For most 12-year-olds, life consists of school, sports and playtime. But life has definitely gotten more cinematic for one Aurora boy.

Jeremiah Daniels is receiving high praise for his breakout role in the feature film “Color Book,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City in June. The film will also be screened at the Denver Film Festival in early November.

This heartfelt drama tells the story of a single father struggling with the challenges of raising his son with Down syndrome following the death of his wife. The film was praised for its sensitive and sincere portrayal of children with disabilities. Jeremiah plays Mason, the boy at the center of the story.

“I love playing Mason,” Jeremiah said during a recent interview with Colorado Matters Host Chandra Thomas Whitfield.

Courtesy of Nikolaus Summerer

The story of how this young budding actor found himself on the big screen is a mixture of luck, perseverance and Hollywood magic. Before his recent red carpet and movie premiere events, Jeremiah was living a quiet life in Aurora with his parents Joi and Terrance Daniels. The couple said watching an advert on television triggered a series of events that would change their lives forever.

“I remember us sitting on the couch watching TV,” Terrance recalled. “There was an ad and there was a little boy with Down syndrome. I turned to Joi and said, ‘We don’t see many African-American children with Down syndrome in commercials or TV roles.’ Little did we know that this was the beginning of something incredible.”

They soon found a casting opportunity and submitted the picture of Jeremiah.

“We were scrambling to get all the information they needed,” Joi recalled with a laugh. “But we sent it in and the next thing we knew, they wanted Jeremiah to audition over Zoom.”

Zoom auditions were a family affair; Joi was directing and coaching Jeremiah while reading lines for the cast.

“We practiced together, and when it came time for the live audition, Jeremiah nailed it,” Terrance recalled. “I felt magical.”

Joi describes the process as something “straight out of a movie.”

“You can’t imagine sitting at home and auditioning and it leading to something this big. It still feels surreal.”

Chandra Thomas Whitfield/CPR News

The next step in their journey took them to Atlanta for an in-person “chemistry reading” with actor Will Catlett, who plays Mason’s father in the film.

Reflecting on her experience, Joi said, “The chemistry between Jeremiah and Will was beautiful from the moment they met.” “It was as if they had known each other forever.”

Enjoying a family dinner in Atlanta a few hours after the audition, Daniels received the call they had been waiting for; Jeremiah was chosen for this role.

“Naturally, I missed the call,” Joi recalled with a laugh. “So I called[director}DavidFortuneandhedidn’timmediatelysayJeremiahhadbeencastbutafterIsaidthatohmygodthat’sallIwantedtodotherewasnothingIcoulddotokeepmycoolinthisrestaurantThenIsaid’Okayweneedyoutostay”Isaid’ThereisandwewillstartshootingonMonday'”

The Daniels suddenly found themselves living in an Airbnb in Atlanta, preparing Jeremiah for his first role in “Color Book.” While Joi headed back to Colorado to pack her clothes for the extended stay, Jeremiah and Terrance stayed behind to start shooting.

Courtesy of Nikolaus Summerer

Courtesy of Terrance and Joi Daniels

Jeremiah quickly started life on set with a starting tutor to help him keep up with his schoolwork between shoots.

“It was like he was a celebrity,” Joi said. “His teacher even asked for his autograph! “The love and support he received from everyone on set was incredible.”

David Fortune, writer and director of “Color Book,” said he has deep admiration for Jeremiah and his family.

“It is incredibly moving to hear their story and how they took a leap of faith to get this opportunity,” Fortune said. He praised Jeremiah’s dedication to the project. “Even though he was outside his comfort zone, Jeremiah showed up every day and delivered. “His professionalism and cheerfulness lit up the set.”

Courtesy of Terrance and Joi Daniels

Courtesy of Foster Lewis

When writing the film, Fortune said he initially set out to capture the rare story of a positive Black father-son relationship, but ultimately settled on it after talking with several people in his personal circle of friends who have children with special needs. the film could fill a much-needed void by highlighting the experiences of parents raising children like Jeremiah.

“So you learn that the spectrum (of children with special needs) is very broad and no one experience is equal to another,” he said. “And you learn that yes, although there are challenges in raising a child with Down syndrome, there is also a beauty and joy in it because they don’t look at their child as someone with Down syndrome. “They look at their kids like, ‘This is just my kid,’ and I wanted to make sure that was reflected in the film.”

The Daniels can relate. Despite the excitement of being in a movie, Jeremiah’s journey wasn’t always smooth sailing, they said. They encountered initial difficulties finding adequate special education programs for Jeremiah, especially after he transferred from All About Learning, a private daycare in Denver, to a public school.

“There weren’t many schools equipped to handle students with Down syndrome,” Terrance explained. “It took a few tries, but we finally found one that really understood how to support children with different abilities.”

With the right support, Jeremiah thrived. His teachers in primary school helped him not only academically but also in terms of self-confidence.

“They loved him and challenged him, and Jeremiah rose to the occasion,” Joi said.

Courtesy of Nikolaus Summerer

With the success of “Color Book,” Jeremiah’s future looks bright. When asked if he wanted to continue acting, he responded with an enthusiastic “Yes!” While his family is excited to see where his career goes, he’s also staying grounded in the present.

“We’re going with the flow, taking every opportunity as it comes,” Terrance said.

Joi added: “This was an opportunity for the world to see that anything is possible; “Since he was born, we’ve been told all the things he can’t do,” she said, with tears in her eyes. “And we said, ‘Oh, okay.’ And we just went ahead and trusted God with everything, and here we are and (see) all the things He can do. Sometimes It’s a little slower, but he gets it and we get there. And we encourage him and raise him like we raise anyone else. There’s no difference. I just want other parents to know: Don’t limit your child.”

As for Jeremiah, he returned to school and has already become a celebrity on campus.

“He’s signing autographs at school right now,” Joi said with a chuckle.

Chandra Thomas Whitfield/CPR News

The Daniels agree with their son; They hope “Color Book” is just the beginning of a successful acting career.

“This movie has opened up so many possibilities for Jeremiah, and we’re excited to see where it takes him,” Joi said. “But we know that no matter what happens, wherever he goes, he will continue to touch people.”

“Color Book” It will be shown at the Denver Film Festival on November 2, 3 and 4. Following some screenings, there will be a post-film Q&A session with director David Fortune, actors Jeremiah Daniels and Will Catlett, and producer Kristen Uno. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: Denver Film’s website.