Blue Chalk partnered with myFace, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with facial differences, to create a short film that would serve as the emotional centerpiece of its annual gala and broader awareness campaign. The goal was to spotlight the voices and lived experiences of people with facial differences in a way that was empowering, authentic, and deeply human.
The film, titled Our Beauty. Our Stories. Our Power, was created to challenge stigma, raise visibility, and foster empathy. We set out to create a piece that felt intimate and bold, shifting the narrative away from pity or perfection and focusing instead on pride, identity, and community.
Our objective was not only to elevate myFace’s mission but also to spark meaningful conversation and inspire audiences to look beyond appearance. The intention was to recognize the full humanity, strength, and dignity of those living with facial differences. The film needed to leave a lasting emotional impact on gala attendees, prospective donors, and the wider public, helping to build momentum for myFace’s ongoing advocacy and outreach efforts.
The process began by inviting members of the myFace community - people of different ages, backgrounds, and perspectives - to share their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs. From those submissions, we selected five individuals whose experiences spanned early childhood to adulthood. Each voice added dimension and emotional weight to the others, allowing the film to feel personal and communal at the same time. Pre-filming interviews allowed the film team and the myFace community to bond and build trust, while also allowing the individuals who would be in front of the camera to share activities that would visually highlight and reinforce their experiences and perspectives.
To visually link the stories, we relied on an intentional, intimate shot design—focusing on hands, eyes, and family interactions—as well as the use of personal and archival footage. The edit creates a visual rhythm that mirrors the emotional journey: intimate moments (like Lauren, a new mother loving her young daughter, or Joseph, a young boy, explaining his surgery) build toward statements of agency and strength. Logan’s declaration—“I promised myself no one would ever again tell me what I will and won’t accomplish”—becomes a turning point in tone. Visually, he plays the keyboard on a balcony overlooking New York City, highlighting his bravery to come out and share his talents with the world.
The piece culminates in a sequence of statements from each participant. It’s here that the individual and community merge, and the full impact of the piece lands. From Joseph’s joy in finding others like him, to Kristen’s reflection on gratitude and endurance, the message becomes clear: “Our stories matter and together we are stronger.”
This project is grounded in a collaborative process and care in representation. The filmmakers intentionally created space for the people in front of the camera to define themselves, on their terms, and allow viewers to see their incredible character forged by their own beautiful personalities and by the adversities they have endured.
The film “Our Beauty. Our Stories. Our Power.” premiered as the emotional opening of the myFace gala, where it received a powerful response. Attendees—ranging from long-time donors to first-time guests—were visibly moved, with many expressing that the film shifted their understanding of what it means to live with a facial difference. The film helped raise significant funds that evening and deepened engagement with myFace’s mission.
Beyond the gala, the film has continued to resonate. It has been shared across social platforms and featured in myFace’s outreach to new partners and supporters. Feedback from the craniofacial community affirmed that the film captured their stories with dignity, nuance, and truth.
By centering the voices of people with facial differences—and allowing them to define themselves—the project achieved its goals: raising visibility, challenging stigma, and affirming identity. The success of the film lies not only in its emotional impact or fundraising outcomes but in its ability to spark lasting conversations about inclusion, beauty, and power.
Here’s what one couple who recently watched it had to say: “We watched the new video with pleasure. We were especially moved by the resilience of both children and adults who are learning and have learned that facial differences are only part of what makes each one unique. They defined themselves in so many ways. This video should be part of every curriculum, not only for informational purposes but to know that diversity in the true sense of the word is what makes us human.”
