See What I’m Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary
Feature film directed and produced by Hilari Scarl
If people can do anything but hear. But an all deaf rock band? An
international deaf comic famous around the world but unknown to hearing
people? A modern day Buster Keaton who teaches at Juilliard but is currently
homeless? A hard of hearing singer who is considered “not deaf enough?”
SEE WHAT I’M SAYING follows the journeys of four extraordinary deaf
entertainers over the course of a single year as their stories intertwine
and culminate in some of the most important events of their lives:
ROBERT DeMAYO – actor
The extraordinarily talented and optimistic Robert DeMayo is a brilliant
actor and one of the leading experts on translating English into American
Sign Language. He is also homeless. While teaching sign language translation
to Broadway interpreters at Juilliard, a miscommunication with Robert’s
landlord leads him down a slippery slope of couch surfing, and ultimately
onto the streets, as he fights to survive.
BOB HILTERMANN – drummer
Beethoven’s Nightmare, the world’s only deaf rock band, gears up for the
most important gig of their lives: their first mainstream show. Bob
Hiltermann, the band’s drummer/producer decides to go for broke and produce
the largest concert in the band’s 30-year history.
CJ JONES – comic
CJ Jones is a deaf comic who is highly celebrated by the deaf community. He
strives to cross over to mainstream media, plagued by what others view as a
double whammy – being black and deaf. CJ’s journey takes a unique turn when
he decides to produce the first International Sign Language Theatre Festival
in Los Angeles and invites Robert DeMayo to perform.
TL FORSBERG – singer
Hard of hearing singer TL Forsberg straddles two worlds – that of the deaf
and that of the hearing. She struggles to be accepted by the deaf community
since because she is not a native sign language user, and “passes” in the
hearing world. Her passion leads her to a recording deal to produce her
first CD, entitled “Not Deaf Enough,” but things take a surprising twist
when she opens for Bob’s deaf rock band, Beethoven’s Nightmare.
SEE WHAT I’M SAYING is the first American film to be fully subtitled for the
country’s 30 million deaf and hard of hearing viewers and opens the door
into deaf culture for those who are “signing impaired.”
Deaf culture is unique. Out of the nearly 30 million deaf and hard of
hearing Americans, only 10% have a parent who is deaf, making deaf culture
one of the only heritages in the world that is rarely handed down from
parents to children. Deaf culture is composed of a community of people who
consider deafness to be a difference in human experience rather than a
disability. There are deaf entertainers within the community who perform
mostly for deaf audiences, many of whom are trying to cross over to the
mainstream. This film is about four of those entertainers.
SEE WHAT I’M SAYING is a powerful and unique look at deaf entertainers that
touches on the human nature of these unsung artists. Its universal appeal
transcends the four intertwined stories, allowing audiences to peek inside
deaf culture and see this vibrant community in a fascinating new light. The
humor and the pathos are eloquently supported by Kubilay Üner’s soaring
score and guided by director/producer Hilari Scarl’s unique vision.
Music video for the feature film See What I’m Saying that plays through the
closing credits, written for the film by the rock band Powder. This music
video, filmed with deaf actors, allows for our beautiful song to be
accessible to all audiences . It was directed by Hilari Scarl, co-produced,
filmed and edited by Jeff Gatesman and generously sponsored by Sprint Relay.
Thank you, Sprint Relay, for helping us bring this film to audiences
everywhere.
MAINSTREAM THEATER BOOKINGS – spread the word! (List for Texas only)
April 16 – April 18, 2010 – Dallas, TX – Cinemark 17 & Imax Theatre
April 16 – April 18, 2010 – Abilene, TX – Century Abilene 12
April 16 – April 18, 2010 – Austin, TX – Tinseltown 17
List of all latest including address and date (nationwide listing)
http://www.captionfish.com/movie/see-what-im-saying/schedule
For full details, please go this website