INTERVIEWER 1: How have you felt included or excluded
in the entertainment industry as a deaf actor?
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Oh, it depends on the day, really.
[LAUGHTER]
Some people are very nice and include me.
And then other days I get excluded.
It really-- it depends on who we're talking about,
where things are happening, the location of certain things,
if things are accessible, if there
are disabled or deaf roles.
And then other times it's a big struggle to be included
and to get a seat at the table.
So really, it comes and goes.
It kind of depends on the day and the time and the situation.
Things are getting better and better.
There's more awareness out there.
There are Broadway plays that include deafness and sign
language, and that provides some recognition.
Deaf people are popping up on TV more and more.
So again, there's more recognition and exposure.
Baby Driver is getting a lot of recognition,
so it's opening doors.
Before, the door was just open a crack.
And now it's opening where I can see everything
on the other side of the door.
INTERVIEWER 1: Yeah, definitely.
That's really exciting.
What's a common mistake that hearing people
make about deaf people that you've noticed?
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: I'm thinking of one workshop
that we had a long time ago.
And it was under SAG, the Screen Actors Guild.
Sorry.
Actually, I spelled it wrong.
[INAUDIBLE]
Yes, he said it right-- the Screen Actors Guild.
We were talking about if you would rather be deaf
or who would rather be blind or who would rather
be in a wheelchair or who would rather
have any sort of cognitive or functioning
disability, some sort of brain injury or brain damage.
And everyone was voting.
And there were several deaf people involved
with the workshop as well.
When we got to who would be blind,
people raised their hand, and it was just one person
who picked that one.
Who would rather be deaf?
And a lot of people raised their hands.
Then we got to who would rather be in a wheelchair,
and I think there were one or two people that voted for that.
And then for the brain injury or brain functioning problems,
it was zero people.
So one person who raised their hand about being blind
was questioned, why did you pick blindness?
And he answered that I would not want
to be deaf because I wouldn't be able to read.
INTERVIEWER 1: Hmm.
[LAUGHTER]
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: So, yeah, whoa,
I thought, whoa, hold it right now.
You can see that there are some deaf people in his workshop
right now.
We read scripts, and so what's the problem?
So it really was a big impact at that moment
to understand that many people think that deaf people can't
read or we can't drive or we can't go to school
or we're not intelligent or we don't have skills.
And that really is a big myth.
So that's where we need to educate people,
and it's our duty, I think, to always be educating people.
I don't know when I'll be able to retire.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 1: Yeah, that's quite shocking to hear
that someone would think that.
But it's good that you're being such an advocate, because I
think that's very important to break those preconceptions.
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Right.
Exactly.
Right.
Because I want to work as an actor,
therefore I have several hats on my head.
I need to be a teacher.
I need to be an actor.
I need to be an educator.
Yeah, it's a lot.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 1: Well, speaking about Baby Driver,
your role in that is really influential to deaf community.
But how do you feel that role will
impact society and the deaf?
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Did you see the movie Baby Driver?
INTERVIEWER 1: Patrick did.
INTERVIEWER 2: I did.
[LAUGHTER]
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: OK, good, good, good.
So what did you think?
INTERVIEWER 2: So I loved it.
I love that the ASL was subtitled.
And I love that it was both accessible
for both hearing and deaf people.
It kind of leveled the playing field.
And I like how your role wasn't just about
your character was a deaf character and that was it.
It was much more broad than that.
And you were a father figure and you
were kind of this moral authority in Baby's life.
And it's just different.
It's different than more traditional roles
that you might run into with a deaf character.
And the action sequences were awesome.
[LAUGHTER]
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Yeah.
I was going to say the same thing.
Your answer was perfect.
I don't want to do the same role over and over again.
I don't want to be a deaf person.
I wanted to be the adoptive father and deaf.
We happen to sign.
And the audience, I want them to forget
that I'm deaf, but understand our relationship,
our heart-- that we love, that we feel sadness.
I want them to understand that.
And the deaf community is very happy
how ASL was portrayed onscreen.
We're thrilled with my character's relationship
with Baby and that's exactly what we should have more of.
We need sensitivity.
We need relationship.
We need romance.
We need horror movies.
Deaf
Whether it's sign language, English, Russian,
Spanish doesn't matter.
The point is that we're involved,
and we can use disability to show the truth within.
We can use disability to--
or throw out the disability and just see
the truth of the character.
INTERVIEWER 2: Yeah, I totally agree.
There's so much cultural overlap in Hollywood already
with actors of different ethnicities, actors
of different cultural origin.
So I don't see why it can't be the same
for the deaf community.
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Right.
Exactly.
We're best friends now.
We're brothers.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 2: Sounds good.
I like it.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 1: So you did talk a lot
about how you want to try to different roles.
And you have-- you're an actor.
You do stand-up comedy.
You write.
You perform-- a very diverse repertoire.
[LAUGHTER]
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Yes, I do it all.
I love trying all different things.
I love trying out new skills.
And if I'm good at it, then I'll keep going with it.
I'll persist.
I love producing, directing, acting, stand-up comedy.
I did stand-up comedy last Saturday
at Santa Barbara Community College.
It was my fourth performance there.
They keep asking me to come back.
They have a summer immersion camp there.
So all the students are learning sign language
and they have to turn their voices off.
For the entire weekend they are not allowed to use their voice.
I show up.
I do my comedy performance.
I do my routines.
And everyone had a good time.
Having that connection with a live audience
is very satisfying.
It's very different than a TV or film production.
I loved working on film.
Baby Driver was amazing, my heart was into the role.
It was exactly what I've always wanted to do.
It was a dream come true.
Working with the whole crew was great.
I had an interpreter with me the whole time.
And it made it so easy to have access
for everyone to work with me.
It's very important to have an interpreter with me
because everything moves fast on set.
We were able to do it successfully
because I had access to an interpreter.
As a deaf, black actor, it was a huge breakthrough
to act in a blockbuster film of the year, worldwide.
For me, check it off of my bucket list.
[LAUGHTER]
[LAUGHTER]
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 2: Can I ask--
you were talking about this kind of this being a big breakout
role for you and in terms of deaf representation as well.
Do you have any other future plans
for projects similar to this, where
you're extending the role of deaf character possibilities?
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Good.
Yes, I'm happy you asked me that question because I just
finished shooting a horror film.
It's called The Door in the Woods.
I am one of the lead characters in the film.
I use my voice and sign at the same time.
So it's a little like rubbing your tummy and patty your head.
It was not easy signing and speaking
English at the same time.
It's quite a challenge.
I said, let's go for it when I got the role.
In the back of my mind, I know that some deaf people not be
happy at using the two languages at the same time because many
people believe that you cannot sign and talk at the same time.
You either have to turn your voice off and use sign language
or you need to speak.
Some people disagree with using the sign
and spoken language at the same time.
But I am able to do it.
I chose to do it.
It's a skill that I have.
And I might be criticized for it.
But, hey, I want to work.
This is a skill I have.
I want to go ahead and use my talent.
So I did.
No one can stop me from using the skills that I
can contribute to the project.
I'm also involved-- are you ready for this?
Quentin Tarantino.
INTERVIEWER 2: Wow.
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: I always forget how
to spell his last name.
I guess.
So I met him.
He saw me talking on a panel.
I was involved with a panel for Baby Driver.
He said, wow, you're so good.
I really enjoyed your work.
This is great.
Wow.
We shook hands.
I want to talk more.
And I was just kind of shell shocked
while that was happening.
Wow.
What did I do?
But I'm looking forward to working with him.
So I know it will happen.
And it will happen because I'm friendly.
I'm warm.
I'm open.
I make people feel comfortable.
And people forget that I'm deaf.
They just look at me and they say, hi--
hi, CJ.
[LAUGHTER]
[INAUDIBLE]
INTERVIEWER 2: Wow.
That's so exciting.
INTERVIEWER 1: Yeah, it's really exciting
[LAUGHTER]
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Yeah.
I feel like I'm breaking barriers.
And I really want to just get involved and work and open up
those doors, so that more and more deaf, hard of hearing,
disabled actors of any sort will be
able to get their foot in the door
and have work in TV, film, and stage.
If that's their passion, that's their dream,
they have the right to make their dreams come true.
And I want people to be sensitive enough
to include those people at the table.
Those people have stories--
truthful stories-- that have never been heard before.
It's not a perfect world.
The world, it's kind of chaotic and messed up.
They're a part of this world.
Because of Trump, the way it is,
INTERVIEWER 2: Oh, yeah there is.
[LAUGHTER]
Oh, yeah.
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Yeah.
That's another time, a different interview.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 2: -- We'll part-two this another time for Trump.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 1: What do you think it is about today's culture
that seems to be becoming more accepting of deaf culture
and putting more deaf roles into film?
What do you think's changed?
Or have you noticed a change?
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: I think it's about time.
It seems like it's time.
Hollywood and the industry is finally
noticing that there are talented deaf people out there.
And the writers are now starting to include deaf characters
more.
That's what makes everything work.
That deaf character pops up in one place.
And then it pops up again and again and again.
It's the domino effect.
One writer may have a deaf relative or someone
who's disabled in the family.
More and more people are taking sign language classes
in high school, in colleges.
In just the general world, more and more people
are taking sign language classes.
More hearing people are learning signing.
Or maybe a wife takes sign language class or a teenager,
like someone's son or daughter takes sign language.
So the writer or the director or the producer
gets exposed to that.
They hear about this.
They learn something about deaf culture as a thing.
And then that person has an idea,
and they want to include deaf culture or sign
language in their project.
So it's just opening more and more doors now
through all that exposure.
30 years ago, this would have been impossible.
None of this would have happened.
Everyone was closed off to opening their worlds
to different cultures.
But now it's happening more and more.
And again, it's a snowball effect, in that one
leads to the next to the next.
I should say Marlee Matlin was the only one who
was known years ago.
And now more and more deaf people
are being in more and more projects.
They're getting more well-known.
There are two deaf people in Master of None.
There's a woman named Sho--
S-H-O. She writes TV scripts, and she got picked up
and she's deaf herself.
Her script got picked up.
So there's a deaf writer who was picked up.
At Sundance, she was discovered.
Wait, I know.
On the Sundance Channel, actually, her work
is going to be--
it's running now.
So there are things that are just popping up and getting
more and more exposure.
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised
if next year there were 10 or 15 deaf roles popping up in TV.
Oh, and it was just announced Lionsgate
is looking for a husband and wife for a movie role.
It's a small Italian fishing village.
And they're looking for deaf people.
It was just announced.
So can you believe that?
INTERVIEWER 2: Wow.
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: So things
are starting to open up for people, and that's good.
It means that I will have more work in the future.
So I can do my happy dance.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 1: How did you know that this
was what you wanted to do?
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: I always tease
people about this question.
How did I become a funny guy?
It all started with in my mother's womb.
I used to tickle my mom in her womb,
and she would say, stop that.
And then, after I was born, I was a little wiggly baby,
and I made silly expressions.
I was born an actor.
I started at the age of five with my brother.
We'd always been performers.
He was a tap dancer, and I would do mime.
So this was a long time ago.
We didn't have much money.
So we had to survive.
And I started with doing mime shows.
People would throw coins or money into the hat.
That was my first love, making people laugh.
I watched them laugh.
When I was seven, I became deaf
due to spinal meningitis.
Fortunately for me, my parents were deaf as well.
So they already knew sign language.
And my first language was sign language.
I was able to communicate with my parents.
And becoming deaf was not really a loss.
There was no regret or sorrow.
I was used to it because I was communicating in sign language.
My brothers and sisters are all hearing.
They all learned sign language.
I was able to communicate with my parents.
So it was not a big deal because we all used the same language.
I was fortunate that both my parents
were deaf and had sign language and encouraged
and supported me, saying that I could
do whatever I wanted to do.
When I was eight, I decided I wanted to be on the big screen
and in theater.
And I my mom said, wow, that's a big dream.
But you can do it.
So people believed in me.
I took my mom to see the movie.
She's 94 years old.
I had been warned that my mom only
has a few months left to live.
Her health is declining.
So I took her to see the movie.
Every time I'm on the screen I would say, Mom, look.
And my mother would respond, You look old.
[LAUGHTER]
After the movie was over people came up to me.
They took pictures.
They wanted autographs.
And my mother was sitting in the wheelchair by me,
and she just sat in amazement of all that was happening.
I felt very content with what we had experienced together.
Two days later, her health declined,
and they took her to the hospital.
She passed away last Wednesday.
I want to celebrate that my dreams came true for my mother.
It was a long time coming and a lot of work,
but it happened at the right time.
She was able to see my success before she left us.
INTERVIEWER 2: So sorry.
Thank you for sharing that with us.
I'm so glad she was able to see you on the big screen.
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER 2: What is your proudest moment?
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: I would say
my proudest moment was when I joined the National Theater
of the Deaf tour company.
NTD has been a wonderful experience for me.
Then I got the role of Orin in Children of a Lesser God,
tour called Bus Truck Broadway.
It was some of the biggest audiences.
And it was very inspiring journey.
Producing children's videos was certainly
one of my successful moments.
I producing six co-produced six children's
video tapes with DawnSignPress.
I think Baby Driver, has been the most amazing breakthrough
moment of my career.
I'm wondering what will happen next, what
will my next inspiration be.
We'll see where this will take me.
I want to keep on growing and advancing my career.
Every time I strike opportunity, I
become inspired to do more and do bigger and bigger things.
Excitement is what helps you grow from wherever you start.
The sky's the limit.
I love the adventure.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 1: Yeah, and it's always
amazing to look back and see where you've come from
and where you are now.
And then all the possibilities are ahead of you.
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: I always believe
in leaving the door open.
And whatever pops in, whatever comes in,
you grab that opportunity.
You should never slam that door.
If you close that door, it means I'm doubting myself,
that I'm fearful of myself, that I'm not
sure I'll be successful, that I'm not optimistic.
But if I keep that door open, it's
because I know that I have something to contribute.
I know that with my positive attitude,
everything is possible.
I want to make sure that the deaf community knows
to not tune out any possibilities,
but be accepting, be open to opportunities.
Don't be in denial.
Don't be doubtful.
The dream is waiting for you to make it happen.
Everything comes at the right time and the right place.
INTERVIEWER 2: Really good advice.
INTERVIEWER 1: Yeah.
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 2: For me.
INTERVIEWER 1: Yeah.
[LAUGHTER]
I feel inspired.
[LAUGHTER]
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Good.
INTERVIEWER 2: The last question here that I have--
CJ, what is the best thing about being deaf?
[LAUGHTER]
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: That's the most difficult question.
[LAUGHTER]
I am very fortunate to be who I am and to be deaf and black.
I feel special.
I'm not looking for sympathy or excuses--
nada.
[LAUGHTER]
I don't like being labeled deaf.
I like being called "CJ."
Being deaf is not a weakness.
It's just a thing.
Being deaf, we all have moments, like hearing people
have moments.
People get married, get divorced, lose a job,
It's something that we all share in common.
We have ups and downs.
The discrimination that I have to faced was worse years ago.
It's getting better.
Still some hearing people do discriminate.
Whenever I show them pictures of what I've done,
you can see their faces in awe of what I've accomplished.
So it's really fun to be who I am.
I am fortunate to be able to create opportunities
for myself and others as well.
You have to make things happen.
Because when you make things happen,
opportunities will start popping up in your life.
Everything will flow from there.
Remember that quote, "United we stand.
Divided we fall."
[LAUGHTER]
INTERVIEWER 1: Do you feel like technology is better?
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Oh, yes, definitely.
No question about it.
I wanted to add that, yes.
like right now while we're talking,
we're using technology.
[LAUGHTER]
You have an interpreter who's able to communicate with me
through this technology.
Years ago, we had nothing like this.
We had to write back and forth or type messages,
or we used a relative.
So now the stuff that we used long ago is out the door.
We have interpreters.
Even smartphones help a lot with communication.
I use it.
I'm able to communicate with people.
My company is Sign World TV.
I'll explain a little more about that later.
But, yes, technology has helped me And hearing people often
don't realize that they're talking
to a deaf producer, deaf CEO, in a deaf-run business.
People are much more open-minded and happy to work
with deaf individuals.
It's been a great asset.
INTERVIEWER 2: You want to tell us a little more about Sign
World TV?
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Yes.
Sign World TV is my company.
The goal is to get both deaf and hearing
people to work together, become more comfortable working
as actors, writers, directors, producers.
We have our own YouTube channel.
Right now we're adding on a lot of content.
And hopefully in the fall, we'll release more videos.
It's very time-consuming because I've
got a lot of different hats on.
It's overwhelming sometimes.
But it's a dream of mine.
There's also [INAUDIABLE],, which has their own channel which
is more of news-based stories.
It's snippets.
It's lectures.
Ours is different.
Ours is series, documentaries, cooking shows,
all sorts of things, but all in sign language.
There will be voiceover, and captions as well
to make it accessible to hearing people who want to watch.
There's more hearing signers than deaf people in America
right now.
Think about that.
But it's exciting to run this company.
Next year SWTV's first production
will be by horror film.
The second thing that's happening that's very exciting,
is that we have a documentary film in progress.
We recently finished the trailer.
And it is about a deaf, black man during the Jim Crow laws.
He was arrested and blamed for raping a white, hearing girl--
a young woman.
And when they found out he was deaf, they arrested him.
They put him into an asylum, into a hospital
for colored people.
And he was there for many years.
It's called Unspeakable.
So I'm hoping to get funding because this
is an interesting movie.
So I have a lot of projects that are
happening that I could talk to you about all day,
if we had time.
INTERVIEWER 1: No, this is so exciting!
CJ THROUGH INTERPRETER: Yeah, it is.
Thank you.
[LAUGHTER]
For more infomation >> How to Use the Law of Attraction to CHANGE Your PHYSICAL APPEARANCE In 6 Simple Steps! - Duration: 10:38. 
For more infomation >> Bond hearing set ahead of David Dooley's new trial - Duration: 0:53. 
For more infomation >> Slim Marion - Ex Boyfriend [Clip Officiel] - Duration: 2:59. 
For more infomation >> "Amor vs Dinero", ¿cómo evitar problemas con tu pareja? | Un Nuevo Día | Telemundo - Duration: 1:38. 
For more infomation >> Transcripts Leak Of President Donald Trump's Calls With Australia And Mexico | MSNBC - Duration: 6:05. 
For more infomation >> ¿Qué se metió el cantante de la Banda MS en la nariz? | Un Nuevo Día | Telemundo - Duration: 1:05. 
For more infomation >> Enganchados Cumbia Y Reggaeton 2017 - Duration: 22:51. 
For more infomation >> Donald Trump también está contra los inmigrantes legales | Un Nuevo Día | Telemundo - Duration: 5:36. 
For more infomation >> ¡Gregorio Pernía nos confiesa todo sobre "El Titi"! | Un Nuevo Día | Telemundo - Duration: 4:24. 
For more infomation >> ¡Demandan a Romeo Santos por plagiar la canción Eres Mía! | Un Nuevo Día | Telemundo - Duration: 1:15. 
For more infomation >> The Dark Tower, el estreno más esperado de la semana | Un Nuevo Día | Telemundo - Duration: 3:36. 
For more infomation >> ¡Explora las pirámides más grandes y antiguas del mundo! | Un Nuevo Día | Telemundo - Duration: 4:59. 
For more infomation >> 🌊 DORMIRE: Pianoforte Rilassante & Suono Del Mare - Dolce Rilassamento 🌊 - Duration: 3:02:25. 
If you would like an alternative to randomly flirting with girls and trying to figure out the right thing to do...
Trả lờiXóaIf you'd prefer to have women chase YOU, instead of spending your nights prowling around in crowded pubs and restaurants...
Then I urge you to view this eye-opening video to learn a weird little secret that might get you your very own harem of sexy women just 24 hours from now:
FACEBOOK SEDUCTION SYSTEM!!!