Diary of a Deaf Filmmaker, Month 7: Why aren’t more Deaf filmmakers working in the mainstream?

Posted on January 14, 2015 by



As I sit here, writing this mildly entertaining drivel, we are literally DAYS away from the all important shoot!

1

We decided to cancel any New Years celebrations, as we simply didn’t have the time for them. It’s not happening as far as I’m concerned.

2

Don’t get me wrong. I love a good “shindig”, but we’re just too damn busy setting up the studio!

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Whilst setting up, my DOP asked me a pretty valid question…

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And my response….

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I think it goes without saying that there are plenty of talented Deaf film-makers out there. We’ve got writers, directors, producers, DOP’s etc but we all seem to work within the same circles.

Now, I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given by funding schemes tailored for Deaf people and I love working with the same great people when I get the chance, but why aren’t Deaf film-makers branching out into mainstream film/TV?

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Are we limited by the type of content we’re expected to create? A lot of the schemes that I mentioned above sometimes have restrictions regarding things like the amount of BSL content or prominent “Deaf” themes etc.

While I believe there is a great calling for these films and programmes, I also know a lot of Deaf film-makers who would like to make films/programmes that have nothing to do with Deafness. They would like to have more creative freedom to show the world that we are more than “just Deaf”.

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Or maybe it has something more to do with how our films/programmes are being viewed by the mainstream.

Are we not communicating our Deaf themes in a way that others can understand? Would the mainstream be more open to Deaf cinema if they could relate to it better?

Subjects that may seem clichéd to someone with a strong Deaf background are usually quite alien to mainstream viewers.

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Or maybe, we’re just not trying hard enough. Perhaps we’re too comfortable in our own Deaf film-making world.

I’m probably quite guilty of this myself to be honest, as I haven’t really applied to any mainstream funding schemes and I find it easier to create Deaf-themed scripts.

So perhaps, with the New Year upon us (still no celebrating please), it would be a good opportunity to take a step further into mainstream film/TV. In fact, that is my New Years resolution!

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Happy New Year folks!

Teresa Garratty is a freelance film maker, photographer and full time cynic. At school, she was voted “Most likely to end up in a lunatic asylum”, a fate which has thus far been avoided. Her pet hates are telephones, intercoms and all living things.

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