA-Qualifying)[11]
- Best Short Documentary – Imagine This Women’s Film Festival[11]
- Best Impactful Story – Female Filmmakers Festival Berlin[11]
- Nominated for Excellence in Short Filmmaking – Narrative & Documentary at Asian American International Film Festival.[12]
- Best Short Film Documentary, Sherman Oaks Film Festival.[13]
- Best Documentary Short, Round Top Film Festival[14]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "55. Tim Cruz "The Blind Center"". DISCOVER INDIE FILM. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Lindsay Nyman". Rocky Mountain Women's Film. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
- ↑ "Lindsay Nyman". The Video Consortium. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "ArtsUP! Studios". ArtsUP! LA. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ↑ ArtsUP! LA Channel (2023-05-22). ArtsUP! Studios presents Film by the Blind. Retrieved 2025-11-27 – via YouTube.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Episode 57: Lindsay Nyman, retrieved 2025-11-23
- ↑ Gagnier, Robert; journalist, ContributorLos Angeles-based (2014-02-25). "Q&A With "SIT" Writer-Director Lindsay Nyman". HuffPost. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ↑ The Blind Center, Loves You, 2017-01-01, retrieved 2025-11-27
- ↑ "They Call Me The Tattoo Witch". www.aaiff.org. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Discover Indie Film Foundation (2025-08-18). 573. Lindsay Nyman “They Call Me The Tattoo Witch”. Retrieved 2025-11-27 – via YouTube.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "The Tattoo Witch - Lindsay Nyman". Leading Woman Films. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ↑ "AAIFF48 Jurors and Awards". www.aaiff.org. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ↑ "2024 Awards". Sherman Oaks Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
- ↑ Hathaway, Haven. "Round Top Film Festival 2025 Winners Announced". Modern Luxury. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
External links
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