I had full access to the material, and had a great relationship with Sean Bailey, the president of Disney productions. He really guided me through the licensing process of the footage. I made presentations to the various departments at the studio, and they were moved by Owen's [Suskind] story.

Obviously it was an out of body experience to win an Academy Award.

Someone told me once that I'm worse than a dog, I'm the scum of the earth, so for me it was draining.

I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast in her society because she was disabled, to someone who picked herself from that despair and elevated herself within that community, and now that society accepting her as much as they formerly rejected her. People identified with that journey, overcoming an obstacle, but still triumphing.

I'm not an activist at all. I'm a filmmaker, and I wanted the people involved to tell their own story.

Racism was never acceptable to the people who suffer from it.

That is what I was more drawn to - creating stories while changing and altering reality.