WEBVTT 00:00:10.719 --> 00:00:11.720 Chris Woodfill speaking. 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:15.056 And I would like to introduce you to Doug Roland. 00:00:15.056 --> 00:00:16.099 And he's a filmmaker 00:00:16.099 --> 00:00:18.226 for the project we're going to be working on 00:00:18.226 --> 00:00:19.686 called "Feeling Through." 00:00:20.103 --> 00:00:22.105 >>Back in August of 2011 00:00:22.105 --> 00:00:23.898 I was coming home late one night. 00:00:23.898 --> 00:00:26.192 I was out in the East Village in New York City. 00:00:26.192 --> 00:00:27.652 And I saw this man 00:00:27.652 --> 00:00:29.821 standing on a street corner by himself. 00:00:29.821 --> 00:00:30.822 And as I got closer 00:00:30.822 --> 00:00:32.741 I saw that he was holding a sign 00:00:32.741 --> 00:00:35.076 that said he needed help crossing the street 00:00:35.076 --> 00:00:36.703 and that he was deaf and blind. 00:00:36.703 --> 00:00:37.620 This is the first time 00:00:37.620 --> 00:00:39.414 I had ever encountered a DeafBlind person. 00:00:39.622 --> 00:00:42.250 So initially I tried to talk to him. 00:00:42.250 --> 00:00:44.502 And quickly realized that wasn't going to work. 00:00:45.003 --> 00:00:47.380 But when I tapped him, he had a notepad. 00:00:47.380 --> 00:00:50.425 He wrote to me that he needed a certain bus stop. 00:00:50.633 --> 00:00:52.761 So I walked him over to the bus stop. 00:00:52.969 --> 00:00:55.096 I didn't want him to sit and wait by himself. 00:00:55.096 --> 00:00:56.222 So I wanted to find a way 00:00:56.222 --> 00:00:57.390 to let him know that I'd wait with him. 00:00:57.849 --> 00:01:01.061 And I kind of intuitively just took his hand 00:01:01.061 --> 00:01:03.688 and started writing one letter at a time on his palm. 00:01:04.647 --> 00:01:09.277 The man who had written his name as A-R-T-Z, Artz 00:01:09.277 --> 00:01:11.404 is how I knew him in that conversation. 00:01:11.404 --> 00:01:13.656 He was just a really charasmatic, 00:01:13.656 --> 00:01:15.950 open-hearted, warm person. 00:01:17.827 --> 00:01:20.997 I was inspired to write a short film about it. 00:01:22.165 --> 00:01:24.292 I reached out to the Helen Keller National Center 00:01:24.292 --> 00:01:26.586 but they're pretty busy over there. 00:01:28.088 --> 00:01:30.423 >>I was a bit skeptical about it. 00:01:31.883 --> 00:01:34.010 Because I had never received any call 00:01:34.010 --> 00:01:35.678 like that in the past. 00:01:36.763 --> 00:01:38.890 >>I remember initially 00:01:38.890 --> 00:01:41.726 I was like, I'm not so sure about this. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:44.854 >>I was politely persistent in reaching out 00:01:44.854 --> 00:01:46.856 a number of times through emails and calls. 00:01:47.440 --> 00:01:51.569 >>I believe it was a lengthy voice message from Doug 00:01:51.569 --> 00:01:54.572 that I learned about the idea of the film. 00:01:54.739 --> 00:01:57.158 >>There are not DeafBlind actors 00:01:57.158 --> 00:01:59.869 portraying DeafBlind characters in the media. 00:01:59.869 --> 00:02:01.871 That's the whole reason we're standing here today. 00:02:01.871 --> 00:02:02.747 And why we've come up here. 00:02:02.747 --> 00:02:04.165 And why we've been connecting 00:02:04.165 --> 00:02:05.041 with everyone in the community. 00:02:05.041 --> 00:02:08.461 Because we really want to tell this story accurately. 00:02:08.461 --> 00:02:09.754 And authentically. 00:02:09.754 --> 00:02:13.174 >>I remember sitting in the lobby of this hotel 00:02:13.174 --> 00:02:16.553 and meeting with Doug and the team. 00:02:16.928 --> 00:02:19.305 So I was able to talk to Doug in detail 00:02:19.305 --> 00:02:21.224 about what inspired the story. 00:02:21.432 --> 00:02:22.350 >>Right from the start 00:02:22.350 --> 00:02:25.019 I knew I that I wanted to cast a DeafBlind actor. 00:02:26.146 --> 00:02:28.064 >>It's not common that we're going to see 00:02:28.064 --> 00:02:30.775 the face of these people in media. 00:02:31.442 --> 00:02:34.237 It's a sort of breakthrough. It's a first. 00:02:35.029 --> 00:02:36.656 >>It's never happened before. 00:02:38.324 --> 00:02:40.493 I can't think of anybody who is DeafBlind 00:02:40.493 --> 00:02:43.496 who has ever been cast in any type of movie. 00:02:43.496 --> 00:02:46.207 >>It was very obvious to myself 00:02:46.207 --> 00:02:47.959 and two of my colleagues. 00:02:48.459 --> 00:02:50.211 And we were very excited. 00:02:50.753 --> 00:02:53.381 >>Doug told us his story about meeting this guy 00:02:53.381 --> 00:02:55.258 seven years ago in New York. 00:02:55.258 --> 00:02:57.802 And I said, I bet we can find him. 00:02:58.219 --> 00:02:59.470 >>Within three hours 00:02:59.470 --> 00:03:01.389 I got an email from Cathy Kirscher 00:03:01.389 --> 00:03:02.974 who was a part of that initial meeting 00:03:02.974 --> 00:03:05.393 telling me that we found him. 00:03:05.727 --> 00:03:07.812 >>It became pretty clear who it was. 00:03:09.063 --> 00:03:10.773 >>Debbie Fiderer goes 00:03:10.773 --> 00:03:14.277 Hispanic guy, New York, tactile sign - it's Artie. 00:03:14.777 --> 00:03:16.362 >>At least we know who it is. 00:03:16.362 --> 00:03:17.739 It's this man named Artemio. 00:03:17.906 --> 00:03:22.702 We would love to reunite with Artemio 00:03:22.702 --> 00:03:24.579 who's inspired this story. 00:03:24.996 --> 00:03:26.414 >>And then it became a quest. 00:03:26.414 --> 00:03:28.750 Where is Artemio living at this time? 00:03:29.626 --> 00:03:32.795 >>The sad part is we couldn't find Artie after that. 00:03:32.795 --> 00:03:35.381 He has no contact with email and all of that. 00:03:35.381 --> 00:03:38.718 But that's how small and tight this community is. 00:03:39.093 --> 00:03:41.262 >>For months and months and months 00:03:41.554 --> 00:03:42.847 they couldn't find Artemio. 00:03:43.556 --> 00:03:44.849 >>People basically were saying 00:03:44.849 --> 00:03:47.060 I don't think we're going to be able to find him. 00:03:50.647 --> 00:03:52.982 >>I knew that there was so much for me to learn 00:03:52.982 --> 00:03:54.025 about the community. 00:03:54.234 --> 00:03:56.986 But also that I was going to really need help 00:03:56.986 --> 00:03:59.989 finding potential actors to fill this role. 00:03:59.989 --> 00:04:02.283 >>I remember starting to think in my mind 00:04:02.283 --> 00:04:05.453 of who could be potential candidates 00:04:05.453 --> 00:04:06.704 for Doug to interview. 00:04:07.664 --> 00:04:08.998 >>You can come sit here. 00:04:10.917 --> 00:04:13.169 >>So how would I encounter this person? 00:04:13.169 --> 00:04:15.463 Would it be just walking on the street? 00:04:16.297 --> 00:04:20.593 >>That's initially how the other character meets him. 00:04:20.927 --> 00:04:22.470 So I'd love to just jump right in 00:04:22.470 --> 00:04:24.847 and get to know you a little bit more. 00:04:31.437 --> 00:04:33.356 We'd be using two cameras 00:04:34.148 --> 00:04:36.192 to capture the scenes 00:04:36.192 --> 00:04:38.820 in a more nuanced and efficient way. 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:41.614 >>Trying to figure out their communication style 00:04:41.614 --> 00:04:42.782 and their communcation method 00:04:42.782 --> 00:04:45.159 so that I can interpret what's going on 00:04:45.159 --> 00:04:46.869 was challenging at times. 00:04:47.328 --> 00:04:49.455 >>Interpreting and translation are very different. 00:04:49.664 --> 00:04:50.456 An interpretation 00:04:50.456 --> 00:04:52.500 is always going to be an interpretation. 00:04:52.709 --> 00:04:55.503 It's going to be me trying my best 00:04:55.503 --> 00:04:57.005 to get where you're at. 00:04:57.171 --> 00:04:58.464 It's not a direct translation. 00:04:58.756 --> 00:05:02.385 >>There might be one word in English 00:05:02.385 --> 00:05:06.097 that I might have eight different ways to sign it 00:05:06.097 --> 00:05:08.099 based on all of the other words around it 00:05:08.099 --> 00:05:09.058 and what your intent is. 00:05:09.058 --> 00:05:10.101 So my goal 00:05:10.101 --> 00:05:12.353 is to interpret the meaning and the essence 00:05:12.770 --> 00:05:14.814 in the manner in which you convey it 00:05:14.814 --> 00:05:16.774 so that the deaf or DeafBlind person 00:05:16.774 --> 00:05:17.942 will understand it 00:05:17.942 --> 00:05:19.110 and be able to respond accordingly. 00:05:20.236 --> 00:05:21.738 >>At one point in the middle of the day 00:05:21.738 --> 00:05:24.699 we had a little bit of a break between auditions. 00:05:24.699 --> 00:05:28.119 >>You know, we have options that are not on the list. 00:05:28.119 --> 00:05:29.537 I don't know if this is good enough for you. 00:05:29.537 --> 00:05:31.831 But if you like, do you want to meet with Robert? 00:05:31.831 --> 00:05:32.790 He works in our kitchen. 00:05:32.790 --> 00:05:33.833 We can pull him over here. 00:05:33.875 --> 00:05:34.876 >>Yeah, I'd love to. 00:05:35.126 --> 00:05:38.546 >>I think he might be a good candidate. 00:05:43.384 --> 00:05:45.428 >>I know you just got pulled in here. 00:05:46.095 --> 00:05:48.639 So I'll explain a little bit why we're here. 00:05:48.931 --> 00:05:50.433 We are making a movie. 00:05:52.101 --> 00:05:53.561 >>Wait, who's going to be the actor? 00:05:53.561 --> 00:05:54.687 You? 00:05:55.104 --> 00:05:56.397 Oh, I know. 00:05:56.397 --> 00:05:57.774 I'm just joking. I'm just joking. 00:05:57.774 --> 00:05:58.983 It made me feel so excited. 00:05:58.983 --> 00:06:00.860 I was like, wait, are you serious? 00:06:00.985 --> 00:06:02.570 I'm auditioning for something? 00:06:02.570 --> 00:06:05.114 You have to remember. 00:06:05.114 --> 00:06:07.283 I work ten to six, Monday to Friday. 00:06:08.326 --> 00:06:09.660 >>Don't worry about that. 00:06:09.660 --> 00:06:12.038 We would excuse you from work. 00:06:12.538 --> 00:06:13.873 >>Are you sure? 00:06:14.082 --> 00:06:16.125 >>Yes, it's only for a few days. 00:06:17.377 --> 00:06:19.003 >>If I become a movie star 00:06:19.003 --> 00:06:20.380 I don't want to be in trouble with you. 00:06:21.381 --> 00:06:23.383 And if I'm late, it's on you. 00:06:23.466 --> 00:06:25.760 >>Don't worry about it. We will excuse you. 00:06:25.760 --> 00:06:27.678 >>But now I felt like this is my dream coming true. 00:06:27.678 --> 00:06:29.305 That I'm sitting here in this room 00:06:29.305 --> 00:06:30.515 auditioning for a movie. 00:06:30.723 --> 00:06:32.725 I'm getting so excited about this. 00:06:32.725 --> 00:06:34.185 I love being on camera. 00:06:34.268 --> 00:06:35.561 >>I'm glad to hear that. 00:06:35.728 --> 00:06:38.898 Genuinely, the moment Robert walked in the room 00:06:38.898 --> 00:06:40.400 I was like, this is our guy. 00:06:40.691 --> 00:06:42.568 So we were really, really excited 00:06:42.568 --> 00:06:46.322 to call up Robert shortly after 00:06:46.322 --> 00:06:47.740 and let him know that he'd gotten the role. 00:06:47.740 --> 00:06:49.617 And he was very excited. 00:06:50.410 --> 00:06:51.702 >>I just remember one day I was at work 00:06:51.702 --> 00:06:53.871 and my boss, Dan, came over to me. 00:06:53.871 --> 00:06:55.498 He's like, I'm on the phone right now. 00:06:55.748 --> 00:06:56.749 And he's like 00:06:57.291 --> 00:06:58.418 Doug picked you. 00:06:58.751 --> 00:07:00.169 And I was like, oh my god. 00:07:00.169 --> 00:07:01.045 Oh my god, me? 00:07:01.045 --> 00:07:04.757 Really? Wow! I just couldn't believe it. 00:07:04.757 --> 00:07:07.718 I was thinking, I did it. I made it. 00:07:09.595 --> 00:07:10.805 >>I felt great for him. 00:07:10.805 --> 00:07:12.223 I was really excited. 00:07:13.015 --> 00:07:14.016 It was great to learn 00:07:14.016 --> 00:07:15.560 that he was the person selected. 00:07:15.726 --> 00:07:19.021 >>He's such a friendly, charismatic type of person. 00:07:19.188 --> 00:07:20.231 He's got a good soul. 00:07:23.609 --> 00:07:24.527 >>I was born deaf. 00:07:24.902 --> 00:07:26.612 But I had 20/20 vision. 00:07:27.155 --> 00:07:28.531 I thought about wanting to become an actor. 00:07:28.531 --> 00:07:29.532 And meeting actors. 00:07:29.532 --> 00:07:31.451 And wanting even to be an actor in a movie. 00:07:34.787 --> 00:07:37.373 Then at the age of about 30, 31 00:07:37.373 --> 00:07:39.000 I started to lose my vision. 00:07:39.750 --> 00:07:42.253 And it became just so depressing to me. 00:07:42.795 --> 00:07:44.088 I thought there was no way 00:07:44.088 --> 00:07:45.840 that anyone would want to hire someone 00:07:45.840 --> 00:07:47.550 who was not only deaf 00:07:47.550 --> 00:07:49.677 but deaf and blind, to become an actor. 00:07:51.512 --> 00:07:53.389 I have no peripheral vision at all. 00:07:53.764 --> 00:07:55.391 I have like a tiny box of vision 00:07:55.391 --> 00:07:57.268 in front of me that I can see through. 00:07:58.436 --> 00:08:00.563 >>So his vision on a great day. 00:08:00.938 --> 00:08:02.690 >>It would be this on top of this. 00:08:02.815 --> 00:08:03.691 >>Yeah. 00:08:04.233 --> 00:08:06.068 >>I mean, Artie is a completely DeafBlind person 00:08:06.068 --> 00:08:07.278 whereas I am not. 00:08:07.528 --> 00:08:08.946 I'm deaf and legally blind. 00:08:09.113 --> 00:08:11.282 So it was a little bit different for me. 00:08:11.532 --> 00:08:12.992 We're the same but we're not. 00:08:13.284 --> 00:08:14.869 So for me, I was trying to figure out 00:08:14.869 --> 00:08:16.287 how to play the part of Artie 00:08:16.287 --> 00:08:17.997 because he had no vision. 00:08:18.956 --> 00:08:19.790 I mean, who knows. 00:08:19.790 --> 00:08:22.001 In the future I might lose all my vision. 00:08:22.251 --> 00:08:23.961 Just like Artie. 00:08:25.338 --> 00:08:26.672 >>I don't know what it's going to be like 00:08:26.672 --> 00:08:28.090 getting you guys together. 00:08:28.090 --> 00:08:30.092 And actually working through it together. 00:08:30.092 --> 00:08:31.260 >>Do you have any tips to give me 00:08:31.260 --> 00:08:32.136 when I first meet him? 00:08:32.136 --> 00:08:33.137 >>I have a plan 00:08:33.137 --> 00:08:34.138 but also I have no idea. 00:08:34.138 --> 00:08:35.139 We'll have to figure it out. 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:36.599 We'll just see what it's like 00:08:36.599 --> 00:08:37.600 when we get moving. 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:40.394 They have pretty unique elevators here. 00:08:40.978 --> 00:08:43.147 There's obviously a lot more buttons in here 00:08:43.147 --> 00:08:44.315 than most elevators. 00:08:44.565 --> 00:08:46.317 And you can keep your hand on the button 00:08:47.401 --> 00:08:50.238 so that when it gets to the floor 00:08:50.238 --> 00:08:51.155 this will pop out 00:08:51.155 --> 00:08:53.449 and it lets you know that you're at your floor. 00:08:56.285 --> 00:08:58.246 I want him to meet Steven. 00:09:04.043 --> 00:09:05.711 >>Nice to meet you too. 00:09:06.128 --> 00:09:08.631 >>This is just an opportunity 00:09:08.631 --> 00:09:11.634 for us to be able to get on our feet. 00:09:12.009 --> 00:09:14.345 For you and Steven to interact with each other. 00:09:14.345 --> 00:09:16.889 And for us to start to see where we're at with things. 00:09:17.265 --> 00:09:18.891 >>You just gotta go this way, man. 00:09:18.891 --> 00:09:20.059 Just, keep walking. 00:09:20.309 --> 00:09:22.853 That rehearsal that we did was 00:09:22.853 --> 00:09:24.188 different from any other rehearsal 00:09:24.188 --> 00:09:25.147 that I've done before. 00:09:26.274 --> 00:09:27.733 >>I remember, he came over to me. 00:09:27.858 --> 00:09:28.734 He tapped me. 00:09:29.026 --> 00:09:30.945 And he was trying to communicate with me, Tereek. 00:09:31.445 --> 00:09:32.947 And it was the first time. 00:09:33.823 --> 00:09:35.658 And he was like trying to guide me. 00:09:36.576 --> 00:09:38.369 But here I am, I'm this DeafBlind person 00:09:38.494 --> 00:09:40.788 and we were trying to engage with one another. 00:09:41.747 --> 00:09:44.792 >>It took a lot of just trusting each other. 00:09:45.042 --> 00:09:46.961 Listening to each other. 00:09:47.753 --> 00:09:49.880 >>Even if it's a little awkward for you to do it 00:09:49.880 --> 00:09:51.799 even if you wish you didn't have 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:52.758 as many things in your hands. 00:09:53.092 --> 00:09:54.927 That's one of the obstacles 00:09:54.927 --> 00:09:56.387 that you still need to get past 00:09:56.387 --> 00:09:57.930 in order to communicate to him. 00:09:58.598 --> 00:10:01.100 And that first rehearsal was great 00:10:01.601 --> 00:10:04.312 to have Robert and Steven jump right into it. 00:10:04.478 --> 00:10:07.106 But it was also really scary as a director 00:10:07.106 --> 00:10:09.650 because I was like, oh man 00:10:09.650 --> 00:10:12.111 I wish we had 20 more rehearsals 00:10:12.361 --> 00:10:13.487 because there's so much more 00:10:13.487 --> 00:10:14.822 we need to get through. 00:10:19.493 --> 00:10:20.119 >>Sorry. 00:10:20.202 --> 00:10:21.370 >>I should have protected you. 00:10:21.621 --> 00:10:23.539 >>If I just leave you here 00:10:24.123 --> 00:10:24.874 you're not going to be able 00:10:24.874 --> 00:10:25.958 to get where you're going. 00:10:26.334 --> 00:10:27.126 >>I have an idea. 00:10:27.126 --> 00:10:27.960 >>Yeah. 00:10:29.503 --> 00:10:32.214 So, why don't you be Robert 00:10:32.214 --> 00:10:33.549 and let Tereek be Tereek 00:10:33.549 --> 00:10:34.258 and let him watch you? 00:10:34.258 --> 00:10:35.259 >>Perfect. I love that idea. 00:10:38.220 --> 00:10:40.973 >>People, I think, are probably more familiar 00:10:40.973 --> 00:10:42.433 with what is called "TASL." 00:10:42.683 --> 00:10:44.977 Which is "tactile american sign language." 00:10:45.186 --> 00:10:46.854 Which is really just using 00:10:46.854 --> 00:10:48.564 regular visual sign language 00:10:48.564 --> 00:10:49.857 adapted to the hand. 00:10:50.316 --> 00:10:54.362 >>Haptics is a way of touch communication 00:10:54.654 --> 00:10:56.155 that we use here at Helen Keller. 00:10:56.656 --> 00:10:58.866 We might have just put our hand 00:10:58.866 --> 00:11:00.451 on Robert's shoulder 00:11:00.451 --> 00:11:03.037 for example to just mean "hold." 00:11:03.412 --> 00:11:04.455 Or just to stop. 00:11:04.664 --> 00:11:06.165 >>There are also some people 00:11:06.165 --> 00:11:08.292 who might learn the print-on-palm method. 00:11:08.668 --> 00:11:10.169 Where you actually take letters 00:11:10.169 --> 00:11:12.463 use your index finger and print them 00:11:12.463 --> 00:11:14.465 on the other person's palm of their hand. 00:11:15.257 --> 00:11:15.966 >>It was hard for me 00:11:15.966 --> 00:11:17.885 to actually use that type of communication 00:11:17.885 --> 00:11:19.303 because I'm not use to it. 00:11:20.429 --> 00:11:22.765 So it took me a while to understand 00:11:22.765 --> 00:11:25.434 what Tereek was trying to communicate to me 00:11:25.434 --> 00:11:26.769 on the palm of my hand. 00:11:28.229 --> 00:11:30.898 >>I definitely came away from that first rehearsal 00:11:30.898 --> 00:11:31.857 pretty nervous. 00:11:32.441 --> 00:11:35.027 I was pretty sweaty by the time we got out of there. 00:11:35.528 --> 00:11:36.862 And looking around at other people 00:11:36.862 --> 00:11:37.863 going, "is it hot in here or is it just me?" 00:11:38.447 --> 00:11:40.032 I know Dan is going to get mad at me 00:11:40.032 --> 00:11:42.159 if I don't get you back to the cafeteria. 00:11:46.455 --> 00:11:47.498 >>Ah, dammit. 00:11:48.040 --> 00:11:48.916 >>It was really great 00:11:48.916 --> 00:11:50.209 to be able to work with the two of them. 00:11:51.794 --> 00:11:54.338 Moreover it reaffirmed we had cast the right people. 00:11:54.547 --> 00:11:56.173 >>So if you want to cross the street 00:11:56.173 --> 00:11:57.591 say you can see or hear 00:11:57.967 --> 00:12:00.886 this will get you recognized faster. 00:12:00.886 --> 00:12:02.304 And then when he's walking 00:12:02.430 --> 00:12:05.307 He just needs to move his cane. 00:12:05.516 --> 00:12:06.892 That's all he needs to do. 00:12:07.309 --> 00:12:09.645 >>You know, basically we're going to be outside 00:12:09.645 --> 00:12:12.356 with some natural light from streetlights 00:12:12.356 --> 00:12:14.817 but also most of the light 00:12:14.817 --> 00:12:15.943 that he's going to feel on him 00:12:15.943 --> 00:12:17.528 is light that we're introducing. 00:12:17.945 --> 00:12:19.613 >>I actually have a lot of concerns with 00:12:19.613 --> 00:12:22.074 what he's going to be able to see from us at night. 00:12:22.241 --> 00:12:23.951 >>It was in March of 2018 00:12:23.951 --> 00:12:27.371 that we had that first meeting with HKNC 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:30.124 but it wasn't until November of that year 00:12:30.124 --> 00:12:31.959 that I got an email 00:12:31.959 --> 00:12:34.545 the day before we start shooting the film 00:12:34.545 --> 00:12:36.797 that we found Artemio. 00:12:36.797 --> 00:12:37.965 Or, we know where he lives. 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:40.092 >>One of our former staff members 00:12:40.092 --> 00:12:43.846 had the opportunity to be at a forum 00:12:43.846 --> 00:12:47.391 and at that forum was Artemio. 00:12:47.558 --> 00:12:49.810 >>So now it's the day before we start shooting 00:12:49.810 --> 00:12:51.979 and we have this address for Artemio. 00:12:51.979 --> 00:12:54.648 And I was like, invite him to set. 00:12:54.648 --> 00:12:56.108 Let's have him come. 00:12:56.358 --> 00:12:58.569 What better way to let him know what he's inspired 00:12:58.569 --> 00:12:59.862 than have him come down to set. 00:13:05.117 --> 00:13:07.286 >>Scene 9, take 2, mark. 00:13:08.954 --> 00:13:10.790 >>I remember the first time 00:13:10.790 --> 00:13:12.124 I was standing there on the set 00:13:12.291 --> 00:13:13.667 they had to do my makeup 00:13:13.667 --> 00:13:14.668 and I was like, oh 00:13:15.127 --> 00:13:16.712 is that what movie stars do? 00:13:17.505 --> 00:13:19.882 Okay, I'm going to sit in this seat 00:13:19.882 --> 00:13:21.008 and get my makeup done. 00:13:23.928 --> 00:13:25.805 I'm damn handsome. 00:13:26.347 --> 00:13:29.141 And Doug took me over to a storefront. 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:36.982 >>Action. 00:13:38.192 --> 00:13:40.319 >>We were shooting this film in November 00:13:40.319 --> 00:13:42.613 in New York City, outside, at night. 00:13:42.905 --> 00:13:45.616 So you have the obvious challenges 00:13:45.616 --> 00:13:46.575 that you might assume 00:13:46.575 --> 00:13:49.161 of it being quite cold a bunch of the days. 00:13:49.703 --> 00:13:52.164 >>I had to follow what Doug was telling me to do. 00:13:52.206 --> 00:13:53.415 And it was cold. 00:13:53.582 --> 00:13:57.753 And I had to focus on keeping my eyes focused. 00:13:57.753 --> 00:14:00.631 And not act as if I was looking. 00:14:01.131 --> 00:14:02.883 And it was tough with the weather. 00:14:03.884 --> 00:14:06.220 >>You don't need to scan so much. 00:14:06.554 --> 00:14:08.055 But, really, yeah. 00:14:09.306 --> 00:14:11.183 >>I'm scanning because I don't know where he is. 00:14:11.308 --> 00:14:13.477 So that was the scan, you know. 00:14:13.477 --> 00:14:14.353 >>Right, sure. Of course. 00:14:14.562 --> 00:14:17.356 >>I think it helped to just provide Robert with 00:14:17.356 --> 00:14:19.066 a lot of the touch techniques. 00:14:19.066 --> 00:14:21.902 So giving him signals to indicate keep going 00:14:21.902 --> 00:14:25.948 or to indicate the scene was going to cut or to stop 00:14:25.948 --> 00:14:27.741 I think really helped out in this situation. 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:29.577 >>He was sticking it out. 00:14:29.743 --> 00:14:31.912 I thought Robert was about to tap out. 00:14:31.912 --> 00:14:32.872 But he was like, naw. 00:14:32.872 --> 00:14:34.039 He said, no, I got this. 00:14:34.248 --> 00:14:35.207 I just needed a quick breather. 00:14:35.207 --> 00:14:36.667 And he just got right back up. 00:14:36.917 --> 00:14:39.086 And was like, yeah, we're going to finish this. 00:14:39.086 --> 00:14:40.170 We're going to do this. 00:14:41.213 --> 00:14:42.965 When he did that, that just tightened me up. 00:14:42.965 --> 00:14:45.509 And I was like, I can get through this too. 00:14:48.971 --> 00:14:51.265 Oh, sorry, man. 00:14:51.265 --> 00:14:54.685 >>It doesn't matter if I'm deaf and legally blind. 00:14:55.728 --> 00:14:57.354 I still felt like I could do it. 00:14:58.063 --> 00:15:00.691 >>We were shooting almost the whole film 00:15:00.691 --> 00:15:01.692 outside at night 00:15:02.109 --> 00:15:03.986 and in those settings 00:15:03.986 --> 00:15:06.280 Robert really has little to no vision. 00:15:06.614 --> 00:15:09.199 So something we needed to figure out ahead of time 00:15:09.491 --> 00:15:12.536 how do we break off and create little settings 00:15:12.536 --> 00:15:14.413 where the interpreter's well lit enough 00:15:14.788 --> 00:15:16.790 so that him and Robert can communicate. 00:15:17.541 --> 00:15:19.793 >>So whoever was not actually interpreting 00:15:19.793 --> 00:15:21.253 at the moment would hold the light 00:15:21.795 --> 00:15:23.380 over Robert's shoulder 00:15:23.380 --> 00:15:25.007 so that the light wouldn't distract him. 00:15:25.132 --> 00:15:27.092 So it was coming from behind Robert 00:15:27.092 --> 00:15:28.636 so he wouldn't get an ambient glare. 00:15:29.053 --> 00:15:31.013 And he could actually see the interpreter. 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.264 >>What is that? 00:15:32.848 --> 00:15:34.725 >>It's called a silent call pager. 00:15:34.850 --> 00:15:36.560 It's a very simple system. 00:15:36.936 --> 00:15:38.145 It's just one-way. 00:15:38.145 --> 00:15:40.522 It either chimes or it vibrates. 00:15:41.106 --> 00:15:42.858 So when they're striking the lights 00:15:43.692 --> 00:15:44.735 Robert will wear that. 00:15:46.236 --> 00:15:47.738 >>This is your part. 00:15:48.072 --> 00:15:49.823 So I'm just helping you find it. 00:15:50.115 --> 00:15:51.992 But it's your role to have. 00:15:52.242 --> 00:15:54.328 Take more ownership over it. 00:15:54.828 --> 00:15:55.871 >>Okay. 00:15:56.413 --> 00:16:00.000 >>There was a scene where he touches me 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:03.545 and I kind of shift because of my reflexes. 00:16:03.837 --> 00:16:05.965 And he was saying that in real life 00:16:07.257 --> 00:16:10.594 it's a sad thought that people in this world 00:16:10.594 --> 00:16:14.181 are afraid of human connection. 00:16:14.723 --> 00:16:16.475 >>The point is just communicating. 00:16:16.809 --> 00:16:18.185 It doesn't matter how you communicate. 00:16:18.811 --> 00:16:20.187 Whether it's through sign language 00:16:20.437 --> 00:16:21.605 or with pen and paper. 00:16:22.147 --> 00:16:25.609 >>There was a kinship that was building between us. 00:16:26.068 --> 00:16:29.071 I believe that it showed on camera. 00:16:29.738 --> 00:16:31.073 There was something just magical 00:16:31.073 --> 00:16:32.866 happening around everyone on set. 00:16:33.701 --> 00:16:34.785 >>Cut. 00:16:36.412 --> 00:16:37.287 That's a wrap. 00:16:37.705 --> 00:16:38.747 >>Whoo! 00:16:38.914 --> 00:16:39.915 >>Shhh! 00:16:41.709 --> 00:16:42.918 >>I had to let that out. Sorry. 00:16:47.715 --> 00:16:49.174 >>So the shoot comes and goes 00:16:49.174 --> 00:16:51.343 and we're not able to get in touch with Artemio. 00:16:52.428 --> 00:16:55.389 A couple days after Christmas of 2018 00:16:55.389 --> 00:16:57.224 I was up at HKNC. 00:16:57.224 --> 00:16:59.059 And I was like 00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:00.811 I'm going to just go by his house 00:17:00.811 --> 00:17:02.229 and see what happens. 00:17:03.063 --> 00:17:05.107 We are in front of Artemio's house. 00:17:05.190 --> 00:17:07.401 About to knock on his door. 00:17:07.735 --> 00:17:08.819 To our knowledge 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:10.696 he does not know anything about this yet. 00:17:10.696 --> 00:17:12.531 So we're going to go in there 00:17:12.531 --> 00:17:14.199 and do our best to explain why we're there 00:17:14.491 --> 00:17:18.328 so that we can finally be reunited with Artemio. 00:17:18.746 --> 00:17:21.749 And let him know that he's inspired this film. 00:17:22.791 --> 00:17:23.667 It might have been better 00:17:23.667 --> 00:17:24.960 to do this during the daytime. 00:17:26.170 --> 00:17:27.671 Just realizing that. 00:17:28.338 --> 00:17:29.256 But it's dinner time. 00:17:29.256 --> 00:17:30.257 It's, like, an approachable hour. 00:17:31.383 --> 00:17:32.426 >>Hurdle number one. 00:17:34.178 --> 00:17:35.846 >>Definitely don't want to hop the fence. 00:17:36.263 --> 00:17:38.640 That would not be a good start to this operation. 00:17:40.809 --> 00:17:42.936 By any chance you've ever seen anyone... 00:17:42.936 --> 00:17:45.272 if they have a son that's deaf and blind? 00:17:46.190 --> 00:17:48.067 >>I think they do have, yeah they do. 00:17:48.067 --> 00:17:48.984 >>Okay, they do? 00:17:49.234 --> 00:17:50.277 >>They always lock their gate 00:17:50.277 --> 00:17:51.779 so usually you have to yell out. 00:17:51.904 --> 00:17:52.571 >>Hello! 00:17:53.155 --> 00:17:53.864 Hello! 00:17:55.365 --> 00:17:56.283 I have a question. 00:17:56.366 --> 00:17:57.076 >>Hello. 00:17:57.242 --> 00:17:58.994 >>Is Artemio your son? 00:17:59.787 --> 00:18:00.829 >>Artemio? - Yeah. 00:18:00.954 --> 00:18:01.538 >>Si. 00:18:01.663 --> 00:18:02.164 >>Okay. 00:18:02.414 --> 00:18:04.583 So we're friends of the Helen Keller National Center. 00:18:05.125 --> 00:18:06.627 >>One moment. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:18:07.086 --> 00:18:08.295 >>Come on. - Okay. 00:18:08.378 --> 00:18:10.422 >>He's coming. - Oh, great. 00:18:12.800 --> 00:18:15.219 >>Sorry, I am hungry. 00:18:15.344 --> 00:18:16.720 >>No, please. 00:18:17.137 --> 00:18:18.180 Please. 00:18:20.390 --> 00:18:21.767 >>My husband. 00:18:23.894 --> 00:18:25.771 >>What did Artemio say 00:18:25.771 --> 00:18:27.439 when you explained 00:18:27.439 --> 00:18:29.691 who we are and why we're here? 00:18:30.109 --> 00:18:35.823 [Spanish translation] 00:18:36.490 --> 00:18:45.582 >>[in Spanish] 00:18:45.791 --> 00:18:48.127 I told him a seven year old friend 00:18:48.127 --> 00:18:49.628 is here and wants to see him. 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:27.791 He remembers. You remember? 00:19:28.584 --> 00:19:30.460 >>Very quickly we realized 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:34.006 that the most effecient way for us to communicate 00:19:34.006 --> 00:19:35.549 was just like how we communicated 00:19:35.549 --> 00:19:36.633 when we first met each other. 00:19:37.968 --> 00:19:39.344 >>Are you an artist? 00:19:39.970 --> 00:19:43.265 Yes. Filmmaker. 00:19:43.807 --> 00:19:48.478 >>Do you want a fresh water? 00:19:48.729 --> 00:19:49.897 Sure. 00:19:50.022 --> 00:19:51.273 It had been at this point 00:19:51.273 --> 00:19:53.483 about seven and a half years exactly 00:19:53.483 --> 00:19:55.527 since the one and only time 00:19:55.527 --> 00:19:56.486 that I had met him prior. 00:19:56.945 --> 00:19:58.697 But the instant he walked down the stairs 00:19:59.072 --> 00:20:00.699 his appearance and his energy 00:20:00.699 --> 00:20:01.825 it was very familiar. 00:20:02.367 --> 00:20:03.660 Surprisingly so. 00:20:05.245 --> 00:20:06.705 Over the course of this year 00:20:06.705 --> 00:20:08.081 in searching for him 00:20:08.707 --> 00:20:11.084 I started building this rounded understanding 00:20:11.084 --> 00:20:12.544 of who Artemio was 00:20:12.544 --> 00:20:14.838 through all these other encounters that he'd had 00:20:14.838 --> 00:20:15.589 with other people. 00:20:16.715 --> 00:20:21.511 I will tell you 00:20:21.929 --> 00:20:26.016 more about the film 00:20:30.854 --> 00:20:31.563 soon. 00:20:31.647 --> 00:20:34.316 It was great to be able to finally fill him in 00:20:34.316 --> 00:20:37.569 on this whole experience that he's inspired. 00:20:37.569 --> 00:20:39.029 But it was really just, more than anything 00:20:39.029 --> 00:20:40.405 really great to see him again. 00:20:40.614 --> 00:20:45.619 It was such a pleasure 00:20:46.787 --> 00:20:53.585 to meet you again. 00:21:03.303 --> 00:21:06.473 So great 00:21:06.473 --> 00:21:10.477 to see you again. 00:21:12.479 --> 00:21:14.898 >>Doug had never even met a DeafBlind person 00:21:15.023 --> 00:21:16.608 in his entire life. 00:21:17.276 --> 00:21:19.486 Meeting me was his first time 00:21:19.486 --> 00:21:21.363 encountering a DeafBlind individual. 00:21:22.114 --> 00:21:24.032 And we ultimately became friends. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.702 Now I'm motivated 00:21:26.702 --> 00:21:28.495 to learn about becoming an actor. 00:21:30.289 --> 00:21:31.873 And becoming an author. 00:21:32.708 --> 00:21:34.251 Similar to Helen Keller. 00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:37.796 >>Robert being a part of this experience 00:21:38.213 --> 00:21:39.381 wasn't a challenge. 00:21:39.548 --> 00:21:40.716 It made it what it is. 00:21:41.174 --> 00:21:43.218 It was such an integral part 00:21:43.218 --> 00:21:45.012 of creating the environment 00:21:45.178 --> 00:21:47.889 that pervaded every moment of the shoot. 00:21:48.181 --> 00:21:49.808 It's in the DNA of every moment 00:21:49.808 --> 00:21:50.934 of the story that we're telling. 00:21:51.143 --> 00:21:54.563 >>It gives other individuals who are DeafBlind 00:21:54.563 --> 00:21:56.398 an example of what's possible. 00:21:57.607 --> 00:21:59.818 >>It was a learning and humbling experience. 00:22:00.402 --> 00:22:01.445 All around. 00:22:02.070 --> 00:22:04.197 >>I can do anything. 00:22:05.324 --> 00:22:08.285 Just like your typical sighted-person can do. 00:22:08.702 --> 00:22:10.787 >>It doesn't really matter who the people are. 00:22:11.330 --> 00:22:12.873 It's about that connection 00:22:13.081 --> 00:22:14.333 that two people can make. 00:22:15.083 --> 00:22:17.127 >>I hope to educate people through the film. 00:22:17.127 --> 00:22:18.754 So that's my hope for the future. 00:22:18.754 --> 00:22:21.256 And I hope that Doug, maybe, who knows 00:22:21.256 --> 00:22:23.592 he'll give me a shot at doing part two of this movie. 00:22:24.426 --> 00:22:26.386 >>The whole journey from the start 00:22:26.386 --> 00:22:29.139 of meeting Artemio years ago 00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:32.476 to aligning with Helen Keller National Center 00:22:32.809 --> 00:22:37.814 to casting Robert as our DeafBlind actor in the film 00:22:38.398 --> 00:22:39.983 has been such an amazing journey. 00:22:39.983 --> 00:22:42.819 And it was just so great to have it capped off 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:44.237 by reuniting with Artie. 00:22:44.237 --> 00:22:45.947 And getting a chance to share that with him. 00:22:46.531 --> 00:22:51.078 >>To really elevate people's awareness 00:22:51.078 --> 00:22:53.997 about people who are DeafBlind is tremendous. 00:22:55.707 --> 00:22:57.125 >>I feel like at the end 00:22:57.125 --> 00:22:59.086 when we embrace each other and have the hug 00:23:01.963 --> 00:23:03.173 I feel like it was showing 00:23:03.173 --> 00:23:04.841 how people can help each other out. 00:23:05.801 --> 00:23:08.095 And I felt like that was something 00:23:08.095 --> 00:23:09.763 that really left an impact on me. 00:23:10.305 --> 00:23:12.849 Because we are all not alone in this world. 00:23:13.475 --> 00:23:15.394 Everybody needs each other. 00:23:15.936 --> 00:23:17.562 Everybody needs help. 00:23:17.729 --> 00:23:20.357 And everybody can help each other out.