Reflections Through a DeafLens

Greeting Colleagues,

Linda Bove, star of television and stage bats a thousand in an interview on a national well-respected radio program, National Public Radio. Cool, calm and collected, Linda responds to questions regarding casting a hearing actor in a deaf role.  

In my book, she's up there with Babe Ruth and Ted Williams to use a baseball analogy. If we're talking golf, she'd rank alongside Babe Didrikson and Tiger Woods.

Well done Linda, you did us proud, real proud.

Stay tuned,

Jane

Links:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0100581/

http://blogs.wnyc.org/culture/2009/11/16/deaf-actors-demand-equal-stage-time/

Greetings,

The Producers Guild of America Diversity recently took a position on supporting disabled actors.   Kudos to them for standing up to the "system." Check out this link.

Unconfirmed word on the street is that Glee producers approached a school for deaf children and are or have already selected few students to be included in a choir scene in episode ten of Glee.

Stay tuned,

Jane

Greeting Colleagues,

The controversy continues. Fresh on the heels of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter comes another production, Miracle Worker with Abigail Breslin (hearing) in the role of the deaf blind character, Helen Keller.

In iVillage, Entertainment, more on the casting of a hearing person in the role of Helen Keller. The Kidglue story adds that Blind people are also angry. 

Thirty Mile Woman talks about the controversial casting and offers an interesting perspective. 

Across the pond, British reality TV (Channel Four) launched a new show with disabled people, Cast Offs.

A British blogger, Femalefirst talks about the new reality show.

Simon Startin writes about Cast Offs in November 10, 2009 issue of U.K.'s Guardian and asks whether the program will show a new side to the disabled population.

Lynn Elbe's AP story on Glee, a Fox TV program (U.S.) with a non-disabled actor in the role of a wheelchair character is picked up for publication in November 11, 2009 issues of USA Today and The Huffington Post. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/glee-wheelchair-episode-u_n_352778.html)

There are many in our society who do not understand or are comfortable  with "the disability world." To learn more, check out Society for Disability Studies.

Media and Disability offers a realistic, refreshing perspective. Disability Studies Quarterly affirms our realistic existence.

Truth be told, my friends, we're as old as time. We've been around since day one. All the segregation terminology and so called "justifiable" discrimination in the name of art will not change the reality of who we are and our rightful place in society. We're part of your national identity.

Hollywood, Broadway, Madison Avenue and Wall Street set stereotype standards. When these standards are practiced and enforced, my colleagues and I are denied our rightful place in society.

"So what," you say?

Stay tuned,

Jane

Dear Colleagues,

On November 6, 2009, at Gallaudet University, Marlee Matlin testified at FCC. To see the full video program, click on this Federal Communications Commission link.

Marlee Matilin as the official spokesperson for the National Association of the Deaf represented NAD at the November 6th FCC hearing.

Kudos to Nancy Bloch, Executive Director of the National Association of the Deaf for "hearing" and opening NAD's arms to Marlee.

Without doubt, this is the kind of action Frederick C. Schreiber, the first Executive Secretary of NAD would say, is the way to go.

Not many people understands that Marlee does care.

Good job, Nancy.

Stay tuned,

Jane