[Promo only]
American

Director: Hilari Scari
Genre: Documentary Promo
Duration: 5:45
Year: 2008
Screening Times: 12:50 PM & 6:35 PM

English subtitled with voiceover.

FILM DESCRIPTION

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 Beethovens Nightmare, the worlds 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 worlds largest all deaf Royal Caribbean cruise with nearly 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 many Deaf people come from hearing families, they don't necessarily share a common language with their parents and often look outside their homes for cultural identity. 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.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Hilari has produced TV shows for CBS, The History Channel, TLC and Court TV. She has directed/written/produced 12 short films including PAVING THE WAY (Current TV), SNIPS & SNAILS (which won the Audience Award at Dances With Films and screened at dozens of film festivals around the world) and DITTO, which has distribution under Ouat Media. In 2007 Hilari was selected out of 12,000 filmmakers to appear on the Steven Spielberg television show ON THE LOT. Her theatre credits include touring with the National Theatre of the Deaf in AN ITALIAN STRAW HAT with an extraordinary cast inspiring her feature film SEE WHAT IM SAYING: THE DEAF ENTERTAINERS DOCUMENTARY which will be completed in the fall 2008. Hilari has worked with the Deaf Arts Council, the New York Deaf Theatre and Deaf West Theatre as a director, performer and educator.



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