Gallaudet’s Theatre Dept. Official Position: HAMILL - The Movie
Everyone,
Jerome Cain brought this attention on DeafVideo.TV about Gallaudet’s Theatre Department Official Statement, and three individual’s responses. He created video ASL versions of these statements. I would like to host them on my blog. Thank you for all of your work, Jerome!
To support Jerome’s work, please visit his website about his film:Unity for Gallaudet
Now… here are the statements below: Go to Gallaudet’s Theatre Arts Department website
The statement was written by:
Angela V. Farrand, M.F.A. Acting Chair of Theatre Arts
(* MFA, Arizona State University)
May 8, 2008
We will no longer hold the auditions here this coming Monday (May 12, 2008), This is because we at Theatre Arts are committed to the cultivation and empowerment of our majors as the next generation of Deaf theatre artists, educators, and leaders with the paramount expectation of equality.
Casting Deaf actors for a film where a hearing actor has already been cast in the (not “a”) lead Deaf role runs the risk of creating 2 negative perceptions: 1) that Deaf actors are somehow unequal and secondary now that the main Deaf role has already been filled by a non-Deaf actor, and 2) that Deaf actors cannot be entrusted with the lead role of a mainstream film, even if the lead role happens to be a Deaf character. Marginalization is not a value supported by the Theatre Arts Department, nor can it ever be justified.
Holding auditions here on Monday the 12th as scheduled would only reinforce and enable those 2 perceptions. We cannot, and will not, in good conscience do that to our students, and contradict the spirit of our commitment.
Angela V. Farrand, Acting Chair - The Theatre Arts Department
Watch Cain’s ASL version of this statement:
This statement comes with separate links of individual responses from three different people:
Monique Holt, B.F.A.
Presidential Fellow; Adjunct Professor
(* B.F.A, New York University Tisch School for the Arts)
Watch Cain’s ASL version of Monique Holt’s response:
To read her response: Monique Holt’s official statement (5/8/08)
Ethan Sinnott, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts; Production Manager
(* MFA, Boston University)
Watch Cain’s ASL version of Ethan Sinnott’s response:
To read his response: Ethan Sinnott’s official statement (5/8/08)
Gerald Williams, B.A.
Technical Director
(* BA, George Washington University)
Watch Cain’s ASL version of Gerald Williams’ response:
To read his response: Gerard Williams’ official statement (5/8/08)
_________________________________________
Amy Cohen Efron : I am presenting this information as it was published on Gallaudet’s Theatre Department website. These four individuals (Farrand, Holt, Sinnott and Williams) presented their opinions about the controversy. Please pay close attention to their credentials, as they earned their degrees from various places (Arizona State University, New York University’s famed Tisch School of the Arts, Boston University and George Washington University). These people are professional and they are attuned with the entertainment industry.
These statements were to let K’Dee Productions to understand about what they did was not helpful, especially these two points as Ms. Farrand outlined:
1) Deaf actors are somehow unequal and secondary since the main Deaf role has already been filled by a non-Deaf actor.
2) Deaf actors cannot be entrusted with the lead role of a mainstream film, even if the lead role happens to be a Deaf character.
Remember, it is Theater Arts’ Department position. I know that many of you support and oppose the decision. What I am seeing is that it is good for the academic institution, like Gallaudet University took the stand and made their position known. Controversial or not, it is the marginalization that is not a value supported by the Theatre Arts Department, and this cannot be ever be justified.
I, myself, do respect the individual’s right to decide whatever he/she choose to do that is ‘appropriate’; AND I do respect the decision that is well thought-out considering all of the ramifications that comes with the decision. Now, Matt, how can we be inspired with your decision? Remember, the key word, INSPIRED.
May 19th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Thank you for the clarification which makes a lot of sense.
John
May 19th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Thanks very much, Jerome!! great job…we were right about not choosing Deaf actor…powerful statements from them…it’s time to STOP!!
May 19th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Amy, no offense intended whatsoever when it comes to pointing out the credentials. My hat is genuinely off to the faculty and staff of the Gallaudet Theater Dept and I applaud them on their credentials, however, there is a huge BUT……….
I checked out the credentials and experience of these Gallaudet theater faculty and staff that responded. Their credentials, as good as they are, are all in the theater industry, meaning plays, which is practically an entirely different industry from movies, granted there are some actors that do both hollywood movies and broadway plays, but those numbers are quite low. You do not often see an actor on the movie screen that is also involved with plays. I would imagine the television industry could apply to the movie industry as well, but not theatre.
Granted it is plays that likely gave them their first taste in acting, but movies are still a very different industry.
Let’s put it this way, in terms of professional athleticism, would you say that a professional football player has the credentials to be an expert in, let’s say professional basketball? The answer to that is no, but both the football player and the basketball player are both athletes, it is the same thing with actors, theater and movies are two very different industries, yet theyre still called actors or acting.
Now, if this was going to be a play about Matt Hamill instead of a movie, then your points here would be extremely valid, as well as the points of the theater faculty that provided them. But this is not about a play, this is about a movie.
So what we should be looking at in terms of credentials are actually people involved with the movie/television industry, and unfortunately, that does not apply to the Gallaudet theater faculty and staff.
Now if you look at the credentials of the three hearing people that is on the Hamill production team, which also has four deaf people and an interpreter. By the way, I tried searching the http://www.imdb.com for these three staff at gallaudet and there is no listing on them. That being the case, the credentials and experience on the Hamill producing team far outweigh the gallaudet faculty in terms of experience in the film industy.
By the way, their website has been completed as I see it now, check out http://www.matthamillthemovie.com
May 19th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Amy, thank you for standing up for your own truth, for clarifying information and for respecting individual decisions. I know this particular journey has been a challenging one.
~ LaRonda
May 19th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Hi Amy
Thanks for sharing info with us. We need to look at all views openly. We express our opinions freely. We fight for what we believe in. I still support decisions of Gally and NTID because of their values and rights with no limited opportunities for Deaf actors/actresses.
Well done
Deafchip
May 20th, 2008 at 5:00 am
Amy-
I hope we get more people support our clause. Actually we have so many wonderful Deaf talents and filmmakers that are hungry for job opportunities!
Gary Brooks
May 20th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Just got into link left by the credentails? at comment #3.
Eben REALLY could sign, especially when he’s using voice same time.
Please people, let me live.
May 20th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Comment # 3-
I saw the website http://www.matthamillthemovie.com and I find it very hypocrites! BIG TIME! you think having Eben as hearing actor play the Deaf Role will make us proud? Hell no!!!! you wait and see what their reaction.
Second, why hearing director direct this movie? what wrong with having either Eric Calbert or Trishmonisha Blagdon “Onisha” direct this? I know Eric, he’s great guy!! he could direct this movie very well!!
Eric and Onisha, I know you will disagree with me, but I asked you to please replace Eben to Deaf actor! take this serious!
I will not bend because I am tired of hearing taking our jobs! enough is enough!
Gary Brooks
May 20th, 2008 at 8:27 am
LaRonda:
Since when did Amy respect individual decisions? Matt made a decision and she certainly did not respect it.
Amy:
How can it be an individual decision if you say that the requirement is that you, in addition to others, have to be INSPIRED?
Why don’t you just call a spade a spade here? Just admit that you’re trying to collectively change Matt’s decision here instead of spouting BS words such as respecting an individual’s decision.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I posted my comment on their all blogs. Right now, I am feeling SICK because of what I am seeing on the website. I CAN NOT IMAGE TO FEEL INSPIRE TO SEE HEARING ACTOR TO ACT LIKE DEAF PERSON. My stomach is rolling coast!
Is that audism? I believed in that website is FULL OF AUDISM!!!
check on someone at that website that said “There is no rules in art” My reply to that person “Nice to know you as believed in no rules in art that you do not mind for white person to act like black person which reflect yourself as RACIST!
Clear HE IS AUDIST NOW!
Sorry for being so pissed off!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 8:43 am
E –
Think about Marlee Maltin who represented the deaf community. She did on the “Sweet Nothing in my Ear.” She’s been the leading role in several movies and TVs.
Matt H. ignored the deaf community and picked Eben to be the leading role. He is hearing but can sign. However, it does not enough.
Matt H. does not represent the deaf community generally.
Marginalization, oh yes, that is.
You don’t need to apologize Matt H., Amy.
May 20th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Wow! Angela hit the nail on head! I cannot agree more with her and the official attachment!
ILY, Angela!
Please send my best regards to Bill!
Darryl
May 20th, 2008 at 9:41 am
To no. 3,
Who care about the credentials and experiences? I am sure that there are many actors and actresses who have not chosen in pursuing movie careers in Hollywood or anywhere as they just prefer to be themselves and mind their own business.
Clearly you never saw Angela Farrand performed. I saw her perform on the stage several times at Gallaudet University and she was so talented.
May 20th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Gary,
You say that we have many deaf talents and filmmakers that are hungry for job opportunities. Guess what? this movie offers just that!!!!!! But you are wanting to get rid of these opportunities only because Matt has selected Eben to act in his role. I have said this in another blog and I will repeat it here.
Now Eben is the reason this movie even came to existence. It is his dream to star in a lead role in a movie and in pursuing it, he found out about Matt on a tv show and decided to do research on him, and eventually found and met and interviewed him. He spent two years with Matt and found people to help him write and produce this story.
Now you are saying that after all the passion, blood, and sweat he put into all this, even learning and improving on his sign language, you want to take away his dream????
I’m sorry, but that doesn’t cut it for me. Some people say why doesnt he back out of acting role and just be producer/writer? That isn’t his dream, acting is.
Let’s hypothetically say that its your dream to act in a movie and you think of a great story about a hearing man that has no voice so he has to sign, and you spent two years studying this role and creating an awesome story and script only to be told after two years that you cannot act in the lead role of this movie, simply because you are not hearing, how would you feel? Now tell me, do you still want to deny Eben his dream?
This isn’t your average scenario where a hearing takes a deaf role out of the blue, this is a special circumstance where an exception could be made. Even Hollywood would understand that so don’t tell me that it means that Hollywood means they can start giving out deaf roles to hearing people.
Cuz if they do, we can fight them and if they say well what about Eben playing Matt in the Hamill movie? we can then say “well did your hearing actor playing the deaf role co-write the entire movie and spend two years with the primary character of the movie?”
Odds are very high that the answer will be no, therefore their counter of the Hamill movie will become a moot point!!!! That is what these deaf people that dont support this need to realize.
It is very easy to counter that so your argument that that Hollywood will start giving deaf roles to hearing people easily again doesn’t cut it for me either.
Another reason why I feel strong about this is because I have actually read the entire script and I tell you, it nearly brought me to tears, because I could relate to a lot of it so well as a deaf person that grew up orally and learned sign language later in life.
In addition, I hadn’t read a story as inspiring as this one in many years, its genuinely very inspiring. I had access to this script only because my friend was approached as an investor and he allowed me to read it.
This will show both sides of non-culturally deaf and culturally deaf and this in my opinion is very very important to show the hearing world!!!!
I’m so sick of hearing people simply assuming that all deaf people can read lips just because they met a deafie that can speak and read lips or vice versa, where they assume that no deaf people can speak because they met a signer. I would imagine and hope that you are sick of this too? We need to show that there’s all kinds of deaf people and this movie will show exactly that!!!!!!!
While I do consider myself an avid advocate of the deaf culture, and rest assured, if it was any other hearing person besides Eben that was playing the role of Matt, I would be agreeing with you on all this.
But because of what I know, I will personally encourage and advocate the making of this movie for that reason and I do beleive your opinion would change if you knew what I know.
Lastly, why are you so against collaboration efforts between deaf and hearing people? We do not get enough collaboration efforts between deaf and hearing people and this is exactly what we need to show the world……that it actually can be done and succeed.
May 20th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Amy,
I was going to post a comment about how the deaf community, including you and Gallaudet and many other members are not really embracing diversity in the community.
This is Matt’s personal choice. His personal decision.
Then my comment became too much so I decided to write an entry in response to your current entry.
How can you claim to accept diversity if you are constantly alienating Matt and his personal decisions? How can you claim you have an open mind when you are refusing to accept that this is personal for matt, it works for him on a personal level. Can’t personal feelings be respected?
More on that in my entry: http://blog.benvess.com/?p=119
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Hallo Amy,
Merci beaucoup! Your feet and knees are made of iron whilst others are made of clay. I cringe when some people say they are neutral. Well-learned people know that neutrality is an enemy of philosophers in that it is a form of dishonesty and deceitfulness. I also admire for your original thoughts and ideas not only in your blogpost on Hamill but also in all of your blogposts. We must NOT become permissible and submissive deaf people as a blogger or two would like us to be.
I salute you!
Jean Boutcher
May 20th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Hi everyone,
Agree with Deafchip: “we fight for what we believe in”
Deaf actors/actresses deserve EQUAL…it’s time to be HEARD/SEEN….
we support them all the way
May 20th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Eben Kostbar is merely a biographer.
Eben Kostbar did NOT study Matt Hamill’s
Semi-Sim-Com; rather, he studied ASL.
Matt Hamill does NOT sign in ASL.
He utilises Semi-Sim-Com.
See la différence?
Therefore, Hamill should have selected
an oral deaf user of Semi-Sim Com
TO TRULY PORTRAY Hamill.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Jean, if he were merely a biographer, he would have just written a book as opposed to a movie ya know? I do understand your point about the oral deaf user of semi-sim com, but ya know what? It really isn’t my decision, nor is it your decision who should “truly portrays” Hamill either, nor pretty much anyone else’s decision. It is Matt’s decision alone, as it is his life that is being portrayed here. And I am going to support his decision because I do see the bigger picture how the deaf community benefits.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
First of all,
Let have a drink, credentials?
Now, let get back to business…
What you explain so called “love story” you got all mixed BIG TIME! pipe down! I am not trying to get rid of that offering to Deaf talents or film makers…that is completely different story!
My point here is that we need to cut the habits of using White Talent playing the Black character, straight talent playing gay/lesbian character, same goes with hearing playing Deaf character. We need to become Cold Turkey. That’s all I am saying.
I tell you, I was one of the rejected Deaf actor who didn’t make it for Mick Garris/Stephen King “The Stand” Rob Lowe stole the job! shame on them! I personally think Rob did horrible job acting! the director Mick Garris made a big mistake! They could have hire Deaf talents instead!!! doesn’t matter it could be me or other Deaf talents.
So bottom of line, I ain’t going to bend! it’s time for us to get that job! we, Deaf talents and film makers are soooo sick and tired of hearing, “wannbe Deaf”, stealing our GODDAMN JOBS!!!! Hear me out!
so care to have another drink?
Gary Brooks
http://www.garybdir.wordpress.com
May 20th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Gary,
Rob Lowe is completely deaf in one ear.
So he qualifies.
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Ben-
Don’t get me started! I have enough enemy!
-Gary
May 20th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Gary,
But what you said was a lie. Rob didn’t “steal” it for “deaf” talents. He is a “deaf” person, himself. There was no theft here, sorry Gary.
Now, are you going to shift your argument from “deaf” in the sense they cannot hear to “deaf” in the sense they’re ASL users?
Rob Lowe is completely deaf in one ear. In an interview by Pittsburg Post-Gazette:
Q: Is it true you are deaf in one ear? How did that happen?
A: Yes. Nobody really knows. They seem to think it was the mumps undiagnosed, you know, when I was 8 or 9 months old. I don’t know any differently. It’s funny as I get older, it’s harder and harder to be in, like, really loud restaurants drive me ballistic. That’s really tough for me. Other than that, it’s something I don’t really think about. Other than I wish I could have heard stereo. That would have been fun.
I’m sorry that you are angry, Gary, at the establishment for deciding that Rob would be a better portrayal of the character than you would have. I’m sure it wasn’t based on “deafness.”
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Gary, I guess this round of drinks is on me.
Ben is absolutely correct about Rob Lowe.
Q: Is it true you are deaf in one ear? How did that happen?
A: Yes. Nobody really knows. They seem to think it was the mumps undiagnosed, you know, when I was 8 or 9 months old. I don’t know any differently. It’s funny as I get older, it’s harder and harder to be in, like, really loud restaurants drive me ballistic. That’s really tough for me. Other than that, it’s something I don’t really think about. Other than I wish I could have heard stereo. That would have been fun.
That can be seen at http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06352/746940-129.stm
Secondly, this isn’t stealing jobs. Its more for creating jobs for the deaf overall than it is stealing them.
Thirdly, you didn’t answer my question regarding the hypothetical situation I presented to you earlier and would like to see you answer on that.
***chugs down beer****, your round….maybe after a few more rounds you will start to understand my point of view. I totally understood your point of view and the way youve talked about the history, I do support you, BUT…..as i stated earlier…this is an exception for the resons I listed earlier and you haven’t yet countered my points, and I am open to seeing your points.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
*edit* oh damn, i forgot to close the link line with . I apologize.
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
LOL! Credentials?
We went to the very same page at the same time!
amazing!
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Jean Boutcher–
How can you say that Amy has an iron fist while everyone else have fists of clay? I’ve seen opposition against Amy from the very beginning and it seems to me that they, too, have fists of iron.
Let’s not be divisive and placing one opinion over the other. We should embrace diversity and opposing thinking. People who are neutral are not saying anything. People who are opposed to it are saying something and quite clearly as well.
Your degrading remarks about one or two other bloggers as “permissive” and “submissive” are not true. There are more than one or two bloggers who disagrees with Amy and they’re not “submissive” and “permissive.” By saying those things, you are dividing the community–with implications that “They” don’t agree or support “us.”
We’re Deaf too, remember. Our perspective is different, not wrong. Not anything less or more than yours. This is diversity.
Embrace it or we will never be empowered as deaf people, as a deaf community.
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Oh there’s goes the neighbor….I am ran out of beer! Amy, care to go store and get us some more beer?
Now let’s get rowdy!
Rob Lowe is not Culturally Deaf! He didn’t use ASL at all!! and he play two faces in the news saying that he loss his hearing oh yeah right! ” I can’t hear!” ohhh really!?!? that’s pile of bullshits! I am profoundly Deaf! I can’t even hear someone farts!
So many hearing “wannabe Deaf” play Deaf failed to be DEAF! period! just ask Ridor! Ridor knows best! right Ridor?
now my friend, don’t call me liar!
second, Credentials
this is different between “offering” and “stealing” what Eben is STEALING Deaf Talent’ job! it LOUD AND CLEAR! and the producer are just “puppet” so called “native” deaf people to say “Oh we will be very proud” oh yeah right! I was once puppet by audist who think I can’t drive my Goddamn truck! I kick their ass big time! Loved it! and I was, am and will never change. It’s me Gary Brooks that no one gonna stop me!
Thank you Amy, for all your trouble getting us beer! you rules Amy!
Gary Brooks
May 20th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Gary,
You said exactly what I predicted you would say. First, you want deaf as a disability and then move on to deaf the cultural thing. You can’t say his “deafness” is bullshit. It is fact.
you’re just mad at him for being the one who got the role.
Eben did not “steal” a job. In fact, Eben CREATED a job for himself and others. You can’t steal from others what you created for yourself.
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Gary,
By the way, what are you doing with the information I gave you on my blog about the Deaf baseball player? Are you in contact with him trying to create jobs for yourself and others?
Don’t you have a duty to yourself and the community to reach out to that Deaf baseball player and try to invest in his film, biography or whatnot?
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
It could very well be, years into the future, deaf actors and actresses will look back to the year 2008 where one remembers the saga of Amy turning on Matt and demanding that he not follow his HEART but to the demands of her selfish views and say “That was the catalyst for deaf actors/actresses. We once had a chance, and it has since been lost.”
Ben is so right, when he speaks of embracing diversity. I respect people who have difference in opinions, but it is those who constantly divides, that I have no respect for.
This is nothing new under the sun. We already knew why Gallaudet cancelled the audition. They obviously made a bad decision under pressure from certain sources.
And until then, it will be a lesson learned too late.
Because, get this, people!!
Chances are very strong that Hollywood WILL NEVER again ever come to Gallaudet nor NTID to recruit deaf people for deaf roles or deaf people for other filmmaking positions.
I guess that is ok with you Amy. Great job!
May 20th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Gary,
Matt isn’t culturally deaf either so your point is?
And please do not tell me Ridor knows best, in another blog I asked him to state his background and experience in the film industry as I said I would not comment on that until he stated that so I can at least give him the benefit of the doubt. I still havent seen a response on that, and he is free to share that right here on this blog.
Lastly, I have absolutely no intentions of being rowdy here, this is basically no different from you being a democrat and me being a republican and you dont see rowdy congressmen on Capitol Hill do you. Democrats and Republicans have to work together to try to make America a better country. We need to do the same to make the deaf community a better one too.
This is more of us trying to learn more about each other and explaining our own viewpoints. As Ben said it well, its about diversity within the deaf community, that being the case lets get rid of thr rubbish and look at the facts.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
“Chances are very strong that Hollywood will never again ever come to Gallaudet nor NTID to recruit deaf people for deaf roles or deaf people for other filmmaking positions.”
Well, I think that Hollywood will learn from this kind of situation and will pay more respect to the deaf community, Candy.
For years, Hollywood have learned a great deal from Marlee and now this, they will learn some *more* respect to the deaf community.
That is the lesson learned.
Nevertheless, Matt Hamill did not do the great job for role model nor represent the deaf community generally.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
WG, did you read what K’Dee said? She said the same thing and she knows Hollywood more than we both do.
Even Aidan said the same thing too and she knows how things works in that industry.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
WG,
You’re attacking Matt on a personal level when you say “Hamill did not do the [sic] great job for [sic] role model nor [sic] represent [sic] the deaf community [sic].” How is this embracing diversity? How is this “Open mind and open heart?”
This is Matt’s personal project. Not the community’s. He hasn’t bashed the community at all. He hasn’t insulted you guys individually. And yet, you guys do that to him?
Is that the Deaf community we should be proud of? So hateful, so spiteful?
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
*edit*
Sorry, add “generally,” at the end of the quote WG said.
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
#27: Ben:
Salut. Rest assured, I was not referring “a blogger or two” to you. Very matter-of-factly, I revere your blogpost wherein you wrote about yourself. You remind me of my own self when I was your age.
I must repeat that your blogpost is so beautiful that I think that you should contemplate epistling a book, “The Confessions of Ben.” This is my sincere compliment on your blogpost. Memorize that forever,
Ben!
Au bientôt!
Jean Boutcher
May 20th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Credentials? (comment # 3) –
You are falling into the classic catch-22 that all job seekers know — you need to have “experience” to get the job, but how do you get the “experience”, if no one will hire you for that work? You state that those actors/actresses are all stage actors, which may be true, but that doesn’t preclude them from being qualified to act in movies. Acting is acting. Everybody’s gotta start somewhere. There are many movies where some “unknown” is picked for a role and becomes a big star. Even Marlee Matlin — nobody had heard of her before she was in Children of a Lesser God.
Now, yes, it is Matt Hammill’s right to have a say in who plays him — if a movie were to be made about my life, I wouldn’t want to be played by, say, Don Knotts. <8-{ But, as a Deaf person, Matt should be considering what will be good for the Deaf community — the very community that rooted for him during his UFC career — not just his own wishes and friendships. If Eben Kostbar wants to be an ally of the Deaf community, then he should step aside on the acting and take a screenwriter/producer role (might be more money in that end, anyway).
Mark Medoff wrote “Children of a Lesser God” with Phyllis Frelich in mind. He didn’t then later say, “oh, a Hearing person would be better for the role”. We need to support each other and CREATE opportunities for Deaf people to showcase their talents. If we don’t do it, who will? Hollywood certainly has demonstrated that they won’t, even though we have let them know for years that they should know better by now.
United, we are strong, Divided, we are colonized…
–DonG.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Salut Jean!
Perhaps I misunderstood you when you used those words “submissive and permissive.” Could you elaborate on that.
LoL, confessions of Ben? Who’d read that?? LoL, to be honest, it’s a bit terrifying just to let all that out in the open knowing that there are people who will bash those in without a second thought…
Thank you for the compliment. It warms me little coeur up!!
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Candy, (#31) in fairness to Amy, it wasnt her that cancelled the Gallaudet/NTID auditions so she should not get the blame. The blame goes to those that actually did the cancellations themselves.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Jean,
As for writing a book, lol, I’ve tried countless times and never finished any one of them. The conclusion I’ve come to after all these fiascos is that good authors are almost always older—
With age, comes experience and better understanding of how characters are and so forth. At this stage of my life, writing is very difficult thing for me to do.
et, j’ai pense’ que c’etait ‘a bientot? Tu m’a dit <>. (Just a curious question. Also, I don’t know how to do accents on mac).
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
oh dang, sorry.
inside the was supposed to be < > (french quotation marks doesn’t comply well with HTML, I guess)
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Final time: (au bientot) inside the .
Wow, lol.
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
And I give up!
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
credentials?,
If you read everything that I wrote, I never directly blamed Amy for the cancellation.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Gary Brooks:
No offense, but I would take Rob Lowe over you any day. You’re not a good actor. You exaggerate everything you do on your films. Your films have this high-school quality.. something that is expected from a high school cinema class. Sorry to say this.. but I think you are aware of this fact that you suck… so that is why I think you are resorting to complaining. First, you complained about Mosdeux (that was a classic!) and now you’re complaining here.
You’re a has-been that never amounted to anything in the first place. The only reason why Blue Apple existed was because of Gallaudet. After Gallaudet, what happened to you??? Sorry… but the truth hurts and you need to know it.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
E,
Now I’m going to switch sides here–bashing Gary isn’t necessary. Perhaps the real reason why his production company went down is due to bad investments? Who knows?
I might not agree with Gary on a lot of things but I do know that he shouldn’t be bashed on a personal level. Since this is Amy’s blog and her comment boards–I guess it is up to her to decide whether or not calling Gary a “has-been that never amounted to anything,” is appropriate for healthy dialogue.
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
credentials?,
In fairness to Candy, it is Amy who should take the responsibility for not truly embracing diversity by rejecting Matt Hamill’s personal decisions and continue to support smear campaigns against him.
Just because somebody else did it and not Amy doesnt reduce the impact of her support of this kind of behavior, this alienation of Deaf community members for their personal decisions.
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Amy Cohen Efron here…
I would appreciate for everyone to try to stay on the topic as possible.
As you can see that I do not censor anyone’s thoughts, comments, and opinions on my blog.
It is my opinion, thoughts, and perspective of this controversy, and I remain to be respectful to Matt Hamill by asking a very simple question, “How can we get inspired by the decision?” I would like to hear from Matt Hamill (even though he did make a statement on his blog), yet, he hasn’t responded about how his decision inspire the whole community? It looks like it did and did NOT inspire the whole community. So, on this blog, it shows a wide variety of perspectives and diverse opinions. I am allowing that.
It is great that we all can express our opinions, no matter how diverse - that is diversity we are supposed to embrace, as Ben Vess stated on his blog. I respect his opinion and I know that he respects mine, yet he wanted to challenge mine. I stand by my own opinion. Do I challenge other people’s opinion by attacking them? No, I did not.
Yet, this becomes a very hot topic for all of us to discuss. It is a good time for all of us to truly see each other perspectives, and focus on the issue itself.
Can we all try to focus on the issue?
Thank you,
Amy Cohen Efron
May 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Candy/Ben –
Well at this point, K’Dee productions should have researched and recognized the actresses’ credits and backgrounds, not the actor’s before they discuss with Matt. That’s the production’s job. In my opinion, I think K’Dee productions did not do their great job.
Questions: Why did Matt not get the $$$ from the film production? Why would Matt have the power to elect the hearing actor? He sells his personal story to all of us without getting the financial procedure. Matt does not own the film production.
So, Hollywood will realize that the deaf actors need to take up the leading roles in the future.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Ahh, ok Amy, How do we get inspired by his decision? Simple! His decision to pick Eben to play him enables Eben and K’Dee to create LOTS of opportunity for many deaf actors/actresses/prospective filmmakers, set crews, extras, etc and not only that! Also, more exposure to Hollywood that will enable the movers and shakers of the film industry to say, OK! Next time, we will go straight to Gallaudet and NTID/RIT to find deaf people for our deaf centric film or roles. Isn’t that INSPIRING?!
May 20th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Amy,
I agree with you here, we all should stick to the topics you’ve presented here. I think I can answer Matt’s question for you, speaking on my own behalf.
My earlier entry “Truth about Me: A Personal Letter” was basically inspired by Matt and your disagreement. Matt’s willingness to open himself up and stick to his reality without allowing people from outside to cloud his perspective of his own reality inspired me to write about my reality.
I think my personal “confession” brought a few things into the signing community that its members didn’t really think of. I think he’s exemplary in his endeavors in his life. Not only he broke barriers in a hearing-dominated wrestling world, he’s willing to make his private life public–to show that any deaf person can overcome the odds, both within the Deaf community and outside of it.
He opened his own reality to be attacked and bashed by people who disagree with his reality and inspired ME to present MY reality for the deaf community to see and improve on.
I think that’s quite an inspiration, Amy. He also inspired you to write a series of posts analyzing what were the core issues of this situation. He and his production are now trying to add a new genre in Hollywood: “Foreign Deaf Films.” I believe in his “misstep” of choosing a hearing actor to portray himself–
he inspired the deaf community out of its apathetic state of mind. Because of Matt, Hollywood now knows where the Deaf community stands when it comes to making movies with deaf characters.
His movie is going to inspire a lot of mainstreamed deaf kids who never experienced Deaf culture into thinking they can do it. He’s going to inspire these very kids to work with hearing people without alienating them.
So, from my perspective, he gives off a lot of inspiration for everyone.
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
E-
there’s no secret! you’re correct Blue Apple Production sucks! My movies are suck too! and I am terrible actor on this entire Earth! say it, keep coming! but that’s not the end of me. I will live through because I experienced with many storms and still today storms are still haunting me. It is what make me become stronger! Thank you!
my favorite quote from Wilson Churchill:
“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
So actually I will never been stopped only one person can stop me is Gary Brooks.
Ben, yes it was bad investment, BIG TIME! why? I am stupid it is LOUD AND CLEAR! no hard feeling!
alright I gonna go now take care of my dogs, you know we all have life to take care.
Have a nice evening bro and sis!
Gary
May 20th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
#38 - Don, you’re absolutely right, and that is exactly what this movie is offering, the opportunity to gain experience, just not in Matt’s role, but pretty much everything else outside of that.
#45 & #48 - Candy and Ben, it certainly wasn’t my intention to say that she blamed her, just stating that she was’nt the only one and wasn’t the one that started it. It started with gallaudet, then ntid and granted, one could say that she added fuel to the fire.
#53 - Gary - Does this mean our drinking session is over?
May 20th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
credentials?,
yes, you’re right. That’s why I addressed not just her in my blog–I addressed the Gallaudet Theatre Department. Candy is addressing Amy’s refusal to recognize opposing point of views. From what I’m seeing, Amy does seem like she’s squirming her way out of answering questions directly.
It is kind of funny how she’s expecting Matt to answer her questions when she isn’t addressing any questions that’s directed at her…
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Credentials,… Check their names on google you will surprise! To add that she, Monique is member of AFTRA what does that tell? try to teach people not to abuse deaf role itself. Try my best to write. never too good at write. ugh! ha,… Night!
May 20th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Hello,
This is a long letter to all and I hope this will present the feeling from my soul as a child and my child’s voice want to say something here…
Adrian, Amy, Gary, and the fans…
As I am reading the discussion here about Matt Hamill’s story with a hearing actor taking his role. I can see agreement and disagreement on who should be acting for Matt. You know, we can argue on and on with the characters that is Deaf and should be performed by a Deaf Actor. I am sitting here and I can jump and say “yeah you’re right” or “Yeah, you’re wrong.” Seem we can’t agree on something on how, who, what, and why we need Deaf actor for Deaf character. You know, there too much flying words here and I keep reading the firing words to each other and sign language. There is one thing that Amy have mention as Matt is the role model for the young Deaf people and how it is important for Deaf children to look up.
Adrian Mack have presented a short history in film business and with the role of “painting” black over white in theatre and film. There are more to just that history and time is changing. There is just one word here for the argument sake and that is P.C….Politically Correct
Well, let’s take a look at the history in OUR (Deaf) time with Theatre and Film…Name me the actors that is Deaf and how many is there that we know? I know Marlee Matlin, Bernard Bragg, Garnville Redmond (with Charlie Chaplin), Linda Bove, and Terrylene. I just know them because they were on movie or in T.V. Plus; they are well known across the America and around the world.
There is a little deaf child inside me that remind me and the true feeling of this deaf child that want to share with you. I sit here and listen to myself. I’m thinking this simple question…Who was my first deaf person that I first knew? My first real exposure of a deaf hero is…as I can remember this….it was Kitty O’Neill. She doesn’t use sign language and she use oral but I didn’t cares about that! I just want to see if a deaf person can do something for life. This was my first story of a deaf hero that a deaf person did something great. I remember there was a T.V. program back in the 1970’s about Kitty O’Neill; showing her in a rocket car with a speed records and her stunt work in the movies. It was awesome! My family was exciting and I was being able to see the true story of her on T.V. I was so thrill to see it and that lighten my heart and my dream. My family show great support and anything to influence me to dream for the future. I want to do what she did.
Some time later, my family jump up with thrill that the actor who performed for Kitty O’Neill will be on another show…a movie. I was exciting and I want to see it! That actor did a movie called… “Grease.” Yup, that same actor! I went to see it with my family and I watch it very closely and all of the sudden, I realized that wasn’t the same actor that I saw. I told my family that it isn’t the same one. They told, yes it was, and it’s the same one! I watch closely and it WAS the same one. She was singing and dancing away and she have no resembled as a deaf person. I hated the show so much and felt betrayed by the actor. I turn around and told the family that she is a fake and the movie was suck! This lead to my punishment! “Go to your room!”
I was angry and bitter. My family didn’t understand what the big deal about the actor. It is a big DEAL and I was young. My first discovery was the actor was hearing, not deaf. It took me a long time to overcome the feeling and my oldest questions that stuck with me since 1970’s was…“When will there be a real deaf actor that take the right role?” “Can I be an actor?” “If there a black actor that take a black role and if there a female actor that take a female role, why can’t we do the same?” “Forget it, I don’t see how a deaf actor do well in career” Remember, this is in the 1970’s.
You’re right Adrian, it is a sticky situation for T.V. and Film business but how long will there be a time that we finally see a deaf actor who can deliver the greatest story and a role model to the young children? Do I have to wait another 10 year until we finally see the right one? Will there be another disappointment deaf child for today and on to future?
I guess we still have a long way to go. I’m not here to pull anyone here or knock someone off or saying you are all wrong or right on this issue but think about my feeling from a deaf child during the 1970’s and today for the young. It’s the question of ….when?
Don’t worry; I do see rising deaf actors in T.V. and in film. I do like the “Grease.” I forgave myself for that but still; it has the impact in my life.
Thank you for your time to read this!
Good discussion here!
May 20th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Pounder, you just gave me flashbacks, I recall as a young child when I met Kitty O’Neill in person, even got her autograph, but I did not really see her as a deaf role model because of the oral upbringing that I had, I had actually thought all deaf people could talk at that point. As time went along, of course my views on that changed. Altho I had no idea that she sang and danced in grease, will have to watch for that next time I see it.
May 20th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
So there’s the rub!
A deaf person has played a hearing person in a hollywood flick. A classic musical as well!
Any opposition from hearings? Was this wrong? Should we allow deaf actors to play hearing while prohibiting hearing from playing deaf?
-Ben
May 20th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Another response to #53, I’d like to counter that with another Winston Churchill quote……A pessimist finds difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist finds an opportunity in every difficulty
May 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
i like that quote.
May 20th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Howdy! I am back…
Amy, Guess what? I got damn ticket from the police! just because I ran through the red light! it is not my fault because that damn driver in front of me was driving too slow! it was like 20 MPH! what’s going on on this Earth! why everyone driving too slow! just because gas ran up? doesn’t make any difference! I hate idiot people driving too slow! tired of it! you know me, I have no patience! and the worse part was that police was damn hot! I meant a jock! no joke! but gave me a ticket! it was hard for me! my heart sunk big time! why handsome police gave me a ticket! I don’t understand!
anyway sorry off the point, excuse me credentials?, I don’t like that quote! especially the word “Pessimist” I hate it! Ben, you liked that quote? I hardly believe it!
Pounder Deaf Man- It’s A I D A N not Adrian! why people got all mixed up with Aidan and Adrian? let me make this CLEARLY…. Aidan is a deaf gal with strong passion in film making! and speak from her mind and heart. Sometimes we agreed or disagreed but we still love each other! doesn’t mean we are boyfriend and girlfriend, she knows I am Gay! She has a boyfriend! and Adrian, is one of handsome guy from O’ Canada who have a strong passion in ASL vision. I admired him really he’s one of my hero! hope that help? Aidan not Adrian. Anyway your comments…interesting..humm good story that’s all I can say.
I still can’t can’t can’t believe I got that damn ticket! I am going to visit City Hall tomorrow and discuss this, I felt that the red light did on purpose! I hate it!
by the way, I personally still don’t agree having Eben playing the Deaf role as Matt Hamill. This is final. So please close this case for once and all! I need peace. Much needed!
Gary
May 20th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Ben, I do not find any funny from you although a blind person can act like a sight person?
join us and fight!
May 20th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Gary,
No offense, but the thought of you telling the judge ,”your honor, i didn’t go through a red light cuz the car in front of me was only going 20 miles per hour” nearly sent the Coke I was drinking thru my nose as I read that. With all the excuses that cops and judges may have heard, I think you just might have come up with an original one
And again, no offense intended, perhaps you didn’t like the Curchill quote cuz maybe its possible that you’re a pessimist yourself, that word came out in volumes as you wrote your last comment altho it wasnt the first time we’ve seen that coming from you.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:16 am
Gary,
My pardon with the name and thank you for correction. English isn’t my first language and I tend to overlook the simple word. Sometime I think too deep!
Aidan if you see this, pardon my mistake.
Sorry you have a bad day Gary but..
Thank you again Gary.
The Pounder Deaf Man
May 21st, 2008 at 5:35 pm
The Pounder Deaf Man-
No problem! I didn’t want Aidan bark at you that’s all.
anyway Amy, no luck I didn’t get the waiver from the ticket yesterday! I hate the staff in City Hall, they are soooo rude! one of the staff told me that I am required to go to traffic school within 60 days or my license will be vold. I said why I am require to go to traffic school, they said I have five tickets! I never heard five tickets meaning must go to traffic school! that is unheard of! They can’t do that to me! it’s not fair! I think they are discriminate against me because I am Deaf. I need your help which lawyer should I contact?
May 21st, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Gary,
Are you kidding me? They’re discriminating against you because you got yourself in trouble?
My license was suspended for 60 days after my THIRD ticket. And I haven’t had a traffic violation since then. I guess it’s cheaper to be a good boy…
-Ben
May 21st, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Ben-
you’re right being good boy is the best way. They were right, I was wrong. Me bad! I accepted the consequence.
Amy, I will step aside from all the turmoils we are going through. If Matt Hamill is happy then let it be. I quit.
Gary Brooks
May 21st, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Gary–
Don’t quit! It’s good to have feedbacks and understanding of different opinions. This is something we ALL learn from. Maybe next time we can do better!
Gary, have you contacted that baseball player? He’s almost PRO i believe. Maybe you can do his movie? Get a Deaf actor for him, yes!
-Ben
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:38 am
Hi Ben-
Yes I agreed, we all need to look at the big picture not the hole. My favorite quote is “It’s take a lot of fails to become successful”
As the baseball player, you mean William “Dummy” Hoy? if so, they already made a movie called “Our Deaf Hero: Dummy Hoy” or are you talking about another Deaf baseball player? I might overlook, can you send me blueapplefilms@yahoo.com for more information.
Alright talk to you near future
Gary
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:20 am
Pounder Deaf Man: I will not bark at you for misspelling my name like Gary said I would. However, I will bite you. Just kidding.. I love Gary and he can be too dramatic sometimes.. Smile!
Here is my entry: All Bark and No Bite
Aidan
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
Aidan,
Thank you, my darling and have a great summer break! Looking forward to hear (see) about your filming project.
Go for you, too, Gary!
Have a Great one!
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I am disappointed about Mark Hamil. I can promise you that the movie is flop. Hearing actor will not be as good as he try to be. He will look fake to act like deaf person. Hope Mark has time to change the actor.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Who else can Matt Hamill choose to portray himself, when someone ingratiated himself with him after a long time? The HEARING MATT HAMMILL (I haven’t been able to get his name) did choose himself as the actor in the first place as he researched and wrote the script. Don’t give me this BS about Hamill choosing this hearing actor!
Only the director and producer should do. The honesty of the writer cum actor is being called.
The Deaf Pounder was telling of his disappointment of finding out when he found out that his role model Kitty O’Neill was played by a hearing actress. Ben misunderstood him by saying that the actress who spoke and sang in “Grease” was deaf. His point is to show one of the reasons why it is important for a young deaf child to see deaf role models being portrayed by deaf actors as well. … and Deaf Pounder’s parents were indeed cruel in not understanding why his deaf son got so much fuss about the “betrayal” of a hearing person pretending to be deaf in a film. Their not understanding is also why the casting decision is important as casting hearing actors to play a deaf character would perpetuate this audistic thinking.
I am new on this topic. Can anyone please educate me about the reasons behind the non-cooperation of Gallaudet University and NTID/RIT? What did they do and why?
Hartmut
August 11th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
in my personal opinion, i think movies should have character that matches, so it seem more real like if it suppose to be deaf person playing then let it be the deaf actor, or blind person, let it be blind actor, gay or lesbian, let it be real gay and lesbian actor, no fakies lol… when i watch movies, i can tell big differences, if actor really has deaf or blind or whatever…