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11:16 am PST 12/17/2020
by
Katie Kilkenny
On Thursday, more than 70 signatories released a statement saying casting an auditory actor to play a deaf character on the new CBS All Access show is “not acceptable.”
Amid Hollywood’s ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, another group argues that a new series does not reflect these values.
More than 70 signers released a statement on Thursday saying the casting of an auditory actor to play a deaf character in the new CBS All Access limited series The stall is unacceptable. ”(Auditory actor Henry Zaga plays deaf character Nick Andros in the series.) The signatories include members of the deaf community, including actor Antoinette Abbamonte (The new standard, curb your enthusiasm), director Jules Dameron (Reverse polarity), actor James Caverly (Chicago Med, Bennett Song’s Vacation), actor Dickie Hearts (Tales of the city, Grace and Frankie) and actor Andrew Morrill (who has appeared in theatrical productions Waiting for Godot and Alice in Wonderland), among others.
The letter adds, “We will not endorse, watch, or support your miniseries on CBS All Access. We will share our dissatisfaction with the casting decision and airing of the miniseries on CBS All Access with our community. deaf, family community of deaf people; together we represent 466 million worldwide. “
According to the letter, “no professional deaf actor has been called upon to audition for the role” – a 22-year-old deaf character in the Stephen King novel on which the limited series is adapted – and “the decision was made with no respect to and for deaf, union and non-union professionals. ”Talent manager Robert Rossi, who represents Hearts and other Deaf actors, supports this claim and recounts THR in a separate statement, “I was not informed, contacted or made aware of the casting of this project. Usually SAG’s diversity office contacts me directly, as well as the Diversity Networks broadcast service. Nobody never contacted me. It was already done and here is the problem. Several Deaf / Native signatories could have authentically represented this role. “
Signatories and supporters use the hashtag #StandAgainsttheStand to support the letter. The Hollywood Reporter contacted CBS All Access for comment and learned that CBS was meeting with the Deaf artist community that produced the statement Thursday.
The deaf actor and defender Nyle DiMarco had already spoken out against the choice of the cast of the series in August 2019, Tweeter, “Hollywood prides itself on diversity to ensure representation and authenticity … BUT CONTINUES TO EXCLUDE people with disabilities.” Oprah Magazine reported that month that DiMarco contacted co-creator Josh Boone about the casting and was “ignored.”
The new protest comes amid an ongoing campaign against the ABC series Big sky, which Indigenous groups boycotted due to lack of recognition of the Missing Native American Crisis series in Montana, where the show takes place, which centers on an investigation into a series of disappearances.
Indeed, the letter begins by noting that it is part of an ongoing industry discussion around inclusion: “In the age of diversity and inclusion, this cycle of misrepresentation and Uneven or non-existent employment opportunities for deaf professionals in the entertainment industry, both in front of and behind the camera, must end. This has been happening for decades, that’s too much! ” it says.
December 17, 1 p.m. Updated with the statement from Robert Rossi.
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