Search for teenage and adults deaf actors for upcoming TV show

No, this is not turning into a news blog :) I will post an update about myself soon, there just hasn't been much of anything to report. I saw this page on Facebook after a few of my friends "liked" it, and thought some reader might be interested. The plot sounds interesting, and it would be pretty cool if a "typical" speaking, hearing deaf kid was plucked from everyday life into TV fame. Note that they are looking for people who can both sign and speak, and the deadline is October 15th.

From the page:

** REMEMBER:  YOU MUST FILL OUT AND SUBMIT  A "WAIVER" FORM ALONG WITH YOUR VIDEO SUBMISSION. **

WHERE TO GET A COPY OF THE AUDITION SCENES AND WAIVER

You can find a copy of the waiver, together with the audition scenes here:

DAPHNE:  http://www.nowcasting.com/switched/daphne.pdf

** Note:  The character of Daphne will be speaking, signing (ASL) and using sim-com during the show.  The producers would like to see you do all three at some point during your audition.  So, pick some lines from the audition scene where you will speak only, others where you will sim-com and others where you will use ASL only. **

EMMETT:  http://www.nowcasting.com/switched/emmett.pdf

PENN:  http://www.nowcasting.com/switched/penn.pdf


WHAT YOU WILL NEED

You’ll need some sort of digital video recording device.  It can be your iPhone, cell phone, Flip camera, small digital video camera, etc, etc, etc.

BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND:
 -- The accepted formats for uploaded files are:  Quicktime (.mov), Flash (.flv) and MPEG4 (.mp4) ONLY!
 --  You may be able to "convert" your file into one of these formats.  But make sure you can and know how to do so, or find someone who does.
 --  YOUR FILE CANNOT BE OVER 20MB!
 --  Alternatively, you can supply us with a You Tube Video link, which must be set for public viewing.
 --  Do not name your video files with punctuations (for example: * " ' / \ @ &)


FILMING YOUR AUDITION VIDEO

It doesn’t have to be a “big production.”  But, we need to be able to see you – and hear you – clearly on screen.  So make sure you have plenty of light when you record yourself, and make sure the camera is not too far away from you.

Put your camera or phone on a stable surface, like a tripod or table.  Again, make sure there’s plenty of light so we can see you.  And then … perform like the character you want to play!

Remember, be easy and just be yourself.  You have nothing to lose!  Ultimately, what we want to see, is the true essence of who you are.

When you're done, you must do two things

1.  Fill out and return the "waiver form" you found attached to the audition pages.
-  You can fax it to:  323-874-2268
-  Scan and email it to:  switchedpilot@yahoo.com
-  Or include it with your "hard copy" DVD submission in the mail.


2.  Upload your video.  Here's how:


HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR VIDEO

Click on this link to go to the Now Casting website.  You will upload your videos there:

https://www.nowcasting.com/uploadauditions

- When asked for the role code, use  1133bf53
- Click "submit."
- Fill out the required fields and enter only the role you are auditioning for in the "Description" field.  Do not put /&"!'@ in the description or the name of the file.
- Click "choose file" [next to where it says "Audition File" -- underneath where it says "Description"] and pick the file you will be uploading from your computer.
- Click "submit."  The audition will be delivered directly to us.

That's it!  You're done!


SUBMITTING A HARD COPY THROUGH THE MAIL

Please note that the preferred method of sending us your audition videos is THROUGH THE LINK ABOVE.

If you submit your video this way, there is no postage to worry about, we are guaranteed to receive your video and we will see it much faster.

As a last resort, you can also submit a "hard copy" of your audition video, along with the waiver and personal information, IN DVD FORMAT ONLY to:

Deedee Bradley
6767 Forest Lawn Drive, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90068

Actors should write a short paragraph about themselves and include:
1. Their name
2. Their AGE ( Very important)
3. Where they are currently living.
4. Best way for us to contact them.


DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS

The deadline for submissions is October 15th, 2010.



Now, good luck!  We hope that you are who we’re looking for!"

Here is the plot outline for the show, Switched at Birth which will be on ABC Family and the roles they need to fill:
The show revolves around Daphne, a smart, confident and well-adjusted deaf teenager who has her world turned upside down when she discovers that she was switched at birth with another girl.

DAPHNE - ACTRESS MUST BE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING AND MUST SPEAK WELL, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE PREFERRED. Age range from 16 to early 20’s to play high school. Actress is to be light-haired or willing to dye hair blond for the role, and if the show moves to series, actress must be willing to relocate to Los Angeles in February.

Smart, confident, and well-adjusted Daphne is stunned to learn that she and Bay Kennish were accidentally switched at birth 15 years ago. Having grown up in a working-class household as the only child of a single mom, she is excited to meet her new parents, and especially thrilled at the idea of having brothers and a dad. But balancing two families is trickier than she expected, particularly because her biological parents have never been around anyone deaf, and are eager for her to enter a mainstream school and a less deaf-centric world.

EMMETT - 16, ACTOR MUST BE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING, MUST BE FLUENT IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE. Emmett is Daphne's best friend. Raised by deaf parents and educated in a deaf school, Emmett doesn't talk orally, and is more comfortable in a deaf world. Rugged, reserved, a young deaf James Dean.

PENN - late 30’s or 40’s. male, ACTOR MUST BE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING, MUST SPEAK WELL. Penn is Emmett's father and Daphne's mother's best friend. Penn is the one who educated Daphne's mother about the importance of learning sign, schooling Daphne in a deaf world, etc. 


I will admit it does sound a bit "stereotypical deaf", with the importance of sign, Deaf culture etc.. However, its still in its infancy and I highly encourage you to audition ASAP if you're interested! There's no telling how things will turn out!  Here is the Facebook Fan page that includes all of the information I have posted:
http://www.facebook.com/SwitchedSearch

The New Year and New Ears

This year has been an interesting one. It's been filled with plenty of highs, as well as its fair share of lows.

I've learned more about myself than I ever thought I would. I've dealt with challenges I never thought I'd have to face, as well as opportunities and chances I would have never imagined. I wouldn't have been able to make it without the help of my wonderful family and friends, who have stuck with me through the good and the bad, even when I was occasionally a bit irrational.

When I first started this little blog over 8 months ago, I wasn't expecting much. Just a way to express my thoughts and have them documented for future reflection. What it turned out to be was so much more.

Through this blog, I've (virtually) met people. These people have inspired me, helped me, and made me realize that I'm not alone in my experiences and frustrations.

I recently came across this quote:

"Every person is a new door to a different world."

- from the movie "Six Degrees of Separation"
 
and it really rings true to me. These people have taught me so much, and I don't think I can get through this post without thanking them. 
 
I'll start with Michelle. I first stumbled across Michelle's blog this summer. She's probably one of the first people I really connected with through blogging. She left a really nice comment on my blog (I'm sure you could find it if you looked) and encouraged me to keep writing. After exchanging emails with Michelle, I realized she was probably the first deaf adult I'd ever had some sort of conversation with. And I remember thinking "Wow. She's just so normal." Now, I hope no one is offended by this, heck, I'm deaf myself. It's not like I was expecting some green person who spoke alien. I just thought it was cool how she was just some funny, spunky lady with a family and who'd held a job, and just happened to be deaf. I hope you guys get what I'm saying here...Anyway, Michelle has served as a great inspiration to me, and I'd better stop before I say something stupid! Thanks Michelle!

Next up is Kristi. Kristi is a year older than me, and I look up to her for so many reasons. If you go to her profile, you'll see that it simply says "deaf teenager (who aspires to inspire) with her own journey: a big fish in a small pond" And inspire, she does. I encourage any readers of this blog to check out her blog, it's great and she writes so poetically. She recently switched from a mainstreamed school to a high school for the deaf, and reading her experiences have really impacted me. She's made me question (in a good way) if I'm doing what I really want. Am I searching for the right things? Am I doing it in the right place? Those questions remain unanswered, but she is helping me find those answers. Who knows if I'll follow in her footsteps or pave my own path, but she's helped me more than words can express.

Writer Kid (M) is a couple of years younger than I am. I first met her through the Cochlear Community, and I sent her a message. She wrote back and told me that she'd read my blog and has one of her own. I clicked on the link not really knowing what to expect, but after reading a couple of her posts I was absolutely blown away. It was like reading the journal of a younger, smarter, more awesome version of myself. I kid you not, this is girl amazing and inspiring. She's such a joy to talk to, and she is basically my definition of  "cool."

These three gals are amazing, and I just can't thank them enough.

On to the next order of business...

So, we've yet to receive word on whether insurance will pay for the new processors. After reading this post, I wasn't sure if I still wanted them! However, we spoke to some people at Cochlear who assured that, if I didn't like it, I could "trade back" and go back to my Freedoms.

Which leaves the most important decision left- what color? Since my last poll is running out (only 1 more day) I thought I would post a new one. What color do you think my new Nucleus 5's should be?

Now, I already know I'm getting brown coils, and I'm probably going to buy some of those nifty covers. I have an idea of the color I want, but I'm just curious about everyone else's opinion. I am not, I repeat NOT going to make my decision solely based on this poll. So anyway, feel free to leave a comment or vote-which color do you think I should  get?