See What I’m Saying
The Deaf Entertainers Documentary
Directed/Produced by Hilari Scarl
Produced by Worldplay, Inc.
Deaf people can do anything but hear. But an all deaf rock and roll band? A deaf comic famous around the world but unknown to hearing people? A modern day Buster Keaton who is homeless yet teaches at Juilliard? This documentary will introduce Bob Hiltermann and Beethoven’s Nightmare, the world’s only deaf rock and roll band; world-renowned deaf comic CJ Jones and his journey to produce the first all-deaf theatre festival; hard of hearing singer TL caught between two worlds of the deaf and hearing; and the extraordinarily talented and optimistic Robert DeMayo, a brilliant actor who is homeless even though he is the one of the leading experts on translating English into American Sign Language.
This is a momentous year for deaf entertainers as they gear up for a rock show, a theatre festival and to perform the world’s largest all deaf Royal Caribbean cruise with over 4,000 deaf passengers. These unprecedented events will unfold simultaneously for the first time in history and will be a unique opportunity to gain insight into the richness of deaf culture.
Deaf culture is unique since Deaf people don’t necessarily share a common ancestry since the majority of Deaf people come from hearing families. Culture in any society is defined by the ideas, skills, customs and arts of a social group – and deafness is a large group. There are approximately 28 million deaf Americans and 346 million deaf individuals around the world, and sign language is the third most used language in the United States.
Incredible obstacles and challenges will be faced by these unique entertainers in the coming months, but will pale by the talent, tenacity and ambition of these inspirational individuals. This documentary celebrates the unsung talents of these superstar performers and their steadfast determination to rise above their personal challenges. It will enlighten, entertain, inspire and educate audiences as it follows these entertainers on their personal and professional journeys during a pinnacle time in history.
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