If you’re passionate about art advocacy and searching for a new movie to watch, get ready to enjoy “SOUL(SIGNS)“, a 27-minute short film by Brandon Kazen-Maddox. This film is a unique collaboration between Deaf and hearing artists, showcasing live performances, interviews, and a music video set to Broadway performer Morgan James’ song ‘DROWN’. Notably, the film stars Deaf actors Russell Harvard (known for “Fargo“) and Rosa Lee Timm, who also directs the artistic sign language for the music video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=@ALLARTSTV"
In 2019, The WNET Group debuted ALL ARTS with the aim of lowering obstacles for artistic experiences and fostering new audiences for cultural institutions. With award-winning programming accessible nationwide via AllArts.org, this platform offers a wide variety of content. The Artist in Residence series on ALL ARTS commenced on Apr. 8 with David Opdyke’s work “Waiting for the Future,” followed by Brandon Kazen-Maddox’s “SOUL(SIGNS)” on Apr.15, which showcases American Sign Language, music, and film, concluding on Apr. 22 with Lars Jan’s movie adaptation of his climate-themed installation titled “Holoscenes,” which toured globally from 2014 to 2022. These films can be viewed on the ALL ARTS television channel, YouTube channel, website, and free streaming app.
In this conversation, James Kazen-Maddox, Timm, and themselves gather to share thoughts on an innovative movie they’ve worked on jointly. This film uniquely combines visual narratives, dance, and American Sign Language, pushing boundaries in a remarkable manner. They delve into the significance of genuine Deaf portrayal and explain how their distinct viewpoints molded the core essence of the production, ultimately leading to a piece that breaks traditional norms and champions art that embraces diversity.
As someone born hearing but fluent in American Sign Language, I frequently grapple with defining my identity, privilege, and role within the various communities I belong to. Being a Grandchild Of Deaf Adults (GODA), my work is greatly influenced by my unique upbringing as a Queer, African-American child nurtured by the extended family that surrounds me. My artistry pays tribute to my kin. My Black hearing grandmother passed on the richness of Black music and culture, while my Deaf white grandmother bestowed upon me the skill of American Sign Language. My family has always supported my artistic aspirations. I hold my mother, a Child Of Deaf Adults (CODA), in high esteem for her unwavering dedication to molding me into a person of honor and integrity, guiding many of the life choices I’ve made. The film’s themes reflect this: it honors my family and commemorates the languages and cultures that shape my identity as an American Sign Language Artist.
“As an ardent cinema lover, I’m intrigued by how the artist navigates the crossroads of self-expression, choreography, and narrative in their ALL ARTS Artist in Residence project, SOUL(SIGNS).”
I greatly appreciate the unique perspective my collaborator, Kevin Newbury, brings to our storytelling endeavors. With over two decades of experience directing films, TV shows, plays, and operas, Kevin’s expertise is truly invaluable. His sensitivity during the creative process fosters an environment where everyone involved can flourish.
Kevin’s directorial vision stands out from the crowd, and his keen eye for capturing the intimacy and connections within every character’s lived experience is simply unparalleled. It’s a privilege to work alongside him, learning from his exceptional insights and artistic acumen.
1) The insights of our Artistic Sign Language Director, Rosa Lee Timm, are indispensable. She infuses authentic Deaf experiences into her work, contributing with her Deaf perspective through sight, emotion, intellect, and spirit during creation. I consistently collaborate with an Artistic Sign Language Director in any ASL-based artwork I produce, striving to establish a deeply rooted Deaf viewpoint within my work from the outset. My devotion to Deaf culture and linguistic diversity serves as the foundation for creating a product that resonates culturally, linguistically, and respectfully encompasses all communities involved.
In much the same way that my passion lies in dance and creating choreography, I place great emphasis on the quality of motion and intuitive symbol choices exhibited by my fellow creators. Among them, Rosa Lee truly stands out as a master of her craft.
When it comes to our team’s identity, I believe it is crucial to involve artists who can personally relate to the characters and the narrative we are conveying. To tell this particular love story authentically, I felt it was essential to showcase a protagonist who is both Deaf and part of the LGBTQAI+ community. In my opinion, Russell Harvard perfectly embodies these aspects.
It mattered significantly to me to incorporate a person who identifies as a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), Nuria Timm, who was thrilled about collaborating with her mother, Rosa Lee Timm. Representation is crucial in today’s world, and individuals like CODAs, GODAs, and other signing members of the “of Deaf” community rarely get a chance to share their narratives. Similarly, I was equally excited to work with Thomas Dellamonica, another CODA, who brought immense value to the production process due to his lived experience. Thomas was incredibly supportive and keenly attuned to communication needs on set, ensuring that every individual could feel confident in expressing themselves fully. Our ASL interpreter, Juana Aguilar, was also indispensable to the process. The way Juana navigated the set and facilitated communication between the Deaf and hearing team members was precisely the kind of positive vibe we needed to create the art that we did.
Absolutely, the success of this project would not have been possible without the extraordinary vocal prowess and music of Morgan James, along with her partner, Doug Wamble. Their romantic tale played a significant role in the piece’s inception, as “Drown” was their first collaborative composition. Our entire team deeply immersed themselves in the experience of this journey, and the shared happiness, fellowship, and esprit de corps we felt throughout were equally precious as the finished product itself.
When you combine American Sign Language with modern dance in your performance, what difficulties and creative possibilities did you face while integrating these styles to develop a unified storyline?
My passion for dance originates from the dialogue between American Sign Language (ASL) and music. As I listen to music, I naturally start creating a story in my mind. This story is guided by the five fundamental aspects of ASL: handshape, movement, location, palm orientation, and non-manual signals or facial expressions. I seamlessly integrate this grammar with my extensive training in ballet, contemporary dance, and my longstanding career as a professional acrobat, dancer, and aerial artist.
The primary difficulty when blending American Sign Language (ASL) and dance lies in figuring out how to establish a connection between upper and lower body movements during performance. Since ASL primarily focuses on communication from the waist up, it’s essential to approach American Sign Language Dance Theater as a complete-body art form like Indian classical dance, with shared qualities such as hand gestures (mudras) and storytelling through the entire body. I am driven by discovering new methods of storytelling using ASL’s unique language and poetic style, while ensuring that the Deaf community is actively engaged in my artistic endeavors.
As a film reviewer who has had the privilege to witness your remarkable work both on-screen and behind the scenes, I find myself pondering about the delicate dance between artistic freedom and technical precision in your craft. How do you, as a versatile actor, director, and ASL choreographer, manage to maintain that beautiful balance?
My focus is on creating a robust team, and ours (SIGNS team) has been synergizing on this kind of task for the last four years. We’ve established a common language and pace during filming, and thanks to extensive pre-production work, I was able to seamlessly step into my role as an actor once on set. The entire team, including Kevin, Rosa Lee, and many others, provided me with incredible support. James Daniel, our Director of Photography and Editor, along with his camera team (Phil and Hannah Bradley), have a keen eye for capturing the subtle details in all our performances. Throughout the process, everyone demonstrated remarkable patience and willingness to learn from one another. Notably, we were blessed with flawless weather for every beach shoot.
What is the main idea you’d like viewers to grasp from the movie, especially concerning its portrayal of diversity and inclusion, specifically through the involvement of both hearing and deaf artists?
Collaboration serves as a guiding light during challenging times in life, reminding us that we are never alone on our journey. When you find yourself at a loss, look up, look around, and identify the individuals who help bring out your best qualities and illuminate your path. My partner Kevin often says, “The best idea prevails”, emphasizing the significance of choosing the right collaborators to help bring your vision to life. I prefer being surrounded by individuals who value continuous learning. It’s essential to remember that working with people from various cultures, languages, and communities may present unforeseen obstacles. By maintaining empathy, patience, and effective communication, you can navigate these challenges and lead your project towards genuine success.
As a seasoned Broadway performer and songwriter, Morgan, I’m intrigued about your involvement in shows like “Motown,” “Godspell,” and “The Addams Family.” What attracted you to the production of “SOUL(SIGNS)” and can you share more about your connection with the Deaf community or American Sign Language (ASL)?
Morgan James: I’m truly grateful for you spending some time learning about me! It’s an immense pleasure to know that my music has a place in Soul Signs. I’m deeply touched that Kevin and Brandon found inspiration from it!
From my perspective, since I ventured into songwriting following my stint in theater and acting, storytelling has always been the cornerstone of my songwriting. To me, lyrics are powerful tools that evoke emotions; they resonate even when the tune isn’t played. Growing up, I was captivated by exceptional songwriters, and I developed a deep affection for gifted lyricists. I believe a remarkable song should be able to stand as poetry, independent of its musical interpretation. In this particular project, the words and verses must vividly depict the entire picture, without any music being played.
It was unfortunate that I hadn’t interacted much with the American Sign Language (ASL) community prior to meeting Brandon, but since then, my understanding and appreciation for their unique form of ASL interpretation have significantly expanded my perspective on creativity.
Given your experience in musical theater, your performances in this film carry an intriguing layer of depth. Could you share how you tailored your singing and acting style to suit this movie, particularly for scenes focusing on visual and non-verbal narrative expression?
When I first began composing music and discovering my unique sound, I didn’t need to search extensively. Although my background was in musical theater, my primary inspirations were Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Sade, Prince. I believe I have a talent for adapting my instrument, and I feel it is my responsibility to always prioritize the music I’m working with—paying close attention to style. That’s essentially my role. So, when I departed from the world of Broadway and dedicated myself to recording albums full-time, my own style flourished more and more, and every time I delve into a new musical genre or set of songs, it is my duty to uphold that style authentically.
In the movie “SOUL(SIGNS)“, the tunes were pre-composed, which means they weren’t specifically tailored for the project. Instead, the fitting of the music with the project or vision was more like a serendipitous encounter, as if they were destined to meet each other.
What stood out as the most significant or impactful part of working on SOUL(SIGNS), and what was your perspective when you saw your song “Drown” signed in American Sign Language (ASL), considering how this project defies conventional notions of communication and self-expression?
Listening to and watching the diverse and imaginative renditions of my song has been deeply emotional for me. It allows me to perceive my composition in a fresh perspective, revealing aspects I wasn’t aware of before. This realization fills me with pride about my writing and joy that others can discover what I have created. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of making art accessible, where it often isn’t visible. Indeed, it causes one to reconsider things that were once taken for granted. Therefore, I am grateful that my songs were selected for this unique project. May it serve as a stepping stone towards more collaborations between songwriters and the Deaf community!
Rosa, serving as the Artistic Director of Sign Language (DASL) for SOUL(SIGNS), could you share your strategy for portraying American Sign Language authentically while also infusing an artistic and seamless flow within the film’s narrative? Could you elaborate on your collaboration with Brandon to maintain consistency in the work throughout production?
My strategy was rooted in recognizing American Sign Language (ASL) as a complete, vibrant visual language with its unique grammar, rhythm, and cultural subtleties – not just a tool for translation. I aimed to discover instances where ASL could serve as the primary artistic component, rather than merely an access point. To accomplish this, I collaborated extensively with the creative team, making sure that the language was integrated thoughtfully into the film’s framework and emotional journey, rather than being added as an afterthought.
Collaborating with Brandon was an enjoyable experience. He was not only receptive to my suggestions as a language consultant but also viewed me as an artistic collaborator. From the outset, we agreed that American Sign Language (ASL) would significantly influence the rhythm, mood, and visual aspects of certain scenes in our project. Throughout the production process, we kept an ongoing conversation to guarantee that every frame preserved the authenticity of ASL while also contributing to the overall emotional arc of the film.
How did you handle the difficulties of expressing abstract or emotional ideas in American Sign Language (ASL) while working on the film, and what strategies did you employ to make sure that the movie’s themes connected with both Deaf and hearing viewers?
It can be quite difficult yet incredibly gratifying to convert abstract and emotional ideas into American Sign Language (ASL), as not every abstract term in English has a direct counterpart in ASL. This means that the process is less about translating word-for-word, and more about interpreting the emotion or embodiment of metaphors instead.
In the production of “SOUL(SIGNS)“, we emphasized visual storytelling techniques such as making use of space, body movements, facial expressions, and strategic pauses to express emotions without relying on spoken words. Frequently, I encouraged the actors to concentrate on the underlying energy of their dialogue: What does sorrow physically manifest as in a person’s body? How does love grow within a quiet moment? The emotional depth conveyed through purposeful signing can be universally understood—even by hearing spectators who might not know American Sign Language. The secret was trusting that ASL could effectively communicate emotion beyond its literal meaning.
Examining your social media posts, it’s evident that you find joy in educating people in a fun and engaging manner, which is truly impressive. Can you share your vision for sign language education as we look towards the future for the upcoming generations?
Absolutely! I’ve long held the view that learning and amusement shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they become even more impactful when joined together, and this is particularly true for American Sign Language (ASL), a language inherently tied to performance, rhythm, and human interaction.
I wish for future generations to experience Sign Language Learning as fun, imaginative, and universally available. I aspire for Sign Language to be a common element in mainstream entertainment, not merely a rare occurrence, but an integral part of it. I long for Deaf artists to take the helm in disseminating, instructing, and commemorating our language, rather than merely interpreting or adopting it.
It’s my aspiration to see Sign Language mirrored across various platforms – films, educational institutions, and digital forums – so that young Deaf children can witness it everywhere. I hope this empowers them with immense pride in their identity. That’s the kind of world I aim to contribute towards building.
You can watch SOUL(SIGNS) on ALL ARTS’ official YouTube channel now:
To learn more about ALL ARTS, visit AllArts.org/Everywhere.
Read More
- Ludus promo codes (April 2025)
- Cookie Run: Kingdom Topping Tart guide – delicious details
- Unleash the Ultimate Warrior: Top 10 Armor Sets in The First Berserker: Khazan
- Cookie Run Kingdom: Shadow Milk Cookie Toppings and Beascuits guide
- Grand Outlaws brings chaos, crime, and car chases as it soft launches on Android
- Grimguard Tactics tier list – Ranking the main classes
- Fortress Saga tier list – Ranking every hero
- Tap Force tier list of all characters that you can pick
- ZEREBRO/USD
- Val Kilmer Almost Passed on Iconic Role in Top Gun
2025-04-17 23:15