First at all, I know there is many people who can act on stage or on set. I seen disability roles out there and tried to reach them but not able to act. Few will take the roles. Few is reality actors who is not disability but willing to play for the role which is good income. Why no disability people NOT take the role if you think you are deserves to play for? Few reality actors who is not LGBTQIA but straight and plus willing to play for the role, too. Lot of LGBTQIA not want to take the role for filming or theater, only few does. Do you think you want that deserves?

I wrote one chapter about acting part back in my published book, DEAF FACES WORLD. I was study as actor and filming behind the camera. I seen lot of issues and can understand director always want MATCH and FIT the role. That is why casting director have to follow their favor and the producer has to agree with both. The producer is responsible to make pay and set up for. Yes I worked with production crew and knew about all this. I was also background actor. I worked with one of film about deaf and transgender couple. I learned about it and make announcement in my Facebook page. I got few response from deaf actors and no response from transgender actors. I mean NOTHING from LGBTQIA actors! Anyway, few deaf actors all are from EAST states and not able to make to come unless paying for their trip. Our film is low budget and not able to pay those actors for trip. My director found one actress who is hearing and use ASL flexible. Also he found one actor is NOT transgender and willing to play one. Director get call to invite one of my friends who is deaf actor. He was so exciting and ready to break the ice. The director did not tell him that I am working with him so deaf friend was surprised to see me there. he had ASL interpreter with him and not understand what is going on. I have to explain to him and he disagreed with the director and me. ASL interpreter left him alone with me and is not certificated so not allow that. We worked for over the weekend. Actors did good job.

Well, not many deaf actors or LGBTQIA actors around that accepts the roles. Why not? If they want to try out and do it. The casting director will react out with you and you never know! The director shows the role that description what they wanted then grab it. Not wait on right role for you. Look at me, I am deaf and non speaking actor, always grab any roles I felt FIT and MATCH for. I don’t care if I am straight or hearing. It can changing anything like one of my film with director that work with was so amused and thankfully.

If director doesn’t find anyone then can lost the film. My director did wonderful job to keep his films are up and running. He won’t give up. Lot of directors become frustrated and gave up quickly. Of course, films is expensive to making and some are low budget and high budget films. One film I was on set as archaeologists and the film is low budget and becomes high budget. That is one I am proud of and knowledge all films are not always are high budget. If you are in New York, Los Angeles or Toronto then they are high budget films. If you are in well known cities like St Louis, Dallas or Seattle then they are able low to high budget films. Mostly time all cities are low budget films. That is difficult for actors to react for any roles? You want try Bollywood films, Independent films or Foreign films? They are good roles and better production crews you can find.

Remember director always look for anyone who is FIT and MATCH the role. They did not care about your race, disability or sex. No matter you think good role and felt fit then GO FOR IT!!!!!

If you think deaf and LGBTQIA actors can do it then GO FOR IT! Don’t wait for right role or you LOSS.

(deaf actor is not invite again so hope there is more DEAF, DISABILITY or LGBTQIA actors who able to act for DEAF, DISABILITY or LGBTQIA roles.)

~DW