Statements of Matt Hamill and Eben Kostbar
In response to the cancellation of auditions hosted by two major Universities (Gallaudet University and NTID/RIT), Matt Hamill recently made a statement, and it is on his website.
Excerpts of his statement - See the complete statement on his website: www.matthamill.com
It has recently come to my attention that there is a bit of controversy surrounding the movie “Hamill” which is based on my life story. Apparently there are some members of the deaf community who feel strongly that a deaf actor should play the role of me. Two casting calls, one at Gallaudet and one at my alma matter RIT, have been canceled in protest. I want everyone to know, I respect the fact that we all want to celebrate deaf culture. I celebrate deaf culture as much as anyone. However, it was my choice to have Eben Kostbar play me. Eben, along with Joe McKelheer, are the reason this project even exists….. The decision has been made and is final. I hope we can put this issue to rest. I believe there are a lot more important issues in the world.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Also, Eben Kostbar made a ’statement’ with his letter.
This letter is received from a confidential source. In this letter, Eben Kostbar wrote a letter explaining why he is involved with this project.
I’m an actor, and like most actors, we are always yearning for quality roles and projects. Unfortunately in today’s Hollywood, it’s very competitive and quality roles only go to the top 1% of the ‘known’ actors. This unfortunate statistic is what initially led me to develop projects that would create meaningful opportunities for me as an actor and writer. After developing a successful short film called, Karma Café, I began to extensively search for a feature film idea that would challenge me as both an actor and a writer. After reading countless scripts and discussing several ideas with my writing partner, Joseph Mckelheer, I stumbled across the UFC reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter 3″ in which Matt Hamill was one of the fighters hopeful of winning the show and a UFC contract. I was immediately intrigued by Matt and wanted to learn more about his life story as it was evident that it was unique, emotional and unquestionably inspiring. I grew up wrestling and loving underdog sports films because, like many athletes, I wasn’t blessed with perfect genetics. I instantly saw the potential for a film and decided to contact Matt. Now, over two years later, this film has been developed and nurtured to the point where it’s at today.
Now getting to the heart of the matter, which is the debate over a hearing person playing the role of a deaf person. I’ll be completely honest. It started with me being an actor and creating an opportunity for myself. At that time I was naive and had no prior exposure to the Deaf Culture, their thoughts, feelings and impressions of the hearing world. It never even crossed my mind that there would be opposition to a hearing person playing a deaf role. It was not until I immersed myself in the Deaf Culture that I realized this could be an issue. However, while I was documenting Matt Hamill’s story and writing the script, I was constantly surprised at the commonalities between Matt and I. Sharing a wrestling background and physically resembling each other was just the beginning of our common traits. After countless hours and dedication studying Matt’s interactions, behaviors, and voice patterns I realized, more importantly, the shocking similarities in our personalities as well. It was at that point, after developing such a strong connection to the character of Matt, that I realized I was meant to play this role whether I was hearing or not. In addition, through the process of reaching out to the Deaf Community, immersing myself in the Deaf Culture, becoming fluent in ASL and following Matt around for weeks, I have new respect and have fallen completely in love with the Deaf Culture, language and all its beautiful nuances. It was during this humbling process that I realized the debate of a hearing person playing a deaf role could be an issue. However, because of my new exposure and extensive dedication during this process I know I am 100% ready to live up to the high standards the deaf community deserves and rightfully demands.
Recently, an oral deaf actor friend of mine was complaining to me about how he was tired of being considered for only deaf roles and I immediately told him to do something about it, “You should write something and create a project where you play a hearing role.” Now, I’m not trying to convince anyone who is adamant about deaf roles having to be played by deaf actors, or hearing roles having to be played by hearing actors. However, please think of this: I helped birth a project, which will educate a large audience about Deaf Culture while at the same time presenting opportunities for the deaf community in front and behind the camera.
Besides the role of Matt, there are several other large roles within the script that will allow Deaf actors to showcase themselves on the big screen as well as many opportunities for Deaf filmmakers to become active in the making of this film. This production team remains very dedicated in involving the Deaf in every way possible, because film, at its best state, is a collaborative universal medium. Without the guidance and support of the Deaf, we would not have been able to create a film that embodies all the great intricacies and richness of their people.
I urge you to be open-minded and review this project in its entirety and try to understand that this is not a deaf movie and it is not a hearing movie. It is simply a movie created to stand the test of time, inspire, educate, and expose a beautiful culture to a widespread audience. Also, from the bottom of my heart, know that I am taking this role very seriously and I promise you that I will represent your culture and community with accuracy, respect and, most importantly, the utmost grace.
I want to finish by saying that I am eternally grateful for all the support I have received thus far and I look forward to us continuing to work together as we bring Matt’s incredible story to the silver screen. Thank you so much for your time and feel free to contact our production team with any questions.
Eben Kostbar
_____________________________________
See previous blog entries about this topic:
May 9th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
You’d have thought the universities would have consulted with Matt first before cancelling the auditions! Hey, I’m with Matt all the way, if this is what he wants, I’ll support him.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Go ahead and support the Hoos and the hoos-minded. It takes FANS to boost the movie’s box. So considered me out! This decision is made and final. I am not going to watch this movie. Good luck.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Hi Candy, I think its a bit strange that you are so excited?
-Ali
May 9th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Candy in comment #1 dated May 9, 2008 at 5:14pm wrote better than what I would have written. At first, I am somewhat disappointed that my alma mater Rochester Institute of Technology does not respect Matt Hamill’s final decision on selection of an actor but I suspect that there might be some miscommunication between RIT and Mr. Hamill. I am giving RIT benefit of doubt until there is more concrete information on why RIT canceled the auditions.
In any way, now that Mr. Hamill revealed his intention in his statement at his website, we need to respect his decision. I hope that RIT and even also Gallaudet University will give second thoughts and reschedule auditions but it seems to be unlikely.
What we are seeing here is almost close to “reverse audism”. We need to avoid this in all possibilities.
Joseph Pietro Riolo
josephpietrojeungriolo@gmail.com
Public domain notice: I put all of my expressions in this post in the public domain.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
It’s sickening to see that even a deaf person’s choice has been ignored and the whole issue has been politicized. Perhaps this the reason why the evolutionary proccess is speeding up because people are getting sick and tired of the deaf community hijacking everything when it comes to representing themselves.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Time-Out!
To be honest with Matt, it’s a boo-hoo.
Matt and his crews did not give the deaf community a chance to make the auditions.
Matt is neither a good role model nor be a representative for the deaf community, for instance.
Shame on you, Matt.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I am one of those people who think deaf actors should get deaf character roles.
However, after reading what Eben Kostbar wrote and seeing that Hamill is ok with it…I am fine with it. The level of Kostbar’s dedication is what makes it good for me…I believe he’ll do a good job.
I just hate seeing hearing actors act badly as deaf people when a deaf person could have gotten the job…that’s all.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Woo-hoo! White Ghost pah disagrees with Candy! Anyway, yes, I understand Kostbar’s perspective, but it’s still wrong.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
JJ –
I want to point out is that Matt’s alma mater, RIT has been strongly advocating the deaf community and culture for over 40 years. I applaud that RIT’s choice is appropriate for protesting against Matt’s decision.
RIT has over 15K hearing students. I am pretty sure that the students supported the theatre and board’s (?) decisions for unplugging the audition.
I wonder will Matt obtain the honorary degree from RIT in the future? I sure hope not!
May 9th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
My perspective holds it that any deaf person’s passing up a deaf actor is his way of trivilising the values of the language and the Deaf culture of deaf people.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Disclaimer: I support deaf characters played by deaf actors.
I don’t entirely blame Hamill. If anyone offered to make a full feature movie about you with the one condition that you are played by a hearing person, would you turn it down? Most people would not.
Hardly does anyone turn down opportunities for fame and money. It’s human nature.
What’s happening here is if Eben Kostbar doesn’t play Hamill, then there will not be a movie. What is Hamill to say?
I say take it to Eben Kostbar and see if we can talk some sense into him. He wouldn’t contradict what he’s learned about the deaf culture, if he is working so hard to understand and absorb it. Otherwise, he’s just an “act”.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I think the most controversy in Matt Hamill’s UFC career was this Michael Bisping’s victory over him which many of us and UFC fans disagreed on.
If there’s a story about Bisping and Hamill’s match in that movie, Eban Kostabar could have Bisping’s role and let a Deaf take Matt’s role….it could bring bigger audience from both hearing and deaf.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
If you read what Matt said, he said: “It was my choice to have Eben Kostbar play me.”
If you also think about the fact that he attended a public school and I believe, learned ASL when he entered NTID, then it would make sense why Matt wanted things done this way. Matt did not live his life as a culturally deaf person, growing up. Makes sense doesn’t it?
May 9th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Anyone who is on side of Matt and you need to wake up and check on this: Hollywood never never never hire any Deaf actors/ actress to play as a hearing person therefore don’t hire hearing actors or actress to play as a Deaf person period!
May 9th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Even with matt’s explanation i still would not watch the movie. I have no interest now that I know its a hearing person playing role of a deaf perosn.
For authenticity, a deaf person should play role of a deaf person, period. There are too many factors involved - facial expressions, body language, nuances, et al to even contemplate hiring a hearing person, even someone who “suddenly fell in love with deaf culture or has respect fo rdeaf culture or whatever sweet talk he wants to say”. Storyline is about a deaf person, so it would only be practical to have a genuine deaf person play the role. After all there are thousands of hearing talents, and very few deaf talents have such opportunities. So with these two considerations, I find matt’s reasoning somewhat defensive in tone and counterproductive to the deaf community at large. He is asking us to respect him but is his position showing respect for the deaf community? Is his attitude healthy?
May 10th, 2008 at 3:55 am
Tayler, I would be lying if I said I agreed with you. I am just tired of cheeky sign languages by hearing actors. (Arent you?) It’d just be awesome to see Deaf actors using pure ASL, and hey, its actually about a Deaf person.
By the way, yeah… human nature = money.
Candy,
Interesting that Matt learned ASL later. So he was born hearing and became Deaf later?
Overall, if Matt wants a hearing actor, so be it.
Ali
May 10th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Ahhhh….
I know Matt from RIT, and he WAS very oral, hanging out with oral deaf friends and was not much of an ASL user. More of Sim Com, like common in Rochester, NY. He was on RIT’s wrestling team…
May 10th, 2008 at 8:27 am
If Matt was the type that grew up as a strong ASL user, then I would not be reluctant to agree with most of you. But as I understand it, he grew up oral and did not know how to sign until he went to RIT. He may not be a fluent ASL signer, as Karen says, but that is no reason to sit back and whine about it when the reality is that he is exposing portions of the deaf culture by signing during his interviews, press conferences, etc. There are all kinds of deaf people in the deaf culture and it is exactly this kind of stuff that divides the deaf culture further apart and that kind of rubbish needs to stop.
Matt cares deeply about the deaf culture, otherwise he would not have gone to CDS-Fremont to spend time with deaf wrestlers, he would not even have bothered to sign during his interviews, press conferences etc. The problem here is that most of you are already judging a book by its cover without even reading it.
It is Matt’s choice to have Eben play him for one reason only, it is because Eben has spent a significant amount of time with Matt over the past couple of years and Matt’s feels that because of that, Eban would be the bext candidate to play him because Eben knows him and his traits, character, more than any other deaf actor would. Suppose a deaf actor was selected, that deaf actor would have only a couple months to get to really know who Matt is and he is not going to know Matt as well as Eben does.
If you really think that Matt did not care for deaf actors whatsoever, then we would be seeing hearing people playing in the roles of Jay and Kristi, but that is not the case. Simply because Matt knows that Jay and Kristi are ASL users and Matt has given very specific instructions that those roles are played by deaf actors.
Matt has said that his contract gives him complete control of the final product. Matt has been working with these people and he knows all the details of the movie, while the majority of you guys do not and unfortunately most of you are already jumping to conclusions without knowing all the facts.
I did not know Matt when he was in college however, I got to know him after he was in the UFC as I do watch his UFC fights. As a matter of fact, I attended his fight in England and spent some time with him after the fight. He was robbed of a rubbish decision when everyone knew he had beat Bisping, this man had one of the biggest opportunities of his lifetime and yet he wanted to make a video comment for the deaf wrestlers at CSD-Fremont. Matt is a guy with a heart of gold and its completely unfair of you guys making decisions about him without really knowing who he is.
For the commenter that says Eben should play Bisping, that goes to show how you are jumping to conclusions, because the Hamill/Bisping fight is not going to be in the movie, as a matter of fact, as I understand it, the UFC itself is not going to even be in the movie because its about his wrestling career and not his UFC career.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Well, if Matt wants to have a hearing actor to portray him, let it be.
It’s his film..if it flops, he cannot blame anybody but himself.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Well, since Matt is deaf and oral person, therefore, he represents the deaf community broadly.
If Matt met and learned about the diversity issue, he would have chosen the deaf actor. However, he did not met the diversity’s needs.
In conclusion, he did not doing his good job for being a good role model to the deaf community.
In my gut feeling is that I honestly don’t think he teaches many deaf boys with ASL or non-ASL how to wrestle when he retires from the professional world.
It’s a tough luck.
May 10th, 2008 at 10:01 am
You are a friend of my good friend. I am so disappointed in you! I am not going to watch your movie. Count *US* out. You lost me as a Hamill fan as an UFC and movie.
Get out of my life.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I’m somewhat torn on this issue too. The question of whether deaf actors should play deaf roles also extends to other situations where deaf people could/would/should hold positions of authority regarding other deaf people, such as: schools for the deaf, services for deaf persons in VR, community service agencies, and so on. But for Matt and Eben, here are some points to consider:
1. Matt was an oral deaf person who came to ASL later, so he would not be representative of a culturally deaf, “pure ASL”-using deaf person. So if Eben’s signing looks very hearing-like, that’s probably how Matt signs too. I’m guessing about that, cuz I haven’t seen him sign myself.
2. Are there any professional deaf actors who could play the role of Matt? I can’t think of any, myself. I thought Eben had a good point when he said that he resembles Matt physically and has a lot in common with him. He understands the wrestling world. I can’t think of any deaf actors like that either. If it’s true that Eben has invested years in learning about Matt, the deaf community, our history, and ASL, then that’s more than other hearing actors have done.
3. I think Matt and Eben are both being somewhat hypocritical when they say they love and respect Deaf culture and ASL, yet they think it’s okay for a hearing actor to play a deaf role, despite the long history of discrimination in the entertainment field. If they truly understood Deaf cultural values, neither of them would support Eben’s taking the role in the first place. BUT …
4. The irony is that Eben is probably the best choice for the role, when all is said and done. If he can bring the authenticity to the role that comes from his deep knowledge of Matt, then more power to him. I sure hope he can also do a good job of acting in the movie, because I’d hate to see yet another smarmy pity party of a movie about a deaf character. You know the kind I mean.
May 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
dude –
get over yourself… direct the film and hire a deaf actor. do the right thing.
that you never thought it would be an issue in the deaf community… and - to your credit - you admit such naivety… should inform you about how much more you don’t know.
May 10th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I agree with bob…plain and simple, his role should be for a deaf actor. If it is not a deaf actor, I will not watch it.
May 10th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
hmm… methinks matt is simply being true to himself; he is oral deaf and picked up ASL later in life. My hope is the movie will show it as this and make note to the world that there are different degrees of deafness.
My big question is simply this; are there gonna be more than one deaf actor/actress? i’m okay with one hearie playing “deaf-face” if there are several other roles played by deaf actors/esses.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Don’t worry, just move on…
May 10th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I had watched a video clip of Mark Hamill in sign language. It is apparent that he isnt culturally Deaf but happens to be deaf and knows sign language. If he s culturally Deaf, it makes more sense to hire a Deaf actor to play him because the actor understands and knows the Deaf culture, behaviors and language. But Mark isnt, had he found an oral deaf actor who can play him. If Mark hasnt, so be it. It s his film. I hope Mark knows what he s doing. I trust (I hope so!) that he plans to include other deaf actors in his film.
May 11th, 2008 at 2:07 am
The film will *flop*. Why? Because a hearing impersonated as Deaf role. Look at all films that were produced by hearing actors impersonating as deaf characters — they always flop.
Eban or whatever his name is attempted to portray himself in a good light that he is “in love with deaf culture”. — it is nothing new. I always heard of that from them when they said things like that but when they’re done with production, they vanished. Screw ‘em.
R-
May 11th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Paulette, Don’t confuse Mark Hamill who played Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars” with the MMA fighter, Matt Hamill. Matt is the guy that this discussion is about. It is coincidence the two men share the same surname, lol.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Whoa! I kinda have some sympatby for Esben Kastbar from what he spend two years of writing and film development about the life of Matt Hamill, deaf professional MMA wrestler.
Hamill do have much right to root and decide who is to play him in the biopic film. That is his own choice to gamble with his own name and legacy.
Ridor aka Ricky Taylor is absolutely right about many hearing people pretend to be deeply care about their newfounded root with the deaf community for just a film role.
Actress Jane Wyman of “Johnny Belinda” 1940s classic film, donated a lot of $$ to several deaf schools. She also visited those schools from time to time.
Why many African Americans finally got their own respects to be casted in numerous Hollywood films, instead of casting some Africans or other country-born African, ex. Jamaician or Haiti to play the role of African American, etc.
Many African Americans were sneered at Sidney Poiter for playing the role of African American, not their own people. Hollywood felt more comfortable with Sidney Poiter, socially and politically submissive person as compared to other African Americans of their time. Poiter’s roles often overshadowed the real racial progress of African Americans in the United States of the 50s and 60s. Poiter was well-known as a “safe” Negro than any actual African Americans. Hollywood usually chose light-skinned African Americans as compared to the nowadays’ African American stars from Wesley Snipes to Don Mechel, etc. Daniel Washington, most beloved and non-threatening Hollywood star, were well-embraced by all the racial makeups of filmgoers.
That proves nothing new within any controvesty from the “minority” community!
This incident should be a true lesson for our own deaf community.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
May 12th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I may be missing something but I totally don’t get this. What about Pacino playing a blind man in Scent of a Woman? Or Hoffman playing someone with autism in Rainman? That movie did so much to teach Americans about autism.
Its called acting for a reason. Everyone should take a deep breath and let the guy act!
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:27 am
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June 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I can’t believe you guys would shame someone such as Matt Hamill. First, Hamill is an extraordinary human being, and would be so deaf or not. He just happens to have a “handicap”, even though he doesn’t see it like that. The deaf community should be proud and honored to have such a human being representing them. Second, respect a man that does nothing but respect you. He constantly reaches out to the community, deaf and hearing, and shows his appreciation every chance he gets. And last, you want a deaf actor to play the role so the “deaf Matt Hamill” can be portrayed accurately. Matt made this choice because he believes Eben can best represent Matt Hamill as a human, not as a deaf person. I would rather see the story of “Matt Hamill” then the story of “Deaf Matt Hamill”
I ask again, show some respect and appreciate all this man has done for the deaf and hearing!
July 5th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Folks, get a grip. Matt is giving some much needed visability to the deaf community but, because he’s not doing it in a way that a very vocal segment of the deaf community approves of, he’s now a villan. Get over yourselves! It’s his story and trust him that he’ll present it in an appropriate manner. He chose the actor to play himself. The actor happens to be a hearing actor. Done. Move on. When one of you “he has to pick a deaf actor or else it’s a grave injustice” types works your ass off to achieve the level of success that he’s achieved, then you get to pick who you want to portray yourself. Until then, thank Matt for bringing some much needed attention to the deaf community and allow him to do it in the manner that he deems appropriate. My gosh people, find a greater injustice to get riled up over. This isn’t one.