what they want when casting a film.This was no different for me
back in early April this year.
I knew I had a challenge.After all I was asking deaf and hard of hearing teens
who had never acted to show up and show off their basketball skills and acting was secondary.
Much to my surprise a group of very interesting teens showed up.
They were all very shy at first,which is definitely different from any other casting call
I've ever done.Most actors show up with a great deal of confidence
and ready to try different approaches and all are ready to show off their skills.
Since the film is inspired by the life of retired NBA player Mike "Stinger" Glenn
and his real life basketball camps for the deaf & hard of hearing I had preconceived ideas.
The real life camps are very competitive and specifically the selection of the Allstar teams.
However as someone who has coached and played various sports I have found that
sometimes its about the SPIRIT and HEART,and in this case a Smile.
All of the kids showed up with dreams,hopes,and anticipation,all wondering is this real?Will someone really give me an opportunity or chance?Then the least likely person entered the room
a young man named Brad.He had the most infectious smile inside that gymnasium.I knew right then and there that the film like the camps would be built with a Spirit of Love.
I went home that night and rewrote characters in the screenplay to fit these amazing teens that I had the opportunity to meet and play basketball with,some were playing for the first time ever.Thats when I realized that the hearing world must have the chance to get to know the deaf and hard of hearing community in a new way.At the same time the DHH world must experience the hearing world as well.And now were all FAMILY.
The cast is made up of teens across Colorado from Colorado Springs up to Wyoming,with the majority from the Denver Metro area.At times we had 50 teens on set all with different types of
hearing loss mixed with hearing teens who found ways of communicating.Just like one message in the film."we don't care how you communicate ,but that you communicate".Some have cochlear implants, hearing aids, others who are profoundly deaf,and others that have no hearing loss at all.What is remarkable is that with all their differences they found a way to work,play,and communicate together and now have made friends for life who are totally different from themselves.
Become of fan by clicking the FACEBOOK FAN PAGE LINK AT THE MOVIE WEBSITE AND FOLLOW OUR STORY HTTP://SPIRITOFLOVEMOVIE.COM or direct fan page at https://www.facebook.com/Deaf.HOH.Basketball.Camp.Sports#!/Deaf.HOH.Basketball.Camp.Sports
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