In the series “Cammo” we meet an influencer with the same name who is at the height of his career, but who is going bankrupt at the same time. She loses everything and is forced to do something completely new. Namely, working as a support contact for Kamilla, who has Down’s syndrome. This is the first time that a Norwegian fiction series has a main character with Down syndrome. – It’s great, but also time for something like this to happen, says Katelyn Garbin, who plays the lead role Kamilla. She is already a familiar name to many. Namely, Garbin is a former active athlete in rhythmic gymnastics (RG), and has won over 40 golds in athletics, including in the Special Olympics. She is usually the head coach in RG for Stabekk gymnastics club. 30-year-old Garbin was surprised when she got the role. – I was familiar with Caroline’s work from before, and she has been a great inspiration for me, says the new shoe player. Shoe player Caroline Glomnes together with gymnastics coach and shoe player Katelyn Garbin. Photo: Kjetil Solhøi / news Just got a “crush” It’s shoe player Caroline Glomnes behind the series. In addition to writing the script, he plays the role of the influencer Cammo. When she had to find the person she was going to play against, she was encouraged to watch the program “Special Olympics”. Katelyn Garbin was the head coach there. – I just had a “crush” right away. This is the type we are looking for, Glomnes explains. – There is also something about Katelyn’s sporting background that made me know that she can handle pressure, and that she is able to deliver under pressure. It is something important when there are lots of cameras on it, she adds. Series creator Glomnes reveals that there is a lot of crude humor in “Cammo”: – But everything is done with the heart in the right place, she says. Photo: news According to the series creator, Garbin is disciplined, determined and has stamina. She had the qualities they were looking for. The new shoemaker nevertheless admits that her first job as a shoemaker took some getting used to. – It was difficult at the start, especially learning the script. I therefore spent a lot of time studying and reading at home when I wasn’t on set, explains Garbin. Inspired by own experiences “Cammo” is inspired by the series creator’s own experiences as a support contact. After several years as an actress, she wanted to do something that wasn’t about performing on stage or in front of the camera. This led to her accidentally getting a job as a support contact for a woman with Down’s syndrome. Until then, Glomnes had never spoken to someone with Down’s syndrome before, but was still quite sure how she thought it would be. – But then I met myself at the door, and became aware of my own prejudices. I thought it was a lot of fun, because I see myself as an open and unprejudiced person. Caroline Glomnes is an actress and screenwriter, known from, among others, “Heksejakt” and “Nissene i bingen”. Photo: Kjetil Solhøi / news With this series she wants to show people how similar we actually are. And that we must not be afraid to talk to people who are apparently different from us. – I think there are too many people who only apply to completely similar people, and then we create an echo chamber for ourselves. The world becomes a dangerous and not least a boring place if we only associate with the same people, Glomnes underlines. Being treated like children There is no doubt that there is drama, humor and, not least, warmth when two people from different backgrounds get to know each other. Much of the humor in the series comes as a result of the prejudice Cammo has against people with Down syndrome. She treats them like children. It’s something Katelyn Garbin has also experienced in real life. – I am a sensitive person who has no problem with being direct. So if I feel unfairly treated, I speak up, she says. Series creator Caroline Glomnes wants the series to raise awareness of how expectations affect us as people, and how important it is to get to know people who are different from ourselves. Photo: Kjetil Solhøi / news Positive for the series Randi Ødegaard, who is chairman of Down syndrome Norway, says that many people are unsure of how to meet people with Down syndrome, and thus end up reserving themselves. – The biggest challenge is that they are seen as a whole group instead of as individuals, she says. She therefore hopes that the series can contribute to showing more of the breadth of people with Down’s syndrome than has been done so far. – We support representation. We think that it is good both for people with Down’s syndrome and for everyone else to be able to expand their relationship with what a person with Down’s can be, underlines Ødegaard. According to Randi Ødegaard, people with Down’s syndrome still face prejudice and stigma in everyday life: – But we think that a series like this can clear the way a bit. Photo: Kjetil Solhøi / news Opening eyes She has high expectations for the series and looks forward to it starting conversations. – Perhaps it opens people’s horizons and eyes, and makes people see people with Down’s syndrome as different and unique as everyone else, concludes Ødegaard. See the series “Cammo” on news TV. Don’t ask about it: Down syndrome
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Katelyn surprised – now she will make history on TV in Norway in the series “Cammo” – news Culture and entertainment
