About

Different Is the New Normal tracks the trials and triumphs of Ariel Small, a 17 year old high school student who has struggled with uncontrollable tics caused by Tourette Syndrome. With his permission, Ariel’s mother Robin turned the camera on him to document their emotional journey to overcome the obstacles of Tourette’s in order to raise awareness about the disorder and help others living with the condition. Along the way, Ariel meets James Durbin, American Idol finalist, whose own battle with Tourette’s makes him realize that anything is possible.

Different is the New Normal is narrated by Michael J. Fox.

Articles and Interviews

May 20 | Fox News – ‘Idol’ finalist James Durbin and Chicago high schooler pair up for Tourette’s documentary

May 24 | WUSF – Different is the New Normal: Living a Life with Tourette’s

May 2012 | HLN News – Thriving with Tourrette Syndrome – Different is the New Normal

May 7, 2012 | Fox News – ‘American Idol’ finalist has Tourette Syndrome

May 5, 2012 | Homemade Mom – Different is the New Normal. Wanna be inspired? Read on…

May 3, 2012 | New York Post – Starr Report

April 9, 2012 | NoiseCreep – James Durbin: ‘I Never Wanted to Be the Sex, Drugs, Rock ‘n’ Roll Rock Star

April 5, 2012 | Public Television – Different is the New Normal Powerful Documentary About Inspiring Teen Takes Aim at the Stigma of Tourette Syndrome

January 13, 2012 | NBC Chicago – Documentary Aims to Bust Stigma of Tourette’s

November, 2011 | Tourette Syndrome Association of Illinois Inc – PBS Documentary, Different is the New Normal: Living Life with Tourette’s

November 8, 2011 | Chicago Tribune – A different kind of documentary: Homegrown portrait of area student with Tourette syndrome on cusp of national exposure

November 3, 2011 | Chicago Tonight – Different Is The New Normal

November 3, 2011 | WTTW Chicago Tonight – “Different is the New Normal”Documentary on Tourette Syndrome

November 2, 2011 | INSPIREme Chicago – Different is the New Normal

October, 2011 | My Fox Chicago – Highland Park High School Senior Ariel Small Discusses Tourette’s Syndrome

October 27, 2011 WTTW – Powerful Documentary About Chicago Teen Takes Aim at the Stigma of Tourette’s Syndrome

September 13, 2011 | The TS Blog – New Documentary on Tourette Syndrome to Premier

September 7, 2011 | NY Metro Parents – A New Documentary on Tourette Syndrome Discusses the Stigmas, Myths, and Misconceptions about the Disorder

December 1, 2010 | Chicago Tribune Local – Extraordinary Illinois Family, Ariel, David and Robin Small, Honored in New York City by the National Tourette Syndrome Association

January 10, 2010 | ABC Local – Teen leads fight against Tourette Syndrome

April 29, 2009 | Chicago Tribune – Highland Park athlete details struggles and triumphs with Tourette syndrome

 

Press Release

THIRTEEN demystifies the stigma of Tourette syndrome in Different Is the New Normal on September 15, 2011

Featuring James Durbin of American Idol who inspired the film title, this moving portrait captures the courage and triumph of Ariel Small, a teen with Tourette’s.

Ariel Small grew up in suburban Chicago with four siblings and loving parents. However, as Ariel grew older his parents noticed something different. His behavior became more and more alarming. Premiering on Thursday, September 15 at 8 p.m. (ET) on THIRTEEN and Tuesday, September 27 at 10:30 p.m. (ET) on WLIW21, Different Is the New Normal tracks trials and triumphs of Ariel Small, a 17-year-old who has struggled with uncontrollable tics caused by Tourette Syndrome – and others’ intolerance and misperceptions about it – throughout his life. Edie Magnus narrates. After broadcast, the one-hour documentary will be available for national audience for a limited time at watch.thirteen.org. The film is a presentation of Creative News Group in association with WNET New York Public Media, the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21, New York’s public television stations and operator of NJTV. For nearly 50 years, WNET has been producing and broadcasting national and local documentaries and other programs for the New York community.

Produced, directed and written by John Block and produced, edited and cinematography by Matt Wechsler, Different Is the New Normal reveals an acutely personal first-hand account of Tourette’s through the eyes of Ariel Small. With his permission, his mother Robin turned the camera on him to document their emotional journey to overcome the obstacles of Tourette’s in order to raise awareness about the disorder and help others living with the condition. Along the way, Ariel meets James Durbin, American Idol finalist, whose own battle with Tourette’s make him realize that anything is possible.

“Different Is the New Normal captures the pain and frustration many parents and their children experience,” said Neal Shapiro, WNET’s President and CEO. “Ariel’s inspirational story provides an uplifting perspective to this often misunderstood disorder, and will inspire everyone who watches this film to think about people as individuals, not as labels.”

According to the Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA), Tourette’s (TS) affects an estimated 200,000 people in the United States. It is a neurobiological disorder characterized by involuntary and repetitive physical and vocal tics. Yet, Tourette’s remains one of the most publicly misunderstood disorders. Like most people, the Smalls had the preconceived notion of Tourette’s stereotypical symptoms such as compulsive outbursts of obscenities. Ariel exhibits none of these traits. This behavior belongs to a rare form of TS called coprolalia that affects only a small percentage of Tourette’s patients. Once the diagnosis settled in, Ariel and his family embarked on a life-changing journey to change the social stigma of the disease.

One of the disabling aspects of the disorder is the internal mental tics that disrupt daily functions. Another is the constant need to prove one’s disability in order to receive the education and legal rights for those with Tourette’s. Remarkably, Ariel overcame his differences and became a Youth Ambassador for the TSA to advocate, educate and validate the disorder. As an ambassador, Ariel crossed paths with many people with Tourette’s having a productive career and a fulfilling life. Among those profiled is singer James Durbin who was relentlessly bullied due to his tics. In a revealing conversation between Ariel and the American Idol contender, Durbin tells Ariel “Different is the new normal.”

Major support for Different Is the New Normal is provided by David and Robin Small. Executive Producer is Robin Small. Producer, Director and Writer is John Block. Producer, Editor, and Cinematographer is Matt Wechsler. Composer is David Varga. Narrator is Edie Magnus. For WNET’s Creative News Group, General Manager is Mary Lockhart. Executive-in-Charge is Stephen Segaller.

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About the Filmmakers:
John Block is an Emmy award-winning television magazine and documentary producer/writer who, for more than a quarter century, worked for NBC NEWS. He left NBC to pursue making documentary films. He is a former Guggenheim Fellowship recipient. This is his first film for WNET.

Matt Wechsler is an award winning director, cinematographer and editor who founded Hourglass Films in 2009. His passion for film began at an early age; completing his first documentary at age 17 and his first narrative film two years later. Matt currently focuses on commercial, documentary and narrative productions.

About WNET New York Public Media
WNET is America’s flagship public media outlet, bringing quality arts, education and public affairs programming to over 5 million viewers each week. The parent company of public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET produces such acclaimed PBS series as Great Performances, American Masters, Nature, Need to Know, Charlie Rose, Tavis Smiley and a range of documentaries, children’s programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Noah Comprende and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state’s unique culture and diverse communities through SundayArts, Reel 13, NJ Today and the new online newsmagazine MetroFocus.

Purchase DVD

The DVD Collection includes:
Disc 1: Different is the New Normal documentary
Disc 2: Special Features DVD including:
- A one hour interview with James Durbin, American Idol finalist from season 10
- Additional interview clips from Dr. John Walkup, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist & Dr. Christopher Goetz, Neurologist
- Ariel’s visit with 14-year-old Patrick Resh regarding his experience with Tourett’es Syndrome
- Official Trailer
Discounts for Non-profit organizations are also available. Contact info@differentisthenewnormal.com for more information.

Reviews

September 15, 2011 | Blogcritics.org – Documentary Review: Different is the New Normal: Living a Life with Tourette’s

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September 13, 2011 | WNET – Different is the New Normal: A Q&A with Ariel and Robin Small

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September 19, 2011 | Abledbody.com – Film Shows Tourette’s Can’t Thwart Teen’s Dreams

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September 15, 2011 | Kirsten Coachman – Documentary Review: Different is the New Normal: Living a Life with Tourette’s

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September, 2011 | National Tourette Syndrome Association – New York City Viewers Tune in Thursday, September 15 for a new documentary about Tourette Syndrome

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September, 2011 | Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation – New Documentary on Tourette Syndrome to Premier Thursday, September 15th

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September, 2011 | About.com – Different Is The New Normal – Movie Review

Schedule

Scheduled air times as of May 9th through June 9th, 2012

Station	Date	Time	Market
WLIW	5/16/2012	7:00 PM ET	New York
WLIW	5/17/2012	5:00 AM ET	New York
WLIW	5/19/2012	3:00 PM ET	New York
WNET	5/20/2012	7:00 PM ET	New York
WNJB	5/22/2012	10:00 PM ET	New York
WNJB	5/24/2012	4:00 AM ET	New York
WNJTV	5/22/2012	10:00 PM ET	New York
WNJTV	5/24/2012	4:00 AM ET	New York
WTTW	5/21/2012	10:00 PM CT	Chicago
WTTW	5/24/2012	3:30 AM CT	Chicago
WTTW	5/22/2012	4:00 PM CT	Chicago
WNJS	5/22/2012	10:00 PM ET	Philadelphia
WNJS	5/24/2012	4:00 AM ET	Philadelphia
WNJT	5/22/2012	10:00 PM ET	Philadelphia
WNJT	5/24/2012	4:00 AM ET	Philadelphia
KTEH	5/20/2012	11:00 PM PT	San Francisco
KTEH	5/21/2012	5:00 AM PT	San Francisco
KQED	5/20/2012	11:00 PM PT	San Francisco
KQED	5/21/2012	5:00 AM PT	San Francisco
WHUT	5/18/2012	8:00 PM ET	Washington
WHUT	5/19/2012	12:00 AM ET	Washington
WHUT	5/20/2012	10:00 PM ET	Washington
WHUT	5/21/2012	3:00 AM ET	Washington
WHUT	5/18/2012	8:00 PM ET	Washington
WHUT	5/19/2012	12:00 AM ET	Washington
WHUT	5/20/2012	10:00 PM ET	Washington
WHUT	5/21/2012	3:00 AM ET	Washington
KAET	5/16/2012	8:00 PM MT	Phoenix
WUSF	5/23/2012	1:00 AM ET	Tampa
WUSF	5/24/2012	10:00 PM ET	Tampa
WUSF	5/25/2012	1:00 AM ET	Tampa
WUSF	5/25/2012	4:00 AM ET	Tampa
WUSF	5/25/2012	10:00 AM ET	Tampa
WUSF	5/25/2012	1:00 PM ET	Tampa
WUSF	5/25/2012	4:00 PM ET	Tampa
KWCM	5/31/2012	9:00 PM CT	Minneapolis
WLRN	5/17/2012	10:00 PM ET	Miami
WLRN	5/18/2012	4:00 AM ET	Miami
KBDI	5/24/2012	12:00 AM MT	Denver
WVIZ	5/20/2012	2:00 PM ET	Cleveland
WVIZ	5/22/2012	3:00 AM ET	Cleveland
WVIZ	5/23/2012	5:00 AM ET	Cleveland
WVIZ	5/25/2012	2:00 AM ET	Cleveland
WQED	5/21/2012	10:00 PM ET	Pittsburgh
WIPB	5/31/2012	9:00 PM ET	Indianapolis
WPBY	5/29/2012	8:00 PM ET	Charleston, WV
WCMU	5/27/2012	2:30 PM ET	Flint-Saginaw
WCMZ	5/27/2012	2:30 PM ET	Flint-Saginaw
KSMN	5/31/2012	9:00 PM CT	Siouz Falls, SD
KFME	5/31/2012	9:00 PM CT	Fargo-Valley City
KJRE	5/31/2012	9:00 PM CT	Fargo-Valley City
KCGE	5/31/2012	9:00 PM CT	Fargo-Valley City
KMDE	5/31/2012	9:00 PM CT	Fargo-Valley City
WCMV	5/27/2012	2:30 PM ET	Traverse City
WCMW	5/27/2012	2:30 PM ET	Traverse City
KTNW	5/23/2012	12:00 AM PT	Yakima, WA
KTNW	5/24/2012	9:00 PM PT	Yakima, WA
KTNW	5/28/2012	12:30 AM PT	Yakima, WA
KQET	5/20/2012	11:00 PM PT	Monterey-Salinas
KQET	5/21/2012	5:00 AM PT	Monterey-Salinas
KENW	5/31/2012	8:00 PM MT	Amarillo
WQLN	5/20/2012	2:00 PM ET	Erie
KBME	5/31/2012	9:00 PM CT	Minot-Bismarck
KDSE	5/31/2012	9:00 PM CT	Minot-Bismarck
KSRE	5/31/2012	9:00 PM CT	Minot-Bismarck
KWSE	5/31/2012	9:00 PM CT	Minot-Bismarck
KSMQ	5/29/2012	9:00 PM CT	Rochester, MN
WSWP	5/29/2012	8:00 PM ET	Bluefield-Beckley
WNPB	5/29/2012	8:00 PM ET	Clarksburg-Weston
WNMU	5/20/2012	4:00 PM ET	Marquette
WCML	5/27/2012	2:30 PM ET	Alpena

Trailer

Click to view trailer

Filmmakers

John Block is an Emmy award-winning television magazine and documentary producer/writer who, for more than a quarter century, worked for NBC NEWS. He left NBC to pursue making documentary films. He is a former Guggenheim Fellowship recipient.

 

Matt Wechsler is an award winning director, cinematographer and editor who started making movies when he was 10 years old. He worked for his father’s video production company throughout high school and completed his first documentary at age 17. Matt went on to produce and direct his first narrative film when he was 19 and continued his passion for film making throughout college. In 2009, after working professionally in his father’s production company for 7 years, Matt branched off on his own to start Hourglass Films.  He currently focuses on commercial, documentary and narrative productions.

Links

Contact

Contact Hourglass Films at (847) 804-7707 or hourglassfilms@gmail.com