We recently shared news about how the Deaffest team had been very busy organising the signed song music video project, which took place recently in Birmingham from 20th to 23rd April 2017.
Music Video Producer Stacy Lawrence and Performing Artist Rosa Lee Timm travelled all the way from the USA to join the pre-production meeting, which took place on Thursday 20th April. Zebra Uno & Zebra Access‘ Directors Nikki Stratton and Marilyn Willrich who took on the role as Executive Directors in this project, Film Director Bim Ajadi, Director of Photography Alexandra Boanta, Production Manager Jack Smallwood, Choreographer Chris Fonseca and PR Liaison Officer Lou Parrott attended the meeting and it was a great start to the project. The discussion took place throughout the full day, with both expertise and many great ideas and being shared amongst the group, who were exploring various ways of collaborating on the project. With just three days to produce the video, there was certainly no time to rest on our laurels!
The music video project, the first of its kind to be produced in the UK, involved a collaboration of deaf artists from the USA and the UK coming together to give young deaf people an opportunity to learn about the different cultures and languages, and to be inspired by the artists. The Deaf Film Camp in America, which was founded by Stacy Lawrence, inspired the idea of the music video project and, while we’re passionate about supporting and developing the talents of deaf people, we wanted this project to specifically empower young deaf people and allow them to express themselves through dancing and signing to songs, as well as to meet role models and enjoy themselves.
“I’m really excited about this project and collaborating with an international artist makes the project even more exciting. Overall I am really looking forward to working with everybody. I hope the project will inspire the next generation and continue their dreams. Anything is possible!” – Chris Fonseca, Choreographer
The film crew which included the Zebra Uno media team had a very early start on the chilly morning of Friday 21st April. Working in Birmingham’s creative quarter – the Digbeth area where the walls are illuminated with colourful graffiti works, the crew set to work capturing Chris in action with his hip hop style of dancing (which even got a couple of passer-by joining in the dancing!) Later on with further filming took place, this time with Rosa signing to Yolanda Adams’ song, I Believe, and then busting some moves with Chris!
The team spent the next day at the Ruddock Performing Arts Centre in Birmingham where they led a workshop and the young deaf people had an opportunity to learn about the making of music videos, signing songs with Rosa and trying out dance moves with Chris. The participants also had the opportunity to experience American Sign Language and learn how ASL differs from British Sign Language.
The workshop continued the next day, Sunday 23rd April at the Ruddock Performing Arts Centre where the young deaf people had a great workshop led by Stacy and Nikki learning about Deaf films. Later on, the participants practiced dancing ready for their performance that afternoon in the ‘Raising the Bar’ showcase.
The showcase is part of the National Deaf Children’s Society’s ‘Raising the Bar’ competition. Raising the Bar was first launched in 2015 with a purpose to give deaf children and young people in the UK an opportunity to do something they enjoy and to develop their talents, as well as raising deaf awareness through the arts and making dance, music and acting more accessible for deaf children and young people. This year is the 3rd year running for Raising the Bar and the competition consisted of four different workshops led by deaf professionals; Music and the Deaf, Deafinitely Theatre, Deaf Men Dancing and lastly our workshop led by Deaffest.
The participants from the four workshops got together in this showcase and showed the audience their talents! The young deaf people who participated in our sign song music video workshop put on a fantastic show with Chris, signing their song and doing some dancing!
“We thoroughly enjoyed seeing this project come to life and we’re proud of this wonderful team who have worked hard to make this happen! It has been an amazing experience watching ASL and BSL work together on such a unique project like this. This was about the kids being inspired and letting their confidence grow and this experience will allow them to follow their aspirations/dreams.” Marilyn Willrich and Nikki Stratton, Deaffest Co-Founders
“Raising the Bar 2017 was a huge success, with each young person putting on a stunning performance at the showcase whether it was playing a musical instrument, dancing, acting or signed singing. With the right support, deaf children and young people can achieve anything their hearing peers can, and every young person who came along definitely raised the bar. We were delighted with how the event went, a huge congratulations to everyone who took part!” – Bryony Parkes, Youth Development Officer for NDCS
The four-day project saw much collaboration amongst the team and presented exciting challenges. Not only have we have learnt from each other, but we have also inspired one another through our culture, language and expertise.
“It’s been a really challenging project in a good way and I would do it all over again. It’s been great working with a fantastic team.” – Bim Ajadi, Film Director
We would like to thank all the individuals involved in making the project happen. The music video will be launched on Saturday 13th May 2017 at Young Deaffest in Cinema One at Light House Media Centre, Chubb Buildings, Fryer St, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT from 12.30pm to 2pm. Don’t miss out!
“Dreams don’t work unless you do. Dream it. Believe it. Achieve it.” – Chris Fonseca
Willow Photography Ltd
The fun portrait photoshoot will return, once again, to the Deaffest Late Night Deaf Party at Light House Media Centre on Saturday 13th May 2017.
The photoshoot will be led by talented Deaffest photographers Mark and Penny Mecklenburgh. It’s free to take part, so come and get involved and get some funny shots to remember the festival by!
International Creative Collaborations
Taking place on stage on Saturday 13th May from 3.30pm to 4.10pm, with audience participation, the panel discussion aims to look at ways in which deaf artists, filmmakers or actors can collaborate with professionals abroad. It will address topics such as: Is there a lack of international collaboration currently, and if so, why? Finding and establishing international working relationships, identifying beneficial working relationships and the opportunities this offers and the potential barriers/ difficulties in building/maintaining international working relationships. The panel will be led by Deaffest Co-Founder Marilyn Willrich. This event will be interpreted.
David de Keyzer
David is a recognised personality in the world of the Deaf for its dynamism and its way of defending Deaf Culture in France and in the world.
Having grown up in the world of image, he became an actor, and then IVT video assistant in film, and finally director. Since 2005, he has made several documentary films for the french emission L’Oeil et la Main.
In 2000, he created CinéSourds, whose primary objective is to distribute DVD documentary films and theatre recordings. The association then proposed cafe theatres, amateur workshops, etc. and organises the Clin d’œil Festival in Reims every 2 years.
In 2003, David founded the International Clin d’Oeil Festival, aimed to defend the creation and expression of deaf artists in all artistic fields.
Giuseppe Giuranna
Italian-born Giuseppe Giuranna is an internationally acclaimed Visual Vernacular expert, known as “The VV Maestro”. He has become a vital figure at Deaffest in recent years, both performing and coaching others in the art of Visual Vernacular: a form of physical theatre that uses the whole body, iconic gestures and facial expressions to tell a rhythmic story. Since Deaffest 2014 he led a series of VV workshops inspiring a new generation to express themselves through creative performance. He also gave performances of his own both on the main stage and at the Late Night Deaf Party, including an unforgettable routine describing the life cycle of wine.
Louis Neethling
Louis Neethling started his TV career in 1993, as a children’s presenter on the SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) and was nominated for an Artes Award.
Louis then switched to runner and researcher at the SABC whilst studying single and multi-camera directing. Louis progressed onto the role of assistant director/presenter, director and then eventually director/executive producer of the independent production house, The New Production Company, Johannesburg, South Africa which specialised in children’s drama, magazine programmes and a drama series called Young and Speechless.
In 2000, Louis secured a grant from The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture to make a film and also won a Rotary International Scholarship. This enabled him to travel to the UK to study at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) mentored by Lesley Manning. Louis moved to the UK in autumn 2001 and started work at the BBC as a director/assistant producer on various factual programmes, 5 series of the Deaf soap – Switch, of which Jana Bennett called ‘Ground-breaking’, Open i for Red Bee Media, Crimewatch and Holiday for the BBC.
In 2007, Louis started his own production company, Mutt & Jeff Pictures, which produces films and television in sign language. Louis’ company has made 6 award winning dramas, 2 award winning documentaries and series 1 of the first ever sign language sitcom in the world, Small World (series 2 filming in 2017). In 2015, Louis directed SVT Sweden TV first ever Deaf drama series Inte Varre an Andra.
In 2016, Louis worked for Into Film on their flagship, See It Make It programme at Heathlands School for Deaf children – the resulting film was premiered in July at The Odyssey Cinema in St Albans.
Nadia Nadarajah
Nadia is an award winning actress who uses British Sign language. She trained at the International Visual Theatre in Paris in Physical and bilingual acting. Nadia has been involved in a lot of theatre work such as; Deafinitely Theatre: Grounded, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Love’s Labour’s Lost both which took place at Shakespeare’s Globe, Can I Start Again Please which was showcased at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Tanika’s Journey which was shown at Southwark Playhouse. Nadia has previously directed her own short comedy film All Day.
Stacy Lawrence
Profile coming soon!
Deaffest 