Had a chance to direct & write a short film close to home—a DWIF film, where the ASL is written and then handed over to the actors. In addition to that this was one of my most valuable directing experiences, working with such talented actresses, Kalen Feeney, Amber Zion, Antoinette Abbamonte, in addition to a fantastic girl team (save for the makeup artist, Brian Barnett and the assistant director, Kevin Huie).
Producer Jen Losi, Cinematographer Eunsoo Cho, Gaffer Sherri Kauk, Gaffer Rachel Elias, Grip/1st A.C. Sophia Berman Fotiadis, Composer Carrie Glover, Sound Designer/Editor Amie Farquhar, Editor Jessica Continenza, Production Sound Gilda Garcia, Production Designer Katherine Hunt, Production Design Assistant Catherine MacKinnon, 2nd A.C. Carolina Espiro, Stunt Coordinator Abby Walla, and a wonderful Extras cast—Nick Zerlentes, Mary Beth Baierl, Ashley Griffith, Michael Fox, Arezo Moazezi, Awet Moges, and the list keeps going.
here’s some recent videos i’ve produced & directed for your perusal. they’re educational-related but with my touch. i’ve been able to learn how to write in American sign language, and i’m really enjoying it!
“Glee!" a short film musical has been released online. it’s available in english subtitles, and hope you do have the opportunity to see it.
i think this film is one of my best works but only because i had a major team, and was able to pull it off. it’s a musical, so naturally it’s daunting, and it has to be done carefully with each step of the way. i still learned extremely from it. it was crazy how much work it took to do a musical. it’s not because i was deaf… i don’t feel like that was an issue at all, but it was more likely just because it’s a musical. it requires more planning and careful thinking in terms of singing, blocking, dancing, and so on. the crew i worked with was amazing. no one gave less than 100% for this film.
i also discovered my feminism on that set. i know it sounds nuts, but i really was internally sexist without realizing it. after i had seen so much empowerment occur on set, i was just thrilled. i loved working with sherri kauk as the gaffer, catherine mackinnon as the producer, chantal deguire as the 1st A.C., marjorie alexander as a grip, amazon beard as the key grip. was a supercool experience working with them all.
I directed and produced “RAW.” Check it out. Erik Call wrote, shot it, and edited it. He did a great job. Lexi Marman, Braam Jordaan and Jenn Kuhlman did a great job. Russell Wiener did the original music, and Nelson Oliveros did the sound mix and editing. Cat Elrod beautified everyone in the movie. Let me know what you thought of it!
check this music video in american sign language. i shot & directed it. jessica continenza edited it. aaron drake is the composer. erik call is the gaffer & digital colorist. nyke did the performance & wrote original lyrics. enjoy.
ryan commerson, wayne betts, braam jordaan, dirksen bauman (and well, me...) were the key players of a short film entitled, “gallaudet.” unfortunately, it hasn’t been released online yet for all to see, but it was indeed a fantastic film for myself as a deaf individual to watch. it had the essence of humanity with splashes of american sign language as it should be indeed told. and not only that, it showed a glimpse of how gallaudet university surpassed the world-- one of the most resourceful places in the world in the viewpoint of language and the brain.
there was an hour long presentation at the premiere emphasizing how important gallaudet was to the world in terms of using american sign language, amongst other things that we could be advanced in. ben bahan, melissa malzkuhn, laurene simms, ryan commerson, dirksen bauman, hansel bauman was among those who were involved in this presentation to an audience of 150 people at the Atlas Theatre on H street, only blocks away from Gallaudet University. It was indeed a night of truths to remember-- something that we, the deaf and hard of community, must never forget, and completely give it full recognition.
the point for the film to be shown was to raise the bar, and wake us all up. we must recognize that we are indeed important people of the world, not just a group of people who need help and support and be left in isolation together. no. indeed not. this is the new frame of thinking: we are hot and awesome.
i’ve been able to learn how to write in American sign language, and i’m really enjoying it!
