In order to view these videos off-campus, you will need a RCBC library barcode and your pin. These are only a few suggestions! please check out databases for more videos: Films on Demand, Kanopy, and Science Online.
Interpreting tidbits : cities and states by Gates CommunicationsMost interpreters are familiar with the signs for Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, but what about Fargo, ND, Boise, ID, Honolulou, HI, or Omaha, NE? Many interpreters find themselves in receptive or expressive situations where city and state name signs would provide a critical link to the ideal interpretation. This DVD empowers interpreters with over 400 native, name signs taken from all 50 states in the U.S. To liven things up, this 2 DVD set also includes 25 U.S. trivia questions, and a comedic blooper reel
Call Number: Reserves
Publication Date: 2011
Streaming videos on the web
"Through Deaf Eyes" Documentarya two-hour documentary that explores almost 200 years of Deaf life in America and presents a broad range of perspectives on what it means to be deaf. The film is propelled by the stories of people, both eminent and ordinary, and sheds light on events that have shaped Deaf lives. The film includes interviews with prominent members of the Deaf community, including actress Marlee Matlin and Gallaudet University president emeritus I. King Jordan.
Bill VicarsTenured Professor of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies at California State University, Sacramento.
Center for Literacy and DeafnessCenter for Literacy and Deafness (CLAD) has created a variety of videos to help young children gain a foundation in American Sign Language (ASL). The short stories revolve around the daily activities of Miss Giggle and her students, while the songs teach vocabulary in a fun context.
The Daily MothThe Daily Moth delivers news in video using American Sign Language. The Deaf host, Alex Abenchuchan, covers trending stories and Deaf topics with a twist of humor and Deaf culture.
American Sign Language: Greetings, The Alphabet, and More—American Sign Language, Level 1This program shows viewers how to sign each letter of the alphabet, then demonstrates the signs for introductions and greetings, family members, rooms in the house, animals, and question forms. Segments of the video are displayed first without and then with text so that viewers can test their understanding, and a story section allows for assessment of comprehension of longer conversations. Part of the series American Sign Language.
“American Sign Language: Greetings, The Alphabet, and More—American Sign Language, Level 1.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2011, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=47964. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
American Sign Language: Numbers, Money, and More—American Sign Language, Level 1In this program, viewers learn the signs for numbers, money, time, months, weather, transportation, directions, hobbies, and food. There are demonstrations throughout the video of how to formulate the signs, along with vocabulary sections, receptive skills practice, and question-and-answer sections that allow viewers to recap and assess their newly acquired knowledge. Part of the series American Sign Language.
“American Sign Language: Numbers, Money, and More—American Sign Language, Level 1.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2011, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=47965. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
Sign Language Interpreter—Career Q&A: Professional Advice and InsightWhat is it like to be a sign language interpreter? In this Career Q&A video interview, Cindy Shapiro talks about her career path, what she does on the job, and the keys to success interpreting sign language. She also offers candid advice on breaking into the profession as well as insight into the industry’s biggest challenges and how the field may change in the next ten years.
Using American Sign Language (ASL) When Approaching Someone NewIf you think someone might know American Sign Language (ASL), asking them about it might feel awkward, but it needn't be that way. In this video, Buddy sees Della make a gesture that looks like Sign and decides to approach her.
“Using American Sign Language (ASL) When Approaching Someone New.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2012, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=150371. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
RCBC Streaming Videos- Deaf Culture in the USA
Austin UnboundDeafness may appear to be his disability, but that isn't what makes Austin self-conscious. This is a film at the intersection of deaf and transgender. Burdened by female anatomy, he binds his chest every day. While his mother strives to accept his male identity, Austin's community views him as a pioneer. A natural comedian and romantic, Austin's courageous journey, which follows him through personal reflections, family interactions, and even into the operating room, is one of heroism that breaks through barriers, and tells a sensitive story with grace and heart.
“Austin Unbound.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2014, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=186858. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
Deaf JamDeaf Jam is the story of deaf teen Aneta Brodski's bold journey into the spoken word slam scene. In a wondrous twist, Aneta, an Israeli immigrant living in the Queens section of New York City, eventually meets Tahani, a hearing Palestinian slam poet. The two women embark on a collaboration/performance duet creating a new form of slam poetry that speaks to both the hearing and the Deaf.
"Poetry, friendship and respect transcend politics; delightful and endearing, utilizing upbeat music and clever graphics, Deaf Jam immerses us in the richness and complexity of deaf culture and gives us a unique perspective into a world so vibrant, so diverse, it may forever change the way we see the non-hearing."
Barbara Pokras, A.C.E., Woodstock Film Festival.
Deaf Jam. Dir. Judy Lieff. New Day Films, 2011. Kanopy. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.
Deaf Out LoudExecutive produced by Academy Award-winner Marlee Matlin, this new documentary special follows three predominantly deaf families as they raise their children in a hearing world. Distributed by A&E Television Networks.
“Deaf Out Loud.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2018, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=205772. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
Making Noise in SilenceMAKING NOISE IN SILENCE explores the richness and complexities of Deaf culture from the perspective of two Korean high school students who attend the California School for the Deaf, Fremont. Born and raised in South Korea, Jeongin Mun and Min Wook Cho have strong ties to their Korean heritage and learned Korean as their first language. However, what separates Jeongin and Min Wook from most children of immigrant families is that they are also deaf. When their families moved to the United States, their deafness automatically put them into an entirely separate cultural group with its own language, customs, and history.
Making Noise in Silence. Dir. Mina T. Son. New Day Films, 2011. Kanopy. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.
Signing Black in AmericaThis is the first documentary about Black ASL: the unique dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) that developed within historically segregated African American Deaf communities. Black ASL today conveys an identity and sense of belonging that mirrors spoken language varieties of the African American hearing community. The program highlights the different uses of space, hand use, directional movement, and facial expression, which are ways that Black ASL distinguishes itself as a vibrant dialect of American Sign Language. The African American Deaf community is now embracing their unique variety as a symbol of solidarity and a vital part of their identity.
“Signing Black in America.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2021, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=207032. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
RCBC Streaming Videos- Deaf Culture in Other Countries
Beauty FactoryVenezuela has won more international beauty pageants (18)* than any other country. What is it that makes Venezuelan beauty queens so special?
Beauty Factory follows five contestants over the course of four months as they compete for the coveted Miss Venezuela crown, offering an intimate look into the world of beauty that has never been seen in such depth. This film takes you behind the scenes as the girls are told how much weight they must lose, how big their breasts should be, what diet fits them, the length and color of their hair, their gym routine and even what plastic surgeries they need to get.
For many of them, the ultimate goal isn't the Miss Venezuela crown, or even the Miss Universe one. In a country rife with poverty and violence, success in the pageant can give the girls stability and success. In fact, almost every contestant hopes to use the pageant as a trampoline for their career, and few actually care about winning.
Among the girls we follow, one has dropped out of the university to support her family by modeling, one lives on the Colombian border and dreams of moving to the capital, and one is the first deaf contestant, hoping to improve awareness about her community. These are smart, savvy women who are using their beauty as a launching pad for something greater. But how far will they go to succeed?
“Deaf in Rwanda.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2018, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=183824. Accessed 27 July 2021.
A Life without WordsWhat would life be like without language? For too many deaf people raised in rural outposts, access to a sign-language community is denied and they are condemned to a life without words.
Such injustice deserves our attention and is explored with care in this haunting story of two deaf siblings, Dulce Maria (28) and Francisco (22), who have been raised their entire lives without access to any written, spoken, or signed language on a farm in northern Nicaragua. They are visited by a Deaf sign-language teacher who works for a local NGO and is determined to teach the siblings their first words. As the two begin their awakening to language, their resistance is clear, but so is their marvel at the teacher and this process.
A Life without Words. Dir. Adam Isenberg. Documentary Educational Resources, 2011. Kanopy. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.
South Africa Deaf Marimba BandSouth Africa's only marimba band for deaf children combines its talents with another marimba band of children from a disadvantaged neighborhood for an unprecedented concert.
“South Africa Deaf Marimba Band.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2018, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=183857. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
Suddenly I Hear YouHalf a million profoundly deaf people across the world have had their lives transformed thanks to cochlear implantation. Based at the Scotland’s only cochlear implant unit, this film follows five patients as they learn to hear again.
“Suddenly I Hear You.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2015, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=117374. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
RCBC Streaming Videos- Deaf Culture in Drama (Movies)
A Blind Hero: The Love of Otto WeidtAt Yad Vashem, the Berlin brushmaker Otto Weidt is listed as one of the Righteous Among the Nations. But Weidt's story has otherwise been overlooked until now. A Blind Hero finally brings the story of his daring and cunning rescue of his blind and deaf Jewish employees from being sent to the camps as well as his tragic love of Alice Licht, and his desperate journey to save her and her entire family from the gas chamber, all while he himself was almost completely blind.
A powerful docu-drama of a little known story of love, devotion, and selflessness, A Blind Hero depicts Otto Weidt's story with award-winning journalist and author, Inge Deutschkron, providing her incredible personal account of Weidt's efforts to save her, her mother, and the rest of his employees from the Nazis.
A Blind Hero. Dir. Kai Christiansen. Seventh Art Releasing, 2015. Kanopy. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.
CodaAlex struggles to find her voice at a competitive dance conservatory. When she meets a confident young Deaf drummer he stirs up old conflicted childhood feelings about growing up hearing in a Deaf family. Enjoying their easy camaraderie, she allows the drummer to believe she is Deaf as well. When her secret is revealed, Alex will have to own who she is in life, as well as in dance. Can she figure out a way to live in two different worlds?
Coda. Dir. Erika Davis-Marsh. University of Southern California Cinematic Arts, 2019. Kanopy. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.
Marie's StoryAt the turn of the 19th century, a humble artisan and his wife have a daughter, Marie, who is born deaf and blind and unable to communicate with the world around her. Desperate to find a connection to their daughter and avoid sending her to an asylum, the Heurtins send fourteen-year-old Marie to the Larnay Institute in central France, where an order of Catholic nuns manage a school for deaf girls.
There, the idealistic Sister Marguerite sees in Marie a unique potential, and despite her Mother Superior's skepticism, vows to bring the wild young thing out of the darkness into which she was born. Based on true events, Marie's Story recounts the courageous journey of a young nun and the lives she would change forever, confronting failures and discouragement with joyous faith and love.
Marie's Story. Dir. Jean-Pierre Améris. Film Movement, 2014. Kanopy. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.
The Silent ChildInspired by real-life events, this Oscar-winning short follows Libby, a profoundly deaf child nearing her first day at school. Her emotionally distant, overwhelmed mother and workaholic father seek out a quick fix to make their 'broken' child more equipped to handle the real world.
Libby has lived in a world of silence but a fresh-faced social worker Joanne helps Libby transform. A once withdrawn four-year-old suddenly feels connected to the world and, over a short period of time, Joanne and Libby's relationship blossoms. As the story emerges, it becomes clear that Libby is not the one who needs to be fixed.
This film is presented with English subtitles throughout the film at the request of the filmmakers due to the extensive use of sign language and to make the film fully accessible to deaf audiences.
Winner of Best Live Action Short Film at the 2018 Academy Awards. Winner of the Jury Prize for Best Film at the Sydney Indie Film Festival.
"Realistic and moving, with beautiful cinematography, this is a stirring call for awareness of the plight of deaf schoolchildren." - Peg Aloi , Arts Fuse
The Silent Child. Dir. Chris Overton. Network Ireland Television, 2017. Kanopy. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.
The TribeSet at a Ukrainian boarding school for the deaf, The Tribe's narrative unfolds purely through sign language without employing subtitles or voiceover, resulting in a unique, never-before-seen cinematic experience that engages the audience on a new level.
Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, and Toronto International Film Festival.
The Tribe. Dir. Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi. Cinedigm, 2014. Kanopy. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.
Voice of the VoicelessThis film takes us inside the mind and heartbreak of Olga, a deaf teenager brought from Latin America to New York City, under the false promise of attending a "Christian Sign Language School". Upon arrival we enter a world of immigrant trafficking, and life is turned upside-down as she's enslaved by an international criminal ring. Forced to beg on the subway, Olga uses courage, cunning, and even humor, to face an unimaginable nightmare-on-loop that ravages the audience. Based on a real case broken by the NYPD.
Voice of the Voiceless. Dir. Maximon Monihan. Factory 25, 2016. Kanopy. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.
RCBC Streaming Videos- Famous Persons
Breaking Down the Sound BarrierWhen Derrick Coleman was growing up, kids called him "Four Ears." He couldn't hide his bulky hearing aids, and he could not hear without them. So he drowned out the bullies and focused on the one thing he felt leveled the playing field: football. Coleman became a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks. Vital Signs explore the most common sensory disorder, hearing loss, which affects 360 million people worldwide. From revolutionary research about the brain's relationship with sign language, to the next generation of hearing implants for children, see how people around the world are breaking down the sound barrier.
“Breaking Down the Sound Barrier.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2015, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=187407. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
Deaf, Blind And Mighty: How Helen Keller Learned To SpeakTo mark 50 years since Helen Keller's death, we take a look back at her remarkable story. At only 19 months old, illness left Keller blind and deaf. Yet she went on to become a powerful advocate for disability rights, women's suffrage and racial equality in the US. Her legacy is one of resilience and unshakable courage while her charity, Helen Keller international, founded in 1915, remains active across the world
“Deaf, Blind And Mighty: How Helen Keller Learned To Speak.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2018, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=168496. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
James Castle: Portrait of an ArtistBorn deaf in 1899 in rural Idaho—only nine years after that frontier territory was admitted to the Union—James Castle mined the local landscape of his family's homesteads and his own deeply private world to produce an astonishing body of drawings, collages, and constructions that eventually gained worldwide recognition. Jeffrey Wolf's acclaimed film reveals Castle’s life and creative process, as told by family members, art historians, curators, artists, collectors, and members of the deaf community. This inspirational story of a true Outsider Artist is a remarkable example of the triumph of the spirit—and the imagination.
“James Castle: Portrait of an Artist.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2009, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=141945. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
L. van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven spent most of his life in Vienna, though he was born in Bonn, then a small provincial town. Early deafness robbed him of a performing career, but his world-shattering achievements as a composer changed music forever.
“L. Van Beethoven.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2020, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=237691. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
Planet of Snail: A Blind and Deaf Poet Navigates the WorldAn acclaimed documentary following the journey of a most extraordinary couple.
Young-Chan is an accomplished poet who can no longer hear or see. He communicates with his wife Soon-Ho through finger braille, a unique form of communication where words are tapped on each other's hands.
Combining breathtaking imagery with Young-Chan's personal writings, PLANET OF SNAIL becomes a transfixing portrait of life on what seems like another planet, where touch communicates everything and love conquers all.
Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival. Official Selection at the Hot Docs Festival.
"Above all, this beautifully photographed documentary is a poetic meditation on refined sensory perception." - Stephen Holden, The New York Times
“American Sign Language Goes Mobile.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2012, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=57229. Accessed 27 July 2021.
Cochlear Implants: Bringing Back the Joy of SoundHearing loss is not just a problem for the elderly. Up to three children out of a thousand are born with profound hearing impairment or no sense of hearing at all. But advances in research and technology, particularly involving cochlear implants, mean that many of those affected may gain the ability to hear. In this program viewers meet children born without hearing and elderly patients who lost their hearing over time who can now engage with their families, swim, dance, and pursue their chosen careers, thanks to their cochlear implants. The video also explains how the ear processes sound and the factors that lead to conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
“Cochlear Implants: Bringing Back the Joy of Sound.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2012, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=53729. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
Hearing VestA vest is giving deaf people the gift of sound through the sense of touch
“Hearing Vest.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2016, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=167659. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
Lending a Hand: Sign Languages and the DeafComplex and highly sophisticated, sign languages have proved excellent tools for analyzing the foundation of human language capability. In this program, Dr. Jonathan Miller weaves together the history of sign languages for the Deaf with insights into the natural synergy between language, vision, and dexterity to support his conviction that there is a common mental structure underlying all languages, regardless of their outward expression. Along the way, Dr. Miller skewers a number of enduring misconceptions—for example, that sign languages are purely iconic and therefore incapable of conveying abstract ideas.
“Lending a Hand: Sign Languages and the Deaf.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 1990, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=11356. Accessed 27 July 2021.
The Listening Project: Young Adults Living with Hearing LossThe profound impact of technology on the lives and identities of young deaf adults is explored in THE LISTENING PROJECT. Fourteen deaf people tell stories beginning with a childhood wide-eyed about sound, into the growing pains of adolescence and, eventually, their professional lives. Sometimes humorous, always tender, THE LISTENING PROJECT is a timely coming of age story, one we haven't heard before.
THE LISTENING PROJECT is directed by Academy Award-nominated, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky and Clinical Audiologist and Professor Jane Madell.
“Parenting By Sign—Against the Odds: Inspiring Stories of Disability.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2014, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=115779. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.
Passport Without a CountryThis program about the hearing children of parents with a hearing impairment provides a look at a unique culture: men and women who do not quite belong to either of the worlds between which they are the only true bridge.
“Passport Without a Country.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 1993, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=4365. Accessed 27 July 2021.
Technology and Deaf CultureCochlear implants could soon make a lifetime of profound deafness a thing of the past—and in the process bring an end to America’s vibrant Deaf culture. In this program, NewsHour correspondent Betty Ann Bowser takes a balanced look at the implications of cochlear implant technology on the Deaf community. Dr. John Niparko, director of The Listening Center at Johns Hopkins; King Jordan, president of Gallaudet University; and others share their markedly different perceptions of cochlear implants, with some portraying them as miraculous assistive devices and others as a baneful attempt by the well-meaning hearing majority to "fix" the Deaf
“Technology and Deaf Culture.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2001, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=106865&xtid=11783. Accessed 27 July 2021.