“O’Kelley Legends: 2e Behind the Scenes” follows a 13-year-old Jordan O’Kelley, as he adapts his own book into a monologue show fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit organization SENG, which supports the emotional needs of the gifted. Four years earlier, Jordan, who is gifted and autistic, had written a book of humorous short stories, called “O’Kelley Legendary Legends of Legend, to get out of doing homework in 4th grade.

Many of the cast in the show are 2e, or twice exceptional— gifted with disabilities or learning differences. The film chronicles the process of creating a neurodiverse-friendly theater experience— from casting, through rewriting, rehearsals, and finally the performance.

With a home movie feel, the documentary shows how important it is for “2e" individuals to have mentors and family supports. The O’Kelley Lab (aka Jordan’s family) makes use of a variety of supports such as “Mime as Therapy” and recruiting industry mentors in acting, directing, casting, and producing to work with the cast throughout the process, allowing the students to find their strengths and create a successful show.

Director Biography - Harri James

Harri James is a former actress, turned script supervisor, turned writer-director. She has written and directed a feature film, four award-winning shorts, and now her first documentary, “O’Kelley Legends: 2e Behind the Scenes.”

Combining filmmaking with her passion for gifted and 2e education, Harri shares this personal film, which follows her son, Jordan, as he overcomes the challenges of directing actors and adapting his book of short stories into a monologue show as a fund-raiser for SENG, a non-profit group supporting the emotional needs of the gifted.

Harri has acted in several television shows as well as feature films such as “Diehard,” “Action Jackson,” “Zeus and Roxanne,” and “187.” More recently, she can be seen in the film “Getting Grace” on Hulu and in an episode of the TV show “Stumptown.”

From acting, Harri segued into script supervising and has worked for more than 30 years on numerous features and TV series while raising her three twice exceptional kids. Out of her passion for gifted and special needs education, Harri has also created The O’Kelley Lab with her family— a grass roots effort to lend supports and create new therapies for 2e and gifted Individuals.

O’Kelley Legends: 2e Behind the Scenes | BLOCK D |