[Whoopi]: Hello, my name is Whoopi Goldberg. I am short, I have round glasses. My name is a W, and I have a hair kind of like an octopus in a funny kind of way, but I'm cute. And I am here because I'm talking with the folks who've made an amazing film called Feeling Through, and I just want to tell you that it has already racked up 1 million views in the last three weeks. And it's the first film to star a BlindDeaf actor and was inspired by a real life encounter that, the writer had. Doug has partnered with Helen Keller Services to authentically cast the film and create a fully accessible screening event around the film, the Feeling Through Experience, which they took across the country. First in-person and now virtually, Feeling Through has won 16 awards on the festival circuit and hit 1 million views in the first three weeks. So I want to introduce Doug Roland, who is the writer, director, and producer. Marlee Matlin, who is executive producer, Robert Tarango co-leads first DeafBlind actor to star in a film and Steven Prescod co-lead. So, first Marlee, I have to ask you this question, because I would like to know the answer. What was it about this project that really got your attention? Because I know how picky you are. So what was it about this that made you want to get involved as an executive producer?
[Marlee]: Hi Whoopi, thank for letting me hop on, with the description, first of all, I'm going to describe myself what I look like. I'm a white woman with blonde curly hair, and I'm wearing a blue jacket with a pink glass, and I'm not as cute as you are, but we're going to go ahead. When I was approached by Doug, to have an opportunity to see the film, I sure at that point, I'd be happy to look at it. I had never taken my eyes off the screen the entire time for the entire 18 minutes. My mind was blown by the authenticity of the film, by the actors performances, by the storytelling, by everything, by the film, making that dope put together here and what really excites me about it. I mean, if something excites me like that, it means that I need to pay more attention to it. And from the moment that I saw the film, the first moment I was hooked and we connected, and I can say that the rest is history, because I had to hop on him, I really did.
[Whoopi]: And so you decided I have to be part of this. What is the, what's the thing that made you say I've never seen anything like this before, because it's very unique this movie.
[Marlee]: Well, that's true because the uniqueness is because it is, we've never seen a film display authenticity like this, using an actor who is deaf and blind in a role that is deaf and blind itself, that it's never been done in film history before you you'll see people portraying disability, like a costume, they'll take it off and put it on. And in this case, this is unique because it is authentic. And what's more, I mean, there's always stories that are about, you have a character who is deaf or characters blind in a film, in a movie, for example, or even in television, any, any character with a disability is always talked about that. Oh, okay, they are disabled. We are talking about the disability. We are making it about the disability. And in this case, this film is not, this is a film that talks about a connection between two different people in the middle of the night who want to get home. And that's why I was so attracted to this film. It's a movie about two people, not about being deaf, blind, not about whatever DeafBlind issues are out there. So now I'm going to ask you, Doug. What made you decide that I've had this experience and I need to make an experience that I can share with other people.
[Doug]: Well, first Whoopi, thanks so much for leading the conversation today. And, my image description, I'm a white male in my mid thirties, short, dark hair, little light, little Scruff on my face, wearing a blue jacket and a plain white backdrop. And every now and then we have those, those moments in life where every molecule in your being is firing, knowing that in that moment, you're going through something that will change you moving forward. And that's really how I felt in my interaction with Artemio 10 years ago, who's the person that this film is inspired by. And again, it started off really simply as just me, very similar to what you see in the film, me seeing Artemio standing on the street, holding a sign that said I'm deaf and blind and need help crossing the street. And at first, my first thoughts were, this is the first DeafBlind person I've ever met it really just seeing them. That was what was the most resonant thing. But after I spent this hour plus waiting for a bus with him and really getting to connect in the same manner that you see the two characters in the film, me drawing one letter at a time on his palm, him writing back in a notepad, I got to know this man is this really charismatic, warm, and just like beautiful person who had this smile that would light up any room that he'd be in and was just someone that I felt like I've made a really profound connection with. And it was after we were giving each other big hugs goodbye. And I'm kind of tearing up a little bit, having this real New York moment of this fleeting intimacy as he drives off into the night, wondering if I'll ever see my new friend again, I realized that in this one interaction I'd gone from initially seeing this man is his disability like, Oh, wow. The first DeafBlind person I'd ever met to seeing him as my new friend, that's going off into the night that I hope our paths will cross again. And there was just, so there was so much from that interaction that stuck with me, but it was one of those things where like, it was just firing in my chest and my gut. And I just knew that I needed to somehow find some way to share whatever it was that I was gaining in that moment with other people. And it was quite a long journey to get to here. But it was something that I just, it was just one of those few instances in life where you just have that gut feeling, the moment something's happening, that this is significant.
[Whoopi]: So how difficult was it when you set out to make this, to find an authentic DeafBlind actor?
[Doug]: That's a great question. I knew so at the time that I actually set out to make this film, which mind you was about seven years after the actual event, I wrote the film shortly after, but it lived on my computer for a number of years because I just didn't think I was ready to make it. But when I finally was ready to make it, I just intuitively I knew I wanted to cast a DeafBlind actor, but I'd never heard of any DeafBlind actors. And very fortunately I ended up, connecting with, and then partnering with Helen Keller Services to make this film, which was absolutely necessary because Helen Keller National Center, which is the part of Helen Keller Services that provide services for people who are DeafBlind they're based in Long Island and have the largest network of people who are DeafBlind in the country. They didn't know any DeafBlind actors either, but what they did was they just reached out to anyone that sounded like they fit the description of kind of what I was looking for to people all across the country, basically saying, Hey, there's this guy that wants to make a movie. Like, are you interested in acting? And very, very fortunately actually, Robert actually wasn't on our casting list when we were initially casting, but we had a break in the schedule and Robert was actually working in the kitchen at Helen Keller National Center when we were doing our casting. And halfway through the day, we had a break in our casting schedule, someone in the room goes, Hey, what about Robert? I feel like Robert would be great for this. So Robert was just pulled out of the kitchen, not really being explained where he was going lands in this room with some guy with a camera and is being told these auditioning for a movie. And I guess you could say the rest is history, but yeah, it was such a fortunate thing to be able to partner with Helen Keller National Center to be able to have that network, to reach out to and have all the accessibility needs we needed to make it happen.
[Whoopi]: So I have a crazy question to ask Steven. Steven, what was it like to discover that you are going to be playing was extensively was a white guy?
[Steven]: Well, thank you Whoopi for facilitating this. And my image description is I'm a black male box braids and a man bun with a white turtle neck. When I first heard that I was being cast that I actually didn't know that the story was related to a Doug's encounter. It was real life. But, when I read the script I felt that it was a universal just being casted in it, I was just excited to be a part of it. And my first time playing alongside someone who a DeafBlind actor it was an amazing experience. Yeah.
[Whoopi]: Well, I want to say Robert, in a way you are a magical being, because we, I don't think many of us have met a DeafBlind artist and actor. So what was it about this story that made you say, okay, I will try this out, this could be good for me.
[Robert]: Hi everyone. My name is Robert. My image description is I'm wearing a gray shirt. I have gray hair, tan skin, and I'm in my 50s. I was really motivated to be involved with a real DeafBlind actor cast in this role. It's never been done before. This industry is so competitive. I couldn't believe Doug picked me for this role. Instantly I wanted to jump right on and be involved with this film. I wanted to pave the way for the DeafBlind community. To show them that it wasn't another hearing, sighed person playing a DeafBlind character. I wanted to be their role model, to inspire them, to realize they can do it to. And that's what really inspired me and motivated me to be involved with this film.
[Whoopi]: Marlee, I want to ask, I know the answer to this, but I want you to speak to why it's important to have authentic casting when you can,
[Marlee]: Well, do we have five hours? In reality, I can start by saying why authenticity is important because I can go back to 1985 when I auditioned for Children of a Lesser God, my first film. And the whole experience, the history of the casting of that film of Children of a Lesser God, the being able to get into the film then going on to win a golden globe, but then in an Oscar, and then getting all that attention and then throwing people off because a windmill, there's a deaf actor playing this revolving Children of a Lesser God. And I mean, there were critics who said, what, how is she acting? She, she won the Oscar out of pity. She was a deaf person playing a deaf role. So how was that considered acting and well, you know, Whoopi, I didn't stop there and I let them define me.
I wouldn't let them say, okay, you're authentic. I just continued and I'm still here. So authenticity for me means we can't look at disability. As I said earlier, as a costume that, that an actor can put on takeoff, you are cast authentically as an actor, because whether you're deaf or DeafBlind or you're disabled, or you're a person of color, even. It's about experiencing the truth in the story and displaying that truth. We have to stop the artifice where acting is about taking on somebody that is not who you are. We have to stop all the isms in Hollywood that racism, the autism, the age-ism whatever, and focus on authenticity in portrayals it. And it's, it's about the truth of the character. And it's, there are so many talented, deaf actors out there, DeafBlind people, there are disabled actors out there that could do so much. It could contribute so much to the industry. And a lot of times, and I'm talking about the past. A lot of times, people, producers, directors, even writers will say, well, let's use them and put them in the background and let's, we'll have that box check. And you know what, it's time for us to carry the films. It's time for us. As I said, we don't have to dwell on the disability. We don't have to dwell on being deaf or being DeafBlind. It's time to focus on the story was that, and I'm still fighting and I'm still looking to collaborate with deaf, DeafBlind actors, disabled actors, to all work together with the industry to make things happen. The people who have the power in Hollywood to make things happen. And that's why I was so impressed with what Doug did and that he reached out to help Hellen Keller Services, because it was all about people who know how to get it done. People who know how to tell the story, people who know how to bring them into the, into the mix. He did his homework, and that's why I was so impressed and happy to hop onboard this project and go on this journey with it.
[Whoopi]: And also what it will mean now for DeafBlind actors and actors with different abilities. Because if it was difficult for Doug to find the actor, because, didn't know, couldn't go to this agent or that agent and say, do you have, so now we need to populate this world, our world of actors with more differently abled actors. I have to ask Doug how was, did you have to make the set accessible for Robert in particular? Or was there technology and how did you make this work?
[Doug]: Great question. And right before I answer that, just to pick up on what you were just talking about to your point will be something that's so cool about this experience is that now having had the opportunity to take this film around the country, fortunately, prior to the pandemic, we got to do these fully accessible screening events with as many as 50 interpreters and support staff at a single screening to provide one-to-one accessibility so that anyone could join in and have these panel discussions and Q and A's. And then, and also taking it out online and having million plus people see it. I've gotten so many responses from the DeafBlind community. Not only that, they're so thankful for their inclusion in portrayal in this story, but a lot of people who are DeafBlind, who say, I want to be an actor. Now I want to do this. And that's, what's so cool about it. And Robert can talk more about this later, but something that I actually found out after the process was that actor, Robert, you always wanted to be an actor. You just didn't think it was possible. Cause you didn't see yourself on the screen. And I think this is something that, Whoopi, Marlee, you know, better than anyone here that is fortunately getting more attention in Hollywood. But for me, what's been so cool about this process is seeing it through Robert's journey, through the DeafBlind community. That's reached out very tangibly and specifically why it's important. It's important because there's so many talented beautiful people out there who don't even have in their consciousness. The fact that this is a possibility because they never see it. And all it takes is that one person to do it, to open up this new space to go, I can do that too. I want to do that. And I will do that. And that's, what's been so cool. But to answer your question will be about accessibility. Yeah, that was, this has been this three-year journey from when I first approached Helen Keller Services to now has been an absolute masterclass in accessibility. And the way we handled it on set was very fortunately again, got to work very closely with Helen Keller National Center and Robert ahead of time to make sure that we made this as accessible as possible. That meant creating, I know again, Robert can certainly speak for himself on this, but Robert still relies on some vision that he has left, but at night where we, 95% of this movie is shot on location at night in New York city, he's completely blind. So we had to set up various lighting scenarios to be able to facilitate, communication and with the interpreters and Robert, and obviously make sure we had an amazing communication team on set at all times to help the communication. So, it was one of those things where just to note that I think a lot of times, and Marlee, I know we've talked a lot about this. And Jack but people kind of take this on as if, Oh, accessibility, it's a whole nother thing we have to worry about. It's like costly so much trouble. I mean, movies are challenging and cost money. That's, that's just a given anything you do in a film is hard, but with the accessibility, it actually created such a beautiful, like family vibe on set and to have this whole new dimension for myself, for almost everyone else on the crew to have a new experience breathed a new kind of life into this experience that I think was not only not, not only something that made it like part or subtracted from it, but was super additive to it and made it like this unique, beautiful experience that it wouldn't have been without that. So it was definitely a learning curve, but like such a beautiful new dimension to have as part of storytelling.
[Whoopi]: Right. I want to ask Steven, because as an actor, you are now immersed suddenly in a world that I don't know if you know, very many DeafBlind artists or deaf actors, what was it like for you? Did you have to learn some signing? What did you have to do? And were you a little bit freaked out because you were in such a different world? Yes, yes. I was a bit, a tad freaked out just a bit before I like stepped in, but when I met Robert, I wasn't like all that went out of the window. Robert, we build like such a great connection and that's always important
[Steven]: With me when I meet any artists. And I felt like Robert was really talented. So it was easy for us to have that chemistry on set. And I'm thankful for the staff of Helen Keller, we were able to communicate and find creative ways for us to like, when there was time when the camera was action and when it was time for us to like stop and things like that. So it was very creative and fun at the same time.
[Whoopi]: Excellent. So, Robert, I would imagine for a DeafBlind person, tactile signing as a key element for interaction. And how was this handled during this pandemic time? I mean how do you do everything that you need to do in the time of social distancing?
[Robert]: This is Robert speaking. Well, it's hard right now. It's hard to communicate mostly I'm at home. So I'm communicating with my family. I do, we text message back and forth. My family is hearing, my mom does sign a little bit too so I can communicate with her as well as my sister. My sister also has Usher syndrome. So that's the cause of my blindness as well. We both have Usher syndrome but really for us, the biggest thing is, being together as a family and technology really has been groundbreaking for us and really has helped with communication as a whole. Right now with everybody with masks on it is a challenge. It really does impede communication. You really can't human guide when you actually physically grab somebody's arm because of touch. So now I really a little bit more reliant on using my mobility cane to navigate, but really, it's not an easy time right now and it's causing a lot of communication mishaps. So we just have to figure out other ways to communicate, we text back and forth. I still have some vision. So I use a video phone to communicate so I can still call and get in touch with other people.
[Marlee]: I'd like the follow up, if you don't mind, we'll be for both Steven and Robert said that Steven mentioned at first that there was a little bit of hesitation about what to expect before meeting a DeafBlind person. And of course that's natural. It's the same way with a hearing crew, knowing that they're going to have a deaf actor on set or a DeafBlind Actor for that matter. It's the same thing. It's natural that you always want to question how you communicate, but when you come together, you make it happen. You open doors, you open your mind, you open your heart, you meet halfway and you communicate.
[Whoopi]: Did you feel that once everybody understood the story, that you would find that you change the hearts and minds of people who you were working with? Cause I can't imagine that this story did not shake some folks up and perhaps have people looking at the world a little differently. I'll give that to you Doug.
[Doug]: No, I think that's the beautiful thing about storytelling is that at the end of the day, whether you're on set or you're watching the finished product later, you're all there with that like common focus on the story that ultimately whatever trepidation or fears or questions that people have, the story is something that people really rally around and connects people ultimately. And one kind of anecdote that comes to mind, off the top of my head on set was, I think initially as Marlee was just saying, I think it wasn't just something that Steven was thinking about. There were a lot of crew members on set where that, somewhat even expressed a fear of working with Robert because it was a very unknown thing for them. And they, a lot of times when people have no exposure to something, they are fearful again, why representation is important, but we'll get, we can, that's a whole other discussion, but there was a moment where it was very cold when we shot this outside at night, in a winter in New York, people were cursing my name a lot on set for making those choices. But, there was this key scene between Steven and Robert, where on the bench where at the bus stop where we did a wide shot and how did this whole scene play out? And it was really challenging. There are a lot of little micro beats to it and it was tough and, Robert was struggling with it and we all were kind of struggling with it. We went back inside to like warm up and really go through this scene, micro beat by micro beat. And for this like two minute scene, we probably spent 45 minutes to an hour going through each second of it and really beat micro beat by micro beat. And you saw everyone in the holding room, they were kind of warming up and you just slowly saw them all turn their focus, watching us work together, seeing how committed Robert was to making this happen and how hard he was working as a first time. actor, mind you, which is no easy feat. And we got walked right back outside first take Robert nailed it. And I mean, everyone on that crew rallied around him and was cheering and patting on the back and going like, cause they saw how much investment there was to get there. And that was a real turning point on set from that moment onward. It was such a family feel on set, no one felt awkward or weird. We'd had that like bonding moment. And I think people experience that when they watch film too, we've fortunately have had the opportunity to share this film with, in person prior to the pandemic with thousands of people where there would be a lot of the deaf, local, DeafBlind community present alongside the general public. And so many people who had never experienced, knowing anything about the DeafBlind community would come up to us after and say, this was a life-changing experience for me. I now feel like I have a personal connection to this community that I prior to this knew nothing about. And I also get so many emails of people who've seen this film. And then like a day later, a week later, see a person who's maybe blind trying to navigate a situation. They know how to approach that person respectfully ask them if they need help and help navigate them somewhere. If they do say they need help and say how that it's changed their way of thinking about an interacting with communities that they previously were maybe trepidatious or fearful because they didn't know anything about. And that's the power of storytelling is it's like this beautiful singular vessel that we can kind of all put our focus in on and then like come out feeling like much more connected than we did when we went in.
[Whoopi]: I have to ask you Robert, because you're a first time actor and acting is it's not easy. But I'm curious as to how surprised were you when you discovered all of the itty bitty minutiae kind of things that go into making a film were you very surprised by it?
[Robert]: Yes, I was. This is Robert speaking. There's a lot that goes into it, but in my heart, my gut, I knew this was right for me that I can do it. And again, this is my first time ever acting. I have never even worked in this business before. So I had a great team. We worked together, we talked about it and I have to say, I will never forget that moment where I sat in the movie theater and I saw myself on screen for the first time. I couldn't believe it, that everything that we did to actually make this, it was amazing. I'm still in awe from that experience and I couldn't stop smiling the entire time to realize that, wow, I made it. I finally did it. I'm so proud of myself and knowing that, not knowing or being in this business to realize that I can do it and how successful I did it. I can tell you how much that, how good that felt.
[Whoopi]: I will assume that having a great co-actor helps. I have to again, ask you Steven, the two of you are marvelous in this movie. Like I want to start with that. And I wonder what you were taking away from this experience as you were working with an actor who no one had ever really has ever really seen before on screen an actual actor who was DeafBlind, were you aware of it or did it just fade from your mind and you were just working with another actor?
[Steven]: Yes. Yes. Because I've been asked that question a few times, how was it working with a DeafBlind actor? And like sometimes always felt a little difficult to answer because I always felt like it was just, an actor that I was working with them. That's how it felt on set and like exactly what you said. Like it was just, he was just a, a CoStar and amazing, and the way we was bouncing off each other was better than a lot of other DSPs that are probably worked worth working within the past. So yeah. I mean, like, I think it's important. I think what Robert did on, on filming through already explains itself, you could feel it. I felt, I felt too when I watched him. So, yeah his, his talent speaks for itself.
[Whoopi]: I have to ask you, go ahead.
[Steven]: I'm sorry. Cause you did ask what did I take from it? Well, I mean, yeah, well, what I took from it that authentic casting needs to happen.
[Whoopi]: Yeah. Yeah.
[Steven]: That's the best and quickest way I can answer that.
[Whoopi]: That's a good way. So Marlee, you have this young man come to say, I have this, this piece I want to do and I want to direct it and I'm going to produce it. And will you EP it? How were you concerned at all with Doug being a director for this piece?
[Marlee]: Well, I mean, with Doug, I came on after the fact he brought me in as an executive producer, after the film had been produced. So they had already shot the film. So I, as I mentioned, how he asked me to watch the film and again on my, I was just astounded by and we just hit it off right away. And I'm very grateful that the fact that he asked me and that the fact that both Robert and Steven did the work that they did on the screen and Doug and the crew and how, how elaborative they were, everything behind the scenes in front of the camera was just so beautifully done. And again, it's about being authentic, but I think I have to say that if anyone brings me say, for example, a script, it has to do maybe with a DeafBlind character or a deaf character, disabled character. I, the first thing I'll do is I'll read it. If it excites me, if it feels truthful, if it feels believable,
[Steven]: if it feels authentic in my, like you who gets script, I'm sure you do what be to as well. If it makes sense to you, if it makes sense to you for hop on board guys, if it doesn't, then maybe I can recommend it to somebody else and can connect them. I can make the connection for them. So that's what I typically do in that case.
[Whoopi]: And what was he like as a director? Steven, I'm going to also ask Robert the same question, but I'm going to ask Steven first. What was Doug like as a director?
[Steven]: Doug is very hands-on, patient, explicit. He knows what he's looking for, what he wants. So, he was very, very great to work with, and especially when you like times when I would, as an artist, sometimes like a second guessed myself, so Doug would always pull me to the side and tell me like, you got this, like just walk me through it. And he helped me in the best way possible and I love what we got from it. So yeah, he was very great to work with.
[Whoopi]: And I'm going to ask you this same question, because I feel like as a first time actor, how did you feel having Doug as your director
[Robert]: Working with Doug honestly, was wonderful. It was easy and smooth and natural. Anything I needed, he would really take the time to work with me. And of course our dynamics were a little different because we also had the interpreter. Sometimes things didn't always translate. So then Doug had to assume the role to really demo it for me, but he was really patient working with me. And I just have to say he was just a natural, he just treated me as if just, I was like an average person that my DeafBlindness wasn't even a factor. It just, it was a great experience overall and just easy. He's just a wonderful director and he really thinks about everything. And just, I remember just the final project I product. I can't believe what you created Doug.
[Whoopi]: Now Doug what is your process? What was your process like?
[Doug]: For me, I think the first word that comes to mind is collaboration. It's always a collaboration and that's to your point, what you're asking, Whoopi about me being a sighted and hearing director, telling a story that includes someone who's DeafBlind, and me being a white director, who's also telling a story about a person of color. So, for me, it's about casting so important because I don't see, I see actors as direct collaboratives in the story that we're telling. So I want someone who's not only like right for the part, but someone who's going to bring something to it that I could never think of or imagine. And that is adding a whole other dimension to what I could ever write. And I mean, when I tell you with no embellishment that, it was like, it was just knowing at first sight, the moment, the first moment I saw Robert, and also the first moment I saw Steven that they were meant to be in this. I'm saying that as literally as I can, it's those like, kind of amazing moments you have when you're casting something, when you just absolutely know the second they open their mouths. Okay. That's it? I mean like, well, we can do the rest of this audition, but like the second you opened your mouth, I already knew. And that it was not just because there were, again, I knew them at those moments, it's just energetically feeling like they were perfect for the roles. But as I got to know them, both as people, leading up to the shoot, they were also just have beautiful poet hearts who had things to add to it, and had the ability to come up to Helen Keller National Center and meet with, and hang out with, and get to know Robert and work with him individually, get to walk around the streets in New York with, with Steven and go on long walks and talks, just getting to know him as a person and saying from the very start I'm like, look, this is a collaboration, and I want you to feel like you can always, bring up anything that you think should be the case here.
[Doug]: And with a lot of the scenes initially with Steven's character Tereek and his two friends in the beginning, like a lot of that was almost all of that was improv. It was just kind of like cultivating an atmosphere or an environment. So for me, it's like the words on the page are very important, but not gospel by any means. And, it's, I always welcome collaboration and really actually like require that from the actors that I'm working with. So that it's the best ultimate product.
[Marlee]: That's called trust. You see? That's called trust. We need more Doug Roland's, directors who trust.
[Whoopi]: Yeah. Well, I think it also speaks to the actors because if the actors trust the director, they're willing to go on this journey. And so Marlee, I wanted to ask you, what changes still need to be made in this industry for deaf and DeafBlind actors? We have come a long way, even way before my time when I started, there were very few deaf actors, no DeafBlind actors, deaf actors, like Linda Bowes, Phyllis Frelich,
[Marlee]: Bernard Bragg. So many deaf actors who preceded me the generation before me and before them, but they tended to focus on theater, through the national theater of the deaf in Connecticut. And they'd been around a long time. And they provided opportunities for deaf actors and who became well known in the community. And well-respected both well, actually both from the deaf and the hearing community as well. But I mean, I can say that I've always wanted to be an actor. And I was fortunate enough to have met Henry Winkler who became my mentor when he told me to believe in myself and to not let anyone tell me otherwise what I should do in my life and now fast forward. And I continued to act and having won the Oscar. I thought initially, well, great. I'm on my road to success. And I still faced barriers. I still, I might get work here and there, but I still found the barriers in life. And the problem was is that there was a lack of communication, accessibility, inclusion, and collaboration. There wasn't enough in Hollywood. So that's why I would say to people, to the deaf community to tell each other, let's make noise. Let's not be angry noise, let's say, hello, noise. Hello, we're here. Hello. And people thank me for paving the way, for more, to open the doors for deaf actors, but I'd say to them, no, it wasn't just me. And I can't even begin to do it alone. We all have to work together as a community. We all have to make things happen. So now, if you're talking about Hollywood today, I think I see more and more, roles out there for deaf actors. Now we have a DeafBlind actor, but I want her to be able to see more films that a deaf actor can carry a film, can tell the story about whatever it is. The story is in the film. And we don't have to dwell on being deaf. I'm not going to say hi, being deaf. We have stories to tell other than being deaf or being DeafBlind, or being disabled. So I think the doors are opening even more, more and more, more and more directors, more writers, more. I mean, even in terms of casting more deaf writers, more giving more opportunities, but we just have to keep on talking. We just have to engage. And that's all it really takes.
[Whoopi]: Do you think that part of the problem in Hollywood is that people feel like, well, it'll be a lot easier for us. If it's somebody who at the end of the day, they can hear, they can see me and hear me and know what we're doing. And so I don't have to think about it. How do we change people's attitudes in terms of, well, it's better for the piece to have someone
[Marlee]: who can authentically be themselves as well as be part of a story. How do we do this? It's those people who are unwilling, perhaps what, I can't be angry at people who don't take the time to learn or who don't take the time to open their minds and bring us into the conversation. I can't be angry at them. Maybe they don't have the education. Maybe they're just plain ignorant. All I can say is I need to focus on having a good attitude and going to focus on people who are more than willing to think outside the box. And it's a new generation we're in new times, times now, it's really time to let everyone into the mainstream to do whatever it is that they love to do. Whether they have a talent or a craft, we all are people that need to be welcoming and we all have differences or disabilities or whatever. I mean, everyone has some sort of disability or difference. I mean, why is it that we have to shut the door? Just because you're different, I'm seeing more and more people like Doug, like the film that I just did, Kodak, the director was more than willing to bring everybody into the mix. I mean, and we had signed masters on the set we had deaf actors on the set, we had interpreters, we had everything that was accessible and look how successful it was. So it's okay to say, let's incorporate these people you want to anticipate and tell them the story. It's fine. Let's bring it in. Let's hire authentically cast actors. And I think more and more, we're seeing this in social media and the conversation is opening up that we are here, we do exist. We aren't willing to be hidden any longer.
[Whoopi]: I love hearing that. Doug, tell us about, the accessible screenings you created for Feeling Through.
[Doug]: Sure. So, right when we finished the film, we knew, right off the bat, we wanted to share it with the community that was really at the heart of it. So we knew we first and foremost, before we thought about film festivals or anything else, we're like, we want to create screenings that are really for and include the DeafBlind community. So I worked with the Helen Keller National Center, to figure out what all the accessibility components we needed to be able to do that. And obviously, get the, however many people we needed to facilitate that. And we started setting up screenings across the country. So we did, we were able to do 14 cities, prior to the pandemic. And what that would look like at a, at a screening, there'd be as many as 50 interpreters and support staff. We'd have people we'd send out an RSVP ahead of time so that people could tell us what accessibility needs they had for the screening. And then we'd have as many interpreters as needed for people who needed interpreters. We'd have tactile interpreters, which is signed into the hand for some of the DeafBlind community. We'd have stage interpreters, we'd have closer vision interpreters. We'd have open captions on the screen that were a lot larger than normal with a black backdrop. So they're easier to read, we'd have audio descriptive tracks for people who are blind or low vision, where all of the visuals of the films are being described. And also accessibility needs taken care of to and from the theater. And, again, it was an amazing experience. And one amazing story that stands out that I think kind of Encapsulates a lot of sums up why it was so amazing and important was at our very first screening in Cary, North Carolina at this beautiful old theater on main street. We had, again, we had 50 interpreters and support staff at that one, a ton of local, DeafBlind, blind, and deaf individuals at that screening alongside sighted and hearing of viewers. And we call it the Feeling Through Experience when we do these screenings, because we not only show Feeling Through, but we had to supporting documentary following the process of making the film that we'd screen as well, and then do a panel discussion and Q and A. And one of the very first people that stood up at our very first screening was a gentleman who was DeafBlind, who had had the entire experience, both films, and the panel tactilely signed in his hand and he stood up and he said, I love that film. I was so moved by it and I'm so happy to know that we have that representation on the screen, but moreover, I love being able to come and experience it in person. People oftentimes assume that because I'm deaf and blind, I wouldn't care to go to the movies, but I love it. I love coming to this theater and having this shared experience. I just never have the opportunity to do so. And it was such an amazing moment to have that be like literally one of the very first feedback, some of the very first feedback we got at our very first screening, because it kind of, I'd understood that intellectually at that point, but that really dropped it in for me, in a really immediate and visceral way. That's why this is important. That's why we need to do it this way. And again, we were able to do 14 of those. And then when the pandemic hit, as you noted Whoopi earlier in this conversation, particularly challenging for the DeafBlind community, a community that often realizes largely on touch during a time where touches prohibited essentially. So we started to create these fully accessible or as accessible as we could virtual experiences that would have an interpreter like you see on the screen today that would have live captioning that would have a stream text link that was accessible for people who are following along with the braille display, and try to create that same accessibility or as, at least as much as we could virtually as well, and be able to share it with so many more people way. And it's just been an amazing experience to be able to have everyone see it and everyone take part in it and experience it. And it's, it's been a richer experience of showing it as a result of that.
[Whoopi]: I wonder if it also gives theaters or can give theaters an idea of some of the things they need to be doing in the theater so that everyone is welcome. I know that, for friends who can't see as well, having things enhanced in a way so that whether you're, partially sighted or, half cited or not cited at all, you can participate, in the experience of seeing things on a big screen. And it's like what they do at the opera, right. Because they have the headphones. And I wonder, have you all thought about putting together a list of things that theaters can do, whether it's for your movie or any movie that has the ability to have any kind of audience come in, have you thought about doing that?
[Marlee]: Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, most movie theaters do provide captions these days. They have, I mean, there's different tools that they use. They use either the glass that you can watch the captions, or they have a sort of a rear view mirror, or little caption device that you put into the cup holder. And I naturally I'd rather do without that. And just to watch a movie that has the subtitles right on the screen, rather than you can sort of device, and we're still working on that. And as you mentioned would be, they have people who, the Sennheiser devices for people who want to hear it better, or who I want to have audio description. I love the idea of maybe beginning some sort of means to provide larger captions for people who are low vision or DeafBlind. So that's a great suggestion.
[Doug]: And, we did what was really great about figuring out how we can make these screenings as accessible as possible as we did create a document from that, that we have shared with other parties since, and we're, we're working on, trying to collaborate with a larger theater chain prior to, obviously theaters not being something that we can do right now. But yeah, as Marlee was just saying, there fortunately is, technology that's mandated to be implemented in theaters. We found taking it across the country to some smaller cities. They were a little embarrassed when we asked about the accessibility, because they're like, we know we're supposed to have that, but we don't really, so that's problematic, but yeah, it would be so amazing to go above and beyond what is mandated and find a way to have interpreters involved and bring in people that can't use the captions or the audio description and find other ways. I hope that we get the opportunity on the other side of this to be able to do that on a larger scale.
[Whoopi]: Well, I think it would be a really good idea and a good reminder for smaller theaters to remember that just because a patron hasn't come, they may not feel like there's a place for them to come. So if you offer something that says I'm working on it, more people will come. But I also think about this for television. I know television has a lot of different ways of getting folks to hear and see as best they can, but I have to believe that there are other ways that we haven't thought of yet that are in the mix. And the last question I have for you, is what advice do you have for directors working with actors who are DeafBlind?
[Robert]: So if you're going to cast somebody who is DeafBlind to play DeafBlind character in a movie, my suggestion would be, just have patience. It takes a little bit of time. You will have to have an interpreter onset, but just have patients listen. And I would suggest that you actually go to Helen Keller National Center and take a tour, really see what the DeafBlind movie is all about. Understand the diverse, the diversity within the community and see how we do things and see how we are independent and how we can do everything just in a little different way. But just my other suggestion would be, don't be afraid of us. We're all the same. We're all equal. We can do it just as much as anybody else. And realize that we can succeed and really the impact it would make to have more DeafBlind actors in Hollywood is really something that would just big game changer. And one that I would suggest that more, directors hire and cast more DeafBlind actors.
[Whoopi]: All right. Well, I have to tell you all again, it's, everyone is really wonderful in it. I feel like this is one of those movies that people need to see if only to have a moment of taking a deep breath and watching a slice of life. Cause that's what it is. It's a slice of life. And that's the thing that makes it. So sublime is that it's not a slice of black life. It's not a slice of DeafBlind life. It's just a slice of life. And there are no better films in the world than the ones that give us a view into a world, not our own. So I just want to say, thank you. Thank you, Marlee. Thanks for allowing me to come and do this. Thank you, Doug. Thank you, Robert. Thank you, Steven. And I just want to remind people Feeling Through, make sure you find it and that's my wrap with you all today.
[Doug]: Thank you Whoopi we appreciate it so much.
[Marlee]: Thank you, my goodness, thank you.
[Whoopi]: My pleasure. My absolute pleasure.