Aidan Greene has launched a fundraiser to produce Stutterbug, a short film that showcases authentic stuttering on screen.
This project is not only written by a person who stammers, but also stars two actors who stammer, including internationally acclaimed rapper and actor, Scroobius Pip.
The film follows a character, named Aidan, through a chaotic day in his life.
“Aidan is a man with a stutter who just wants one thing: coffee,” Mr Greene said.
“But as his day unfolds, his attempts to hide his stutter cause him to accidentally tell a charity worker to ‘f**k off’, ruin his chances with his college crush, and, worst of all, order a mocha instead of an americano.
“Aidan is all of us. He is ashamed of who he is, and he goes to extreme lengths to hide it, and hilarity ensues – at his expense.
“Growing up, I never saw a portrayal of stuttering that reflected my reality. Too often, characters who stutter are punchlines, villains or ‘inspirational’ figures overcoming their ‘flaws’.
“This is my chance to change that. Stutterbug tells an authentic story of stuttering, not as inspiration porn or a joke, but as part of a real, three-dimensional character.”
Having reached the finals of the Virgin Media Discovers Film Fund and the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund, Stutterbug is now seeking the public’s support to move into full production.
Mr Greene, originally from Cavan, joined the comedy scene in 2010 and is a regular headliner in comedy clubs across the country.
Last year, he returned to the Edinburgh Fringe for another sold-out run with his show, I Know What You Did Last Stammer, and later performed the show at the Dublin Fringe festival.
Now, he’s looking to bring Stutterbug to the movie theatres.
“The story explores universal themes of shame and self-acceptance while centring on the often overlooked and misrepresented experiences of people who stutter,” Mr Greene said.
“Stuttering representation in media has long been problematic, often reduced to caricatures or stereotypes. Stutterbug aims to change this by telling an authentic story written and performed by individuals with lived experience.
“This film marks a significant moment in representation, featuring both the writer and lead actors as people who stammer.
“Scroobius Pip’s involvement further elevates the project. As a well-known advocate for stuttering awareness and an established actor (House of the Dragon; The Acolyte; Venom: Let There Be Carnage), his role underscores the commitment to authentic representation.
“To make Stutterbug a reality, we are seeking support to cover production costs.
“Contributions will directly fund industry-standard wages for cast and crew, location and production design fees, professional equipment and post-production editing, and a soundtrack to bring the story to life
“Stutterbug isn’t just a film, it’s a chance to reshape how stuttering is portrayed in media,” he added.
You can find out more about the project here.
