VIDEO: Deaf News: Exclusive interview with director of 'Dawn of the Deaf' Rob Savage, talks the Deaf role in short horror film.
LONDON, UK -- ComingSoon: Director Rob Savage discusses his innovative new apocalyptic short horror film Dawn of the Deaf. Fresh off a triumphant, head-turning premiere at Fantastic Fest, the spectacularly inventive, gorgeously executed Dawn of the Deaf logline.
“Our aim was to create a genre film that would connect Deaf and hearing audiences in an engaging, thrilling way,” director Rob Savage tells ComingSoon.net of his apocalyptic horror short made with a cast drawn from the London Deaf community. “Rather than retread the same narratives usually seen when dealing with disability, we wanted to create a tense story in which the characters’ ‘disability’ becomes their ultimate advantage over the hearing population.”
Savage was gracious enough to speak with ComingSoon.net at length about the joys and challenges of leading that charge… Read More The Full Interview.
VIDEO [CC] Exclusive Interview with the Northern Marlins Deaf Rugby Union.
AUCKLAND, NZ -- In this film, AttitudeLive meet Auckland's Deaf rugby team, the Marlins. We've followed the guys on and off the field and in the run up to the biggest game of the season. The Northern Marlins is a Deaf Rugby Football Club for the Deaf, founded in 1993. The team are based in Auckland, New Zealand. The colours are Blue and White with some red. Here's the Deaf rugby highlights.
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We were formerly known as Northern Zone Deaf Rugby Football Union, but because of confusion between the New Zealand Deaf Rugby Football Union, both abbreviated to NZDRU, Northern Zone changed their name to Northern Marlins.
We compete in the Annual New Zealand Rugby Football Championship, which traditionally has been held during Easter Weekend. Other teams competing at the National Championships are Central Zone Deaf Rugby Football Union and the Southern Zone Deaf Rugby Football Union. There is a friendly rivalry between the three teams that spans many years.
The first of a 3 part series about the Marlins; a group of rugby mad Kiwi blokes who all happen to be Deaf.
Part 2 of a 3 part series. Leading into the biggest competition of the year, we get to know more about some of the players in the Marlins, Aucklands Deaf Rugby team; Opeti the family man, Talia the bodybuilder, Sailusi who wants a job and David who is a first-time dad.
The final installment of out 3 part series with Aucklands Deaf rugby side, the Marlins. We've followed the guys on and off the field, now we're at the biggest rugby game of the season: it's time to contest the coveted National Shield.
Keep the fans closer to the team and players.
Follow Northern Marlins Deaf Rugby Union on Social Media:
VIDEO [CC] - Exclusive Interview: Lyric Theatre's "Fiddler on the Roof" Incorporates American Sign Language, Deaf and Hearing Actors.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Over half a century after its premiere on Broadway, the songs of Fiddler on the Roof are known around the world. From joyous “If I Were a Rich Man” to haunting “Sunrise, Sunset,” the musical focuses on the story of a Jewish milkman and his family’s troubles in rural Russia at the turn of the 20th century.
While the show certainly has its lighthearted moments, Fiddler on the Roof is, at its core, about the importance of family and tradition and the tensions surrounding them.
That is something Michael Baron could relate to when he took on directing duties for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma’s production of the musical, which runs July 26-30 at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave.
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“As a Jewish musical theater director, Fiddler on the Roof has always been high on my bucket list of shows to direct,” Baron said. “It’s a show I’ve seen countless times and whose music has been played at almost every Jewish wedding and bar mitzvah I’ve attended, including my own.”
That notability can be seen as both a benefit and a detriment. At this point, Fiddler on the Roof is essentially synonymous with musical theater.
Between being one of the most-performed high school musicals and having multiple Broadway productions and a film adaptation, Fiddler has become difficult to ignore.
For this reason, audiences have likely seen it in one form or another, making it continuously harder to make the material fresh again.
But in an interesting twist, Lyric Theatre’s version incorporates American Sign Language and two Deaf actors portray love-struck characters Hodel and Perchik.
Two interpreters will be incorporated onstage to fully communicate to Deaf viewers.
New opportunities: Baron planned on utilizing the performers after discussing it with a friend, Deaf actor Christopher Tester.
After brainstorming how it might be possible and what Lyric would need to provide to make it happen, Baron said it seemed like a wonderful opportunity to showcase an underrepresented community.
“Our goal is to create a new village for Fiddler that is accessible to both hearing and Deaf patrons,” he said. “I hope this collaboration reveals new insights by bringing hearing and Deaf actors to the Lyric stage for the first time.”
And it certainly helps when performers are as passionate and talented as Sandra Mae Frank.
“I didn’t want to be an actress at first because it’s already tough enough to be an actor alone, but to be a Deaf actress?” she said. “I just did it anyway by taking the risk and moving forward with theater because I eat, breathe and dream it. It’s my life. It’s who I am.”
Frank, who became Deaf due to an unknown cause at the age of 3, doesn’t want to work in theater simply because it’s her passion.
She also wants to use it as a tool for educating others.
“Everyone has their own struggles in their own ways, but for me, as a Deaf actress, I also have to be an advocate and teach others about my culture,” she said.
Frank uses ASL as her main form of communication, which comes with its own set of challenges.
“It gets hard once in a while being vulnerable and bringing my culture to the public, but it’s also very beautiful letting my culture be a part of the story,” she said. “And depending on what the context is about, it brings more depth to a story by adding a different perspective from a Deaf character than how it’d usually be done if performed by a hearing actor.”
Frank certainly thinks the addition of ASL to the story of Fiddler on the Roof makes perfect sense.
In the musical, Hodel is the intelligent and free-spirited 17-year-old daughter of main character Tevye.
Over the course of the story, she falls in love with Perchik, a scholar and Bolshevik revolutionary who is exiled to Siberia.
“I love that Hodel and Perchik are Deaf, and it makes total sense,” Frank said. “Hodel resisted Perchik at first because of tradition, but to me, adding the deafness to the character gives it more purpose. She’s so hesitant, but she sees this handsome, deaf stranger, and it stirs up these feelings.”
Elaborate plans: With only two weeks from the beginning of rehearsals to opening night, Lyric Theatre hopes to put on one of the biggest and most ambitious productions of Fiddler on the Roof.
Its actors and production staff have certainly put in the work. Baron notes the planning for the show started nearly a year in advance, coordinating everything from casting across the nation to meetings with the choreographer and music director.
“The process to create this show has many facets,” he said. “From collaborating with scenic, costume, lighting, props and sound designers to create a wholly original production based on Jewish folk art built here in Oklahoma, consulting experts like Rabbi Vered Harris of Temple B’nai Israel, and so much more.”
But even with flashy musical numbers and elaborate sets, Frank and Baron agree the heart of the show lies in the more restrained and emotional moments.
“Fiddler is about the sometimes difficult balance between tradition, religion and family, which is always something audiences can relate to,” Baron said. “The fact that it uses such moving music that evokes emotion from the actors and audience makes it a special evening of theater always worth revisiting.”
Frank echoed that sentiment and said she hopes audiences leave the show filled with a new appreciation for the musical.
“I hope they feel a sense of joy and that no matter where you are in life or what defines you, family is where your home is and where you’ll find love,” she said.
Fiddler on the Roof
7:30 p.m. Tuesday-July 28, 8 p.m. July 20, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. July 30
VIDEO: [CC] - Exclusive interview with 'The Deaf Wanderer' Chris Haulmark, shares the ASL vlogs "Leaving Cambodia for India" and "Exploring Delhi."
Chris Haulmark has been a world traveler since March, 2015 and have already seen at least 25 countries. He has created video clips "The Deaf Wanderer" since the beginning and is just emerging as a new social media force to expose the perspective, that he sees through his Deaf eyes, to the public. He hopes to inspire the future Deaf Travelers to see the wonderful and exciting world outside of their home countries.
Haulmark also hopes to prove that a Deaf traveler can be as independent as any other travelers. His videos are to show everyone how it's possible. Here's the introduction and interview with Chris Haulmark with closed captioning.
Part One: Haulmark created this vlog to show how he went from Cambodia to India to begin his wandering to last for a month in this exotic, crazy and wild country.
This is part of the Chronicles of The Deaf Wanderer going through India.
Part Two: Haulmark created this vlog to show what Anna and Chris have done during the entire day in the fantastic city of Delhi in this exotic, crazy and wild country of India.
Part Three: Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the most majestic sights for the entire world to behold with its eye being captivating held by it. This video shows how Anna and I left Delhi to head down to Agra to see the wonder of Taj Mahal.
Did you ever wonder what India looks like? Did you ever wonder about the people and the sights all around India? Ever been disappointed that the shows on TV channels are always too dramatic and overhyped when they are showing India? Have you ever been curious about the true characteristics of India? Do you want to see the true part of India that anyone would see themselves as they travel through India? Do you have friends who wonder about all of what you have already seen as a traveler in India and will, finally, able to say, “That’s what I am talking about!”?
These are the questions that Chris Haulmark is trying to answer with these videos.
Come and check the travelings at http://fb.me/deafwanderer and like the page if you want to be notified of the future new posts!
This vlog and the future vlogs will be hardcoded with subtitles for everyone who is not fluent in sign language. If you enjoyed this vlog, please share this video to those who are interested in traveling videos and being encouraged to travel. Thank you for watching. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/channel/thedeafwanderer.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Deaf woman suing for interpeter in delivery room.
WPTV BOYNTON BEACH - Margaret Weiss is due to have her second child in less than a month. The Boynton Beach mother is Deaf and wants a real life interpreter in the delivery room with her, but she says her hospital is refusing to provide that.
"They're discriminating against me," explained Weiss, with the help of a certified sign language interpreter. She explained the fear she has about going into the delivery room at Bethesda Hospital. "It's really serious. What if there was something life-threatening that happened during the delivery?" said Weiss.
Weiss has filed a lawsuit against Bethesda for denying her request for a live interpreter to be in the room with her. The hospital provides the hearing impaired with VRIs or Video Remote Interpreting.
Weiss says this is not effective communication for a woman giving birth and ultimately a violation of the Americans Disabilities Act.
"No one can sit there in labor and just watch a fixed screen," said Weiss. "You can't do that. It's much better to have a live interpreter that's mobile and can move around. It's a lot more comfortable. They can lean over. They can get in a different spot." Weiss says on top that, in her experience, the VRIs do not work all the time.
VIDEO: Exclusive interview with Deaf LGBT in Japan with English subtitles.
In order to advocate the issues of DeafLGBT in Japan. You can see various stories that may encourage you to being yourself. Japan has an LGBT community, more info at LGBT culture in Tokyo.
VIDEO [CC] - Exclusive Interview: How Christine Sun Kim, Deaf Sound Artist, Hears Everything.
The Daily Beast: Christine Sun Kim’s work is an expression of the spaces between sound and silence the many dimensions that are overlooked simply because no one can hear them.
For artist Christine Sun Kim, sound has many personalities. The Master of Fine Arts-holding TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) fellow, who has exhibited at Museum of Modern Art, held residencies at the Whitney Museum and most recently was guest artist at the MIT Media Lab, is challenging conventional ideas about sound through her art.
On a sleepy Sunday in Moabit, Berlin, I meet Kim, a petite 34-year-old with dyed blond hair tightly pulled back. Deaf since she was born, Kim exudes an energy that belies her silence, greeting me with a hug and kiss, before darting into the kitchen to make tea. We sit down and Skype to communicate, but there’s no need for video.
For the past seven years, Kim has lived between New York City and Berlin. But it was not until 2008, during an arts residency in gritty Berlin, that she began to consider sound as her next medium.
“I noticed how sound art was a thing and became intrigued about the concept. I am always drawn to conceptual art and the ideas behind a piece or installation,” she said.
“For me, sound had always been an idea an intangible space that separated me from others so I was curious about how art could transcend sound and vice versa.”
VIDEO: Nine-year-old sister saves her Deaf brother from vicious dog attack.
This video contains extremely graphic material. Viewer discretion is advised.
MOORE, OKLA (KFOR) - A boy is learning how to walk again after three Rottweiler dogs attacked him Saturday.
The family of 10-year-old Elijah says his 9-year-old sister saved him, and he is lucky to be alive. More than 40 stitches later, his little sister shares what happened.
“I wanted to go check on him, but then I just heard them screaming and yelling and I started running,” Alyssa McKenna, Elijah’s sister says. She was running to help her brother who is Deaf.
“I saw his orange shirt and a belt, then I saw his hair and I saw him moving a lot and I saw the dogs biting him,” Alyssa said. Elijah’s sister says she found him by a dirt road not far from their grandmother’s home. The three dogs were attacking him, so she took matters into her own hands to save him.
“I picked him up…he couldn’t walk, he just fell right over again, so I picked him up from where we were standing and I picked him up and carried him,” Alyssa said.
They eventually got Elijah to the hospital; he went straight to the OU trauma center where he immediately went into surgery. “He had two wide cuts on his head, he had to get over 40 staples on his head,” Alyssa says. Pictures don’t begin to show the deep wounds he received from the three dogs.
For those who don’t know how to sign, there’s no need to fret. “There’s a cheat sheet on the table with the menu,” said owner Moe Alameddine. “The server comes up to take the order, and the fun part starts there.”
In the mood for steak? Grab the fleshy part of your left hand with the index finger and thumb of your right hand, and wiggle a bit as if getting a good grip on the meat. How about salad? Use both hands and picture yourself tossing some greens.
When customers arrive at the DeaFined, a hearing host or hostess greets them and acts as an interpreter while they introduce the server.
Alameddine came up with the idea after starting his popular blind-dining restaurant O.Noir in Montreal and Toronto and Dark Table in Vancouver, where guests dine in complete darkness while they are served by visually impaired staff. The concept aims to give customers a taste, albeit briefly, of what it’s like to be blind.
Although the business helped provide jobs for Blind people, Alameddine said he realized a need for employment opportunities to benefit the Deaf community.
VIDEO [CC] - Meet Agatha Chizek, the oldest Deaf woman in the United States or World?!
Very special interview with a wonderful amazing lady in American Sign Language by Shelly Hansen. Agatha Chizek share stories including pictures about her life experiences over the years.
Agatha Chizek has become the oldest Deaf to have ever lived after reaching the grand old age of 108. She born in Germany in 1907, is the oldest living Deaf woman in the United States. Please share with others! Thanks!
Rikki posted on YouTube and sharing the community about the Britain's leading Deaf magazine, British Deaf News, by Dot Miles, to guest interviewee, Rikki Poynter (page 16) ... writings about her life that consists of child abuse, abuse during her adult years, and being Hard of Hearing in a hearing dominated society, what it's like to live as a being Deaf and socializing with hearing people.
Storyline of the Switched at Birth show, a one-hour scripted drama, tells the story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing at an early age due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a poor neighborhood. Things come to a dramatic head when both families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls - Switched at Birth Episodes, Blogs and News
‘Switched at Birth’: ABC Family’s The teen soap Switched at Birth explores self-expression and the communication gulf between the hearing and Deaf communities. List of Switched at Birth characters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Switched_at_Birth_characters
VIDEO [CC] - Exclusive interview: Deaf pastry chef opened his own cake and bakery cafe business, Happy House in Perlis, Malaysia.
Chef Bor, He may be Deaf, he may be muted. All those does not stop him from achieving his dream. Becoming a pastry chef, make a delicious irresistible cakes.
Jay Yeow are become Pastry Chef, who lived in Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia. Yeow started his own business, "Happy House" in October 2013. He also have a Deaf worker who are making ice-blended for his shop. Her name is Ah Er from Malaysia.
Yeow's family, lecturers, Hearing and Deaf friends admired his talent of baking the creative dessert, bread, muffin and cakes, until he encouraged to take part in the International and local cake competition on his journey life, during he learned in college, then he worked for the Hotel in Penang for 2 years. Now, his family always support him to open his own business to impress everyone with his own talent and skill of baking. Source
VIDEO: The Kojo Nnamdi Show: The Legacy Of Gallaudet's 'Deaf President Now' Movement, 03/07/13 (Full Hour)
Since its founding in the mid-19th century, Gallaudet University has been an academic and cultural hub for the Deaf community. But until 1988, the university never had a Deaf president.
Twenty-five years ago this week, students launched a protest on the Northeast D.C. campus, dubbed the "Deaf President Now" movement. The protest resulted in the school's first Deaf president, and helped spur passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act two years later. Kojo explores the legacy of student protests at Gallaudet.
Guests - Gregory Hlibok: Former Gallaudet University Student Body President and student leader of the Deaf President Now movement in 1988; Chief of the Disability Rights Division in the Bureau of Consumer and Governmental Affairs at the Federal Communications Commission
VIDEO [ASL/CC] - Official Deaf Women in Film Exclusive Interview of Tia Albert, Professional Makeup Artist.
Learn about Tia Albert, her experience in doing makeup and special effects and what she's learned from it. Great tips for hearing filmmakers and Deaf professionals involved. See for more details: http://youtu.be/b7GFqedkUl4
VIDEO [CC] - Good Morning America: Exclusive interview with Marlee Matlin in Landmark 'Switched at Birth' Episode.
Actress discusses taking a risk in using American Sign Language and subtitles on ABC Family's ‘Switched at Birth.’
Actress Marlee Matlin came by Good Morning America March 4 2013 to talk about the landmark new episode of Switched at Birth, which will be the first in history to be aired on television entirely in American Sign Language. Marlee Matlin, who is Deaf in real life, appeared with a translator, who facilitated the interview between her and Robin Roberts.
Matlin said it’s been an amazing journey for her, because she began in the business 28 years ago trying to get her language, American Sign Language, across to anyone watching television or movies. She said it’s going to be beautiful to show and highlight to the whole world the culture of American Sign Language.
The clip they showed of tonight’s Switched at Birth episode was extremely powerful. I’ve never seen the show, but Marlee Matlin and actress Lea Thompson were sitting at a dining room table signing to each other about how to get reporters to a high school presentation of Romeo And Juliet.
‘Switched at Birth’: ABC Family’s The teen soap Switched at Birth explores self-expression and the communication gulf between the hearing and Deaf communities. List of Switched at Birth characters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Switched_at_Birth_characters
VIDEO [CC] - Scenes and interviews from the production of 'Lake Windfall'
Come to 'Lake Windfall' Red Carpet Tour to visit actors and crew members as they tell their stories about their experiences while making 'Lake Windfall', If you think you know this story, think again. It is a never-heard of, mind-blowing, thriller film that will make you think hard and look at things differently.
Lake Windfall (Official Trailer HD)
Matt (Christopher B. Corrigan) gets his brother, Drew (Alex Laferriere), along with their friends, together for a fun getaway camping trip. It is supposed to be a weekend of male-bonding, but everything isn't what it seems. Suddenly, they experience an apocalyptic event and are forced to focus on their own survival.
Directed by Roger Vass, Jr., from a script written by Tony Nitko and Roger Vass Jr.
Starring: Christopher B. Corrigan, Timothy Dillard, Jasun Hicks, Alexander Laferriere, J. William Sanders.
VIDEO [ASL] SportsMX - Kitchen Talk: Pilot Episode. The American Sign Language Talk Show!
The premiere of Kitchen Talk show! Bridget Bonheyo, Marilyn Smith, and Michelle Banks get together to talk about a variety of topics. Viewer discretion advised – episode includes sexual topics.
LONDON, UK -- ComingSoon: Director Rob Savage discusses his innovative new apocalyptic short horror film Dawn of the Deaf. Fresh off a triumphant, head-turning premiere at Fantastic Fest, the spectacularly inventive, gorgeously executed Dawn of the Deaf logline.
