Sign the Show
If you LOVE music, stand-up comedy, and/or theater, and want to expand your mind to new ways of thinking about the DEI&A movement at live entertainment events, then Sign the Show is a must-see!
Interview with Director/Producer Cat Brewer
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I recognized how inaccessible live entertainment was and still is to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, and I wanted to bring awareness to it in hopes it would make a cultural shift in entertainment by making access the norm.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you want to expand your heart and mind around the DEI movement and learn about a community of 40+ million Americans, you should watch the film. It's educational and entertaining.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I'm not a musician, comedian, or actor, nor am I Deaf, so I let the subjects of the film talk about their personal journeys. However, I think no matter who you are, how you define yourself, or where you are in life, everyone wants to be and feel included - whether at home, work, school, or in their own community and the world at large.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Back in 2014, I was teaching Communication courses (public speaking & interpersonal communication) at three different community colleges. I had no background in film whatsoever; I didn't even own a camera. When I got inspired at a concert I attended with an American Sign Language interpreter, I only planned to write an article for the college newspapers where I taught. It was only at a wild suggestion from my roommate Oscar that I decided to make a film. I had no script or even a treatment, so I'm not sure the script or film evolved; I simply stayed open to the stories told by the subjects and worked closely with my editor to weave them together.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
After finishing a year-long festival run, the feedback we've received the most is that people thought it might be depressing but that they were surprised by how educational, entertaining, and inspiring it was. They thought that if they didn't know any people who were Deaf, they may not be able to relate to the film, but they found themselves surprised that they did.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback hasn't really surprised me because I feel like I experienced it the same way as I was making the film. I was constantly moved to tears by the stories and only hoped audiences would feel the same, and I'm honored they do.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I'm hoping that folks that see the film on your site are motivated to watch it when it's available to stream.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
For almost nine years, I worked solo behind the scenes on this project - acting as the publicist, marketing manager, director, producer, and assistant; I've applied to festivals, secured investors and interviews, managed budgets, pitched stories to journalists, and asked for reviews. It's been a whirlwind of fabulous learning opportunities that I wouldn't trade for the world. However, I would love to have more journalists review the film; we got our first review on Rotten Tomatoes, and I think it would definitely help with marketing and driving people to our website to sign up for notifications. We signed a North American distribution deal this March and we are hoping to be streaming in the next couple of months.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
My team and I hope that Sign the Show will inspire and create a cultural shift in entertainment by making open access the norm for a more inclusive world.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How can I help make the world more inclusive and accessible to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community?
Interview: April 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Sign the Show
If you LOVE music, stand-up comedy, and/or theater, and want to expand your mind to new ways of thinking about the DEI&A movement at live entertainment events, then Sign the Show is a must-see!
Length: 1:36:00
Director: Cat Brewer
Producer: Cat Brewer
Writer: Cat Brewer
About the writer, director and producer:
Bay Area native and self-taught multi-award-winning filmmaker CAT BREWER (Director & Producer, of Sign the Show) has an extensive background and passion for communicating, educating, and advocating. Her career spans academia, business, and entertainment, including 21+ years of teaching as an associate professor of communication studies, serving ten years as the Executive Director of Leadership Oakland for the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and a 10-year career as a PR & marketing manager for an award-winning SF Bay Area jazz musician.
Key cast: All appearing as themselves: Kelly Clarkson, D.L. Hughley, Waka Flocka, André 3000, Camryn Manheim, Matt Maxey, Andrew Santino, Nyle DiMarco
Looking for: distributors and buyers
Facebook: Sign the Show
Twitter: @SignTheShow
Instagram: @signtheshow
Hashtags used: #DeafCulture #Access #Accessibility #Entertainment #documentary #SignTheShow
Website: www.signtheshow.com
Other: IMDb
Funders: Go Fund Me