Comments on: Does Hollywood Prefer Deaf Actors Who Can Speak? http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:15:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Ayala http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95592 Ayala Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:26:30 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95592 I believe he did speak at the end of the movie, but I don't remember for sure. However, the actor who played Cole as a teenager (Joseph Anderson, according to IMDB) can actually speak very well. It's a great example of an actor who can voice, but plays a role where he doesn't. Anthony Natale actually played a leading role in a very cheesy made-for-tv movie. I forget the entire plot, but it's similar to Children of a Lesser God. Deaf man refuses to speak. Meets and falls in love with his hearing body guard. Arguments and danger ensue. Deaf man learns the beauty of spoken language and the hearing people are happy. The end. I believe he did speak at the end of the movie, but I don’t remember for sure. However, the actor who played Cole as a teenager (Joseph Anderson, according to IMDB) can actually speak very well. It’s a great example of an actor who can voice, but plays a role where he doesn’t.

Anthony Natale actually played a leading role in a very cheesy made-for-tv movie. I forget the entire plot, but it’s similar to Children of a Lesser God. Deaf man refuses to speak. Meets and falls in love with his hearing body guard. Arguments and danger ensue. Deaf man learns the beauty of spoken language and the hearing people are happy. The end.

]]> By: Just me http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95405 Just me Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:55:46 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95405 What does it matter whether they cast deaf actors that are able to speak or not? As long as the actor is deaf, it doesn't bother me. The TV audience gets exposed to a deaf character either way. To me, I get that it is never going to be enough for some people. They are always going to want more and more. I'm all for opening the boundaries for deaf actors, giving them the chance to make a living the way they want. Do you remember how much grief Heather Whitestone got for her ability to talk...she had understandable speech...I remember some people were saying that she wasn't deaf enough and she did not respresent the deaf world. Please. I mean, there are a wide range of deafness and not all of us fall in just one. There are some that can speak and some that can't. The world we live in isn't perfect...nor should you expect everything to be doable for the deaf popluation. After all, there are just some things that are beyond our ablilities, like being a NFL coach or a police officer. It's not necessary to fight/boycott everything that comes our way that doesn't meet someone's 'standards'. Frankly, I'm tired of hearing that this or that isn't good enough for us. Who gets to decide that? Whatever changes that may happen, it's going to be gradual, not overnight. Unless it has something to do with a constitutional right, oh like the right to drive a car, then I would understand. What does it matter whether they cast deaf actors that are able to speak or not? As long as the actor is deaf, it doesn’t bother me. The TV audience gets exposed to a deaf character either way. To me, I get that it is never going to be enough for some people. They are always going to want more and more. I’m all for opening the boundaries for deaf actors, giving them the chance to make a living the way they want. Do you remember how much grief Heather Whitestone got for her ability to talk…she had understandable speech…I remember some people were saying that she wasn’t deaf enough and she did not respresent the deaf world. Please. I mean, there are a wide range of deafness and not all of us fall in just one. There are some that can speak and some that can’t. The world we live in isn’t perfect…nor should you expect everything to be doable for the deaf popluation. After all, there are just some things that are beyond our ablilities, like being a NFL coach or a police officer. It’s not necessary to fight/boycott everything that comes our way that doesn’t meet someone’s ’standards’. Frankly, I’m tired of hearing that this or that isn’t good enough for us. Who gets to decide that? Whatever changes that may happen, it’s going to be gradual, not overnight. Unless it has something to do with a constitutional right, oh like the right to drive a car, then I would understand.

]]> By: anon http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95280 anon Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:42:55 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95280 I think Vikee Waltrip has a company called Deafcasting... http://www.deafcasting.com/ I think Vikee Waltrip has a company called Deafcasting…

http://www.deafcasting.com/

]]> By: Chris Kaftan http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95238 Chris Kaftan Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:01:16 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95238 Can you tell me what firm is qualified to do this? I can't think of one. Can you tell me what firm is qualified to do this? I can’t think of one.

]]> By: Chris Kaftan http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95237 Chris Kaftan Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:00:36 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95237 You may be correct. It's been a while since I saw Mr. Holland's Opus. You may be correct. It’s been a while since I saw Mr. Holland’s Opus.

]]> By: Moebius http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95230 Moebius Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:12:53 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95230 Where's our Spike Lee?!?!?! Where’s our Spike Lee?!?!?!

]]> By: Moebius http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95229 Moebius Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:11:18 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95229 Remember that Mel was a very successful actor before he made these movies, so he had the clout to make the types of movies that had not been made before. It didn't hurt that his fame also lent itself to making these movies successful. If we had someone equally successful backing up a movie in ASL, that may work, but then again we would have to depend on a person with little familiarity with ASL and deaf issues to make such a movie and the accuracy may not necessarily be perfect. Remember that Mel was a very successful actor before he made these movies, so he had the clout to make the types of movies that had not been made before. It didn’t hurt that his fame also lent itself to making these movies successful. If we had someone equally successful backing up a movie in ASL, that may work, but then again we would have to depend on a person with little familiarity with ASL and deaf issues to make such a movie and the accuracy may not necessarily be perfect.

]]> By: RLM http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95214 RLM Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:08:48 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95214 I never forgot my former off-campus university roomate, Mike Dick of Kansas that he ranted against Marlee Maltin every time she appeared on TV. I don't have any problems with Marlee Maltin's performances. Dick himself grew up in the mainstream education. The real question of how much the deaf performer should carry the burden of societal and political expectation of the given community (deaf community) and the dominant society? Any linguisitic and racial minorities surely have the similar problems how they definitely represent their own communities while the dominant society have different perspectives of what and who we should be all about. Any solutions? Any ideas? There is a professional organization like "Deaf Artists of America". What about the support group to fight on the behalf of deaf performers in motion picture and television? Robert L. Mason (RLM) RLMDEAF blog I never forgot my former off-campus university roomate, Mike Dick of Kansas that he ranted against Marlee Maltin every time she appeared on TV. I don’t have any problems with Marlee Maltin’s performances. Dick himself grew up in the mainstream education.

The real question of how much the deaf performer should carry the burden of societal and political expectation of the given community (deaf community) and the dominant society?

Any linguisitic and racial minorities surely have the similar problems how they definitely represent their own communities while the dominant society have different perspectives of what and who we should be all about.

Any solutions? Any ideas? There is a professional organization like “Deaf Artists of America”. What about the support group to fight on the behalf of deaf performers in motion picture and television?

Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog

]]> By: RLM http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95213 RLM Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:02:57 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95213 How can we really change the mentality of casting directors in Hollywood and Broadway to cast any qualified deaf actors/actresses without expecting them to speak orally for the purpose of crew/technical/directing access? How??? Should the Hollywood/Broadway hire the deaf consulting firm to navigate thru the aspect of casting deaf performers without any expectation for oral-speaking ability? Robert L. Mason (RLM) RLMDEAF blog How can we really change the mentality of casting directors in Hollywood and Broadway to cast any qualified deaf actors/actresses without expecting them to speak orally for the purpose of crew/technical/directing access?

How??? Should the Hollywood/Broadway hire the deaf consulting firm to navigate thru the aspect of casting deaf performers without any expectation for oral-speaking ability?

Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog

]]> By: Machinehead http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95204 Machinehead Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:10:25 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/chris-kaftan/2008-02-25/does-hollywood-prefer-deaf-actors-who-can-speak/#comment-95204 Correction, Anthony Natale (if this is the very oldest incarnation of Cole) spoke at the end of the movie. The teenage Cole did not. I might be confusing the two actors? Correction, Anthony Natale (if this is the very oldest incarnation of Cole) spoke at the end of the movie. The teenage Cole did not.

I might be confusing the two actors?

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