Robs' Blog

Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye DVDs

Posted in Deaf, TV by Robs on January 19, 2010

Episode Listing for DVDs
Season One

•    101/102 – Pilot
•    103 – Bombs Away
•    104 – Assassins
•    105 – A Snitch In Time
•    106 – The Signing
•    107 – Blast From The Past
•    108 – Silent Night
•    109 – Greed
•    110 – Diplomatic Immunity
•    111 – Dirty Bomb
•    112 – The Heist

Bonus Material
•    Inspirational Message from Deanne Bray
•    Special Commentary from the Show’s Creators

This 3 DVD set (11 episodes) includes the Christmas episode!
To order in the United States, go to here or type www.SueThomasDVD.com
In Canada, call 1-800-682-8748 (v)
All episodes are closed-captioned
And you can watch into your browser
them for the first time in widescreen!

If these DVDs sell well, then other episodes can be released.

FYI – these DVDs are Region 1 (USA and Canada)

Enjoy the DVDs – and spread the word!

Poem entitled: “Deaf”

Posted in ASL, poetry by Robs on October 27, 2009

Alexandra, Deaf Canadian, wrote this poem “Deaf.”  Robin, Deaf Canadian, filmed Alexandra singing the poem.  I think that is nice to show both simplified ASL and English in the poem.


Deaf

By Alexandra

I was born to be Deaf
You were born to be Hearing
Everyone was born to be Human
We are all human, we have a different
Personality, looks and we still are human

I Am Deaf but I am no different from you
I have eyes like you
I have mouth like you
I have Hands like you
And I am proud to be deaf

When they try talk to me
When it went wrong
They never try again
We might be deaf but we don’t bite

You can hear and I cannot
It will not bring me down
You will not bring me down
Because we can do it

When you put us down
We will stand up
We will shout that we can do it
If you can do it then we can do it
Everyone have strength and weakness

Every one is different
Every one is human
Nobody is perfect
Every day we make mistake and you do too
Every day we learn, we change, we move forward

We have feeling
We felt left out
We felt love
We felt angry
We felt joy
We felt what you felt

I am Deaf
I am not shamed
I am Proud
We are proud to be deaf
Nothing will bring us down

Genre: Poetry

Language: American Sign Language, with English subtitles

Runtime: 1:19

Source: YouTube – SuroalGals

Signmark – Smells Like Victory

Posted in Deaf, music by Robs on October 18, 2009

In August 2009, Signmark released his first single “Smells Like Victory” from his second album, which will be out in early 2010. It contains 10 tracks including videos from each song.


1st

I know you might be pissed off right about now.

I made it and you didn’t. Gave you something to cry about. (Cry baby, you cry baby)

It ain’t no rocket science. Don’t need a microphone to rock it (We rock it, we rock it!)

It’s gonna be my year. Grab a bottle and pop it! (Yeah!)

Chorus

I can you feel it in the air.

Smells like victory, and I let it stick to me.

You haters ain’t shit to me.

Can you feel it in the air? Yeah!

Smells like victory, and I let it stick to me.

You haters ain’t shit to me.

What you doing over there, there’s a party over here.

Winners over here, losers over there.

What you doing over there, there’s a party over here.

Winners over here, losers over there.

2nd

My attitude always been like, I don’t back down.

I live it up, you dream about it. I’m a winner, that’s what’s up now. (I’m a winner, winner. I’m a winner, winner)

And you can standby if you want, see you hating on the sideline. (Now, what it look like!)

Now there’s a right time for everything and homie this is my night.

Chorus

3rd

Piece by piece I put the puzzle together without a pause.

I do it for my people for a good cause.

It ain’t nothing to me. I bake a cake while I’m at it.

I got a swagger of a champion and I’ve had it,

up to here with you backstabbers and you losers.

So point ’em out and kick ’em to the curve.

So loosen up, you seem a little uptight, right?

Maybe ’cause a deaf man came and stole your spotlight!

Chorus


Source: Signmark Productions


This Video/Song and all rights associated with it are the property of Signmark.

Classic TV Movie “…And Your Name Is Jonah”

Posted in Deaf, film, TV by Robs on September 30, 2009

Bernard Bragg coached deaf nine-year-old Jeff Bravin in the title role

Bernard Bragg coached deaf nine-year-old Jeffrey Bravin in the title role

At the ACC ASL Lab, ASL students are required watching the movie “…And Your Name Is Jonah” for their deaf culture report.  I saw the students weeping after watching the movie. That is where I work at.  I strongly recommend anyone who doesn’t know about the deaf culture to watch this movie.  I admit that I do not watch this movie because it was not provided the closed captioning.

and your name is jonah

Release Date: January 28, 1979

Cast: James Woods, Sally Struthers, Titos Vandis, Penny Santon

Director: Richard Michaels

Writer: Michael Bortman

Studio: CBS-TV Production

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 1:34:58

Synopsis: Jonah (Jeffrey Bravin) is a lonely deaf child who has been misdiagnosed as retarded.  Jonah’s mother (Sally Struthers) and father (James Woods) struggle to establish communication from their withdrawn son.  As the specialists shake their heads and cluck their tongues, Jonah’s parents finally manage to teach the child sign language, thereby opening up his world both intellectually and emotionally.  And Your Name is Jonah is proof enough that Sally Struthers once had potential for greatness, and confirmation that James Woods was on the right artistic track as early as 1979.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Deanne Bray Joins NBC’s “Heroes”

Posted in Deaf, TV by Robs on September 26, 2009

Deaf actress, Deanne Bray, joins the cast of “Heroes” as the character Emma. Her character is deaf, but discovers that she has the ability to see sound-which looks like an aurora borealis. Deanne’s first episode will air on September 28th.


Official Site: www.nbc.com/heroes/

Original Air Date: September 28, 2009 (Season 4, Episode 3)

Airs Next: NBC at Mondays, 7:00 PM (60 min.)

Original Network/Channel: NBC

Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi

Plot Outline: After battling the Company to keep an explosion from destroying New York, and averting a global pandemic, the heroes adjust to new stages in their lives. Former cheerleader Claire takes on college life, Hiro and Ando continue to try to help people by utilizing their abilities, Angela worries that Nathan will realize the truth about who he really is, and Peter is called upon to help an old friend. Meanwhile the arrival of the mysterious carnival clan keeps people guessing. But the heroes will once again be called upon to save the world.

Modern-Day Silent Film “Universal Signs”

Posted in Deaf Cinema, film by Robs on September 23, 2009

Official Site: http://hnhinc.com/us/

DVD Release Date: September 21, 2009

Cast: Anthony Natale, Sabrina Lloyd, Lupe Ontiveros, Margot Kidder, Robert Picardo, Aimee Garcia, Robert DeMayo

Director: Ann Calamia

Producers: Ann Calamia, Catherine Miller, Lupe Ontiveros

Screenwriter: Ann Calamia

Studio: Universal Signs Productions LLC

Genre: Drama

Language: American Sign Language, Captioned for the hearing

Synopsis: After the death of his fiancée’s daughter while in his care, a deaf man shuts himself off from the world. Haunted by memories, it is only through new friendship that he can learn to forgive, love, and reconnect.

LENOIS.COM: ASL ROCKS!

Posted in ASL by Robs on April 3, 2009

Nationally well-known ASL Vlogger Jon Savage posted his video clip “ASL ROCKS!” on the LENOIS.COM.  According to his ASL Vlog, he stated, “Answered to WHAT, WHY, WHO, HOW, WHERE, and WHEN about American Sign Language in 34 seconds!”

Source: http://lenois.com/2009/04/03/asl-rocks/

Signmark – Speakerbox

Posted in Deaf, music by Robs on March 12, 2009

Speakerbox

With the whole world watching me,
I stare back. Take action. Nobody stopping me
D, is for desire. Fire burns so heavily
My heart pumps rhythm, my soul is the melody.
I came a long way and gave it my all.
I know ya quick with the criticism. Ya’ll wait on my fall?
I can’t hear what you say to me,
when only supportive words come from a fortune cookie.
People fear what they can’t comprehend.
A deaf man paints lyrics in the air by waving his hands.
Damn, what’s next, right? Movies for blind?
Well, your mind is sharp as a butter knife.
It’s not just music, more like a movement.
You call it a joke, but we’re steadily proving
There ain’t no limit to what dreams can do.
You can do more with what life hands you

refrain:
Just let your soul be your speakerbox
You got the keys right in your hand
Open the locks and do your thing
Let your soul be a speakerbox
There’s beat in your heart, you’ll find a way, to make it play

Ayo I live in the rhythm and it lives in me
Always one with the beat, breaking the boundaries
As long as the beat kicks, it’s all fine
I’m feeling the vibe from the bassline
The motion, the movement. Can you feel it? We’re grooving
Reporting live from the frontline
We carry the torch for the ones who’re scared to shine

Just let your soul be your speakerbox
You got the keys right in your hand
Open the locks and do your thing
Let your soul be a speakerbox
There’s beat in your heart, just let it play

One thing I know is for definite
Soul, body and mind, you got the same benefits
If you trust your heart, there ain’t no way of losing it
Keep doing your thing, against all etiquettes.
10, 9, 8, start the countdown
7, 6, 5, about to go down
4, 3, 2, 1, sing along now

refrain (2x)

This Video/Song and all rights associated with it are the property of Signmark.

Signmark – Our Life

Posted in Deaf, music by Robs on March 12, 2009

Signmark, the first deaf rapper, is changing the world by rapping in sign language. He doesn’t shy away from taking a stand on human rights and tolerance.


Our Life

(featuring Brandon)

26.6. the day I was born

I learned to speak in a whole entire different form

my parents didn’t budge, the fact I couldn’t speak

instead, embraced me with care, signs they started to teach

back in my school times, life felt far from fair

kids got curious, gave me the daily stare

they couldn’t understand, why am I using my hands?

never asked for sympathy, on my two I stand

never got fed­up, always kept my head up

few times got knocked down but my pride made me get up

I couldn’t speak, but that didn’t make me weak,

I only got stronger when they ridiculed week after week

chorus

it’s about time for you to open your eyes, open your mind

it’s there for you to find, no longer time to decline

the jokes are on you, so what’s it gonna be

this is our life unheard and as you’ve never seen

as I got older, made it to the university

even though the rest doubted. No one believed in me

slowly the attitudes changed, my life is re­arranged

people no longer looked at me as I was strange

could you believe, that not until – 95

the rights of deaf man in law was not identified

but now sign language was our native tongue

so even my father could now show where he’s coming from

he used to tell me if he got caught using he’s hands

the teacher would take those hands and, give them a good “wham”

docs drilling holes in our head tryin’ to be heroes

but if you look into their eyes you can see the sign of euros

but really they don’t care

they just trying to make a profit, out of makin’ the deaf hear

(yeah)Implants and wires, let ’em know we tired

how the hell that gon’ change us and make us admired?

chorus

damn right we can’t hear, But I don’t care

we ain’t disabled here, I use sign language yeah

we got our own language yeah, Proud of that I am

we got our own culture yeah, I’m bi­cultured here

we got our own history yeah, I’m part of history

we got our own society, this is my community

chorus

This Video/Song and all rights associated with it are the property of Signmark.

Short Thriller Detective Film “The Blue Box”

Posted in Deaf Cinema, film by Robs on February 20, 2009

Official Site: www.remfilms.com

DVD Release Date: 2008

Cast: Christina Hamilton, Kevin Pickett, Katie Leclerc, D. Lance Pickett, Sam Harris, Rachel Terry

Director: D. Lance Pickett

Producers: D. Lance Pickett, Cindy Andersen

Screenwriters: Sean Benson, D. Lance Pickett

Studio: REM FILMS LLC.

Genre: Thriller

Language: American Sign Language, Captioned for the hearing

MPAA Rating: PC-13

Runtime: 21 min

Synopsis: Lisa (Christina Hamilton) finds herself being charged with the murder of her husband (Sam Harris). The problem: Lisa doesn’t remember becoming a widow. A detective (Lance Pickett),, doctor (Kevin Pickett), and an interpreter (Katie Leclerc) attempt to help Lisa restore her memory of her husband’s death and the Blue Box, which may contain the key to proving her innocence. The suspense of her journey of recollection may endanger her life.