Matt Hamill – Don’t Listen to the Hecklers!
Denver – Good evening, everybody! I became aware of the stupid controversy surrounding UFC fighter, Matt Hamill and his decision to hire a hearing actor as the lead role in a future film about Hamill’s life. And since I think the whole issue is a non-issue and that the only people making it an issue are those with plenty of issues, this “not Deaf enough film” fuss is simply stupid.
I am not kidding you!
HaHa!
Anyway, I wrote a letter to Matt Hamill:
Dear Matt Hamill ..
I write you today to show support for your decision to make your movie in whatever fashion you choose. You have somehow aligned the stars to achieve the success you have had thus far in your life – the results speak for themselves. Your upcoming film is one reflection of your many abilities.
You are one of my favorite fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) scene and it is not because you are deaf – it is because you have a blue-collar work ethic that I appreciate. It should also be said that your dedication, sacrifice and belief in yourself are by far and away, the most impressive characteristics that I have seen in you as a fighter.
I recently read Sam Sheridan’s book, A Fighter’s Heart, and found his story to be fascinatingly interesting. Like Mr. Sheridan, your travels into the world of MMA are compelling reason enough for me to spend money to learn about your life or your MMA experiences or maybe even about the time you kicked Michael Bisping’s ass and caused him to drop down to a smaller class.
I have been a fan of MMA after first watching Royce Gracie bitch-slap dudes – and I am seriously not kidding you – that outweighed him by 1,500 pounds. Then, Ken Shamrock was my favorite fighter until Tito slapped him into retirement (well .. ya’know?). Today, I have many favorite fighters (Diego Sanchez, Rashad Evans, and Keith Jardine to name a few) such as yourself and it’s because I prefer to watch and support any fighter who actually fights – win or lose.
Whatever your movie is about, Mr. Hamill, I know it will be interesting to watch and money well-spent. In fact, I really wish there were more movies about UFC fighters such as yourself, the sport, and even the history of MMA in general.
And don’t mind those hecklers – every sport has them. There has always been and always will be those deaf hecklers who are forever unhappy with their lives and try to drag others down by forced conformity.
Anyway, the movie is about you – Matt Hamill – and not about anything or anyone else, right? What I mean to say is this: ignore those hecklers.
Good luck, Mr. Hamill – I support you and your decisions regarding your upcoming movie.
Good times! Great vibrations!
Keep on truckin’ ..
)
Paotie
Yup. That’s about it.
Ya’know the problem with “Deaf Experts” these days? Everything is about them.
Be good .. or be good at it.
Paotie
Sphere: Related Content
Yup, you got it right. Matt’s got my support too.
Well, unfortunately, I disagree with you, my pal.
We have applaud Marlee Maltin for doing some *huge* leading roles several times. Especially, the biggest movie and an Oscar award!
What about the deaf men’s leading roles?
It’s okay if I disagree with you, your’e *STILL* one of my favorites!
[...] Paotie’s Green Couch wrote an interesting post today on Matt Hamill – Don’t Listen to the Hecklers!Here’s a quick excerptDenver – Good evening, everybody! I became aware of the stupid controversy surrounding UFC fighter, Matt Hamill and his decision to hire a hearing actor as the lead role in a future film about Hamill’s life…. [...]
I’m with Matt too….. I want someone to do a story of my life… Is george clooney available lol……
Well, this is interesting!
That is it, just interesting!
Hmmm… I know Matt personally from the social circles, from NTID/RIT. From what I remember, he was very oral and felt comfortable hanging out with oral deaf people and was using SimCom a lot, as normal for oral deaf people learning sign language. He was an athlete and a normal kid (a kid to me, because I was finishing up my college studies, graduating, etc., around the time he entered college, going straight to wrestling, etc.), enjoying laughs and spent a lot of time at the gym.
So it makes perfect sense that there is a need for an actor that Matt could relate to. If there was a DEAF actor, skilled in ASL, etc…. I’d say, hey, that is not the correct portrayal of Matt I knew from Rochester, NY! He was more comfortable in talking than signing, as I remember. I don’t know what happened to him after I graduated but from what I heard, he got fame through MMA. I am sure he got more comfortable with signing, learning more about deaf culture, etc.
So if he feels comfortable with his selection of any actors/actresses, good for him… I only know him from college, not before nor after so he is the best judge of himself.
Oh brother.
All the fuss? I mean, he represents the majority of deaf community… oral, learning sign language as 2nd language, mainstreamed, etc. He only knows what is best for himself and he makes it very clear that on his website. We should not be quick to judge until after we see the movie before making any judgments. I’d rather reserve my judgment until I see the movie, to see if Eben did a good job portraying Matt during the college years… when I knew Matt.
Well, the world is full of opinions and judgments… can’t avoid it. But some go too far (remember, NTID cancelled, NOT RIT. NTID is just one of the colleges of RIT. I am betting that the hearing body at RIT know almonst nothing about the cancellation… being that the student body consists of a little over 10,000 hearing students and a little over 2,000 deaf students.)
Well, Karen.
Since he is an alma mater and represents the diversity of the deaf community at RIT, he needs to write an apology letter for not representing the community.
RIT is (has been) strongly advocating the NTID for near 40 years, I am pretty sure that the boards utterly respect the NTID’s decision for cancelling the casting.
Deaf culture experts and conformity aside, I was rather disappointed to understand that Hamill chose a hearing actor to play his role. I guess it has more to do with the believeability of the movie itself. When the potential deaf audience (including oral deaf and Deaf culture/ASL users) knows that the lead role is played by a hearing actor, think they’re gonna go and see it without a jaded eye? I wonder about that.
Today’s world is far different from when “Johnny Belinda” was made. Marlee Matlin and other deaf actors have worked hard to play roles of deaf people and to change Hollywood’s perception of deaf people. Do we see white actors playing American Indians today?– no, because Indian actors have worked hard to change Hollywood’s perception of who should play Indian roles in films.
I also wonder the kind of message hiring a hearing actor for a role in which the main character is oral deaf sends to Hollywood and to hearing audiences as well– that deaf, even oral deaf, actors are still not good enough? Or Hamill being oral deaf himself is not good enough?
Mr. Hamill fought his way thru a tough sports career, that alone is an accomplishment, but to have done it as an oral deaf athlete is truly outstanding. To have an oral deaf actor play his role would show Hollywood and the hearing world what a deaf actor can do in an equally demanding acting career, to do it as a deaf actor in a role as the deaf lead who carries the film would be an outstanding accomplishment. Giving another deaf person a leg up in his career has its dividends.
At any rate, Mr. Hamill has already made his decision. I’m sure when the film is made and distributed, that deaf members of the audience are going to be thrilled about Hamill’s story, but they’ll still wonder why the lead role went to a hearing actor. And if hearing members also knew, they’d probably be scratching their heads and going “Huh???”
Ann ..
Great points. I understand your disappointment regarding Hamill’s decision to go with a hearing actor.
I saw Hillary Swank in the movie, “Boys Don’t Cry,” and I do not recall hearing great big eruptions of protest over Swank’s casting in that role. And, if there was, her acting paved the way for her to win an Academy Award.
She is not a transsexual or transgender person, right?
I’m not sure, but Daniel Day Lewis might be of English ancestry and yet, he played the lead role (Native American) in “The Last of the Mohicans.” Pretty fly for a white guy!
Jennifer Lopez is Puerto Rican, and not of Mexican heritage and to some people, the difference between Latinas and Hispanics are worlds apart; to others, it’s of little importance. In the end, J-Lo played Serena quite well, in my estimation.
I don’t even like Jenny, who’s still got an ass the size of a city block.
In the end, I want to see a good movie and I don’t care if the actors and actresses are deaf or not because I’m paying money to watch their movies. And as much as I’d love to support “deaf”-related films, which I do and always will, I am not in favor of heckling people who have suddenly been declared as some sort of “representative” of .. RIT.
I mean, for goodness’ sakes, every time I watch a movie about a deaf person, I don’t rant and rave that the deaf person is “disrespecting” anyone or anything by not adhering to some sort of “representation” rule at my alma mater.
And the movie hasn’t even been shot yet. Is it not enough to simply say, “I disagree – I would’ve hired someone else?”
But, nope – another witch-hunt is on again.
To me, that’s the greater problem.
Paotie
It is truly Matt’s decision. It’s truly funny watching people do about a knee-jerk reaction just because Matt decided to choose a hearing actor who is fluent in ASL. It’s also doubly ironic that these same people who scream like Banshees didn’t object when Keith Wann (CODA) played as a Deaf person in Pepsi’s internet comedy pre-game Superbowl commercial. No hue and cry over that one.
Tsk tsk. People need to get a life and stop bitching about those things so laboriously.
Well said, Ann_C.
Think about the Oscars’ Best Foreign Language Films….
Remember, an Italian actor in “Life is Beautiful” won an Oscar award for the best actor in 1998? Plus the best picture.
There are many diverse actors/actresses who have won many prominent awards are the leading and supporting roles.
Winning some awards do not mean anything to us. As long as the leading and supporting roles are important that represents their own primitive.
Makes no difference, Paotie.
By this line of thought, in which only X has the right to act as X, Tom Selleck should never have played a gay guy in _In & Out_. And what was Ang Lee thinking when casting Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as gay cowboys? His decision clearly oppressed gay cowboys looking for work as actors, thereby sending them to professional ruin and despair.
Speaking of demeaning….guess who wished Hamill end up brain damaged or that he lose a contest? Not a Matt Hamill supporter, that’s for sure.
Matt Hamill, just do your thing that you do best!
Hey Boys!
Nice to seeing you guys fighting like MMA.
Wanna some popcorn? here it is. Have some.
Yummy.
I don’t smoke and I’m a good girl who is doing some
the-numbers-showing-to-the-audience in the match box.
Smack you all boys!
McConnell–
Keith Wann didn’t play a deaf person in Pepsi’s pre-super bowl commercial. It was a commercial that Keith Wann produced himself and got onto Pepsi’s website.
Paotie and others:
Yes, Matt has a right to ask who he wants to play himself. But it does not make it right– do we want to see a good movie about Matt’s life or an okay movie about Matt’s life? That is the difference– Eben, Joseph McKelheer, and K’Dee are all new to the feature movie business (they have only done short movies up until now) and they intend to EXPLOIT us, our deafness for their own financial success. Why don’t we tell Matt to wait for Steven Spielberg to direct his life story?
Paotie and McConnell, I will sympathize with you next time they give a job or a promotion that was rightfully yours to a hearing person. Deaf people are being discriminated everyday, and it is discouraging to see a job opportunity that could have gone to a person who could more accurately represent Matt’s life experience end up to a hearing person. Where do we draw the line?
DJ, was there a disclaimer saying that Keith Wann is a hearing actor playing as a Deaf person?
BTW, I said “Pepsi’s internet comedy pre-game Superbowl commercial” meaning on the website.
There is no “taking away” of “jobs” in Matt’s instance since there are other Deaf/deaf actors to be planned. Let’s not get laboriously ludicrous here over some loss of a “job” to a hearing person in this strawman kind of deal here that screams nothing more than “Deaf only!!”
DJ, who are you to determine “who could more accurately represent Matt’s life experience”?
I don’t know much about this Matt Hamill character, but he himself would likely be the most capable judge of who could represent his own life.
And DJ, I bet just about everyone here has had the experience of watching jobs or other professional opportunities go to someone with fully functional ears. Yet our problems do not entitle us to dictate how someone else should make a movie.
I am not part of the “deaf only” movement, by far.
But social justice is not happening here. Matt (and everyone else) wants this movie to be made. It should be done the right way. Why did not the producers conduct nation-wide auditions before deciding on Eben? Most likely, Eben is providing some of the financing.
Amy was just sharing part of our historical consciousness with her audience. Why is she being attacked? It is not a “deaf only” thing. We care for Matt, and we want the best things for him.
We want this movie to be done right. Let’s do it right the first time. Movies are the way to the national consciousness and we have to be protective of our image. The NAACP has a full-time staff making sure that portrayals of African-Americans in television and film are fair and balanced. They realize the importance of accuracy, authenticity, and social justice. Why can’t we rise to their level??
We do not want to dictate to them how to make the movie, but we know the history of deaf people in film. Our collective knowledge has to be shared.
Huzzah! JS.
Social justice? This is Matt’s film about his life story!!! Holy moly mother of mary! Let Matt make his own decision. There is no one better than him to make that decision on who to portray him in the film.
“We want this movie to be done right.”
We?
This is not your film or is this film the property of Deaf culture.
or = nor
Whoa, JS!
“Fully Functional Ears”
Would the professional opportunity *NOT* hire Marlee Maltin because she does not have the fully functional ears?
No “human equal access”?
Your’e a boo-hoo, JS.
Bad tasteful for calling anyone not having some fully functional ears.
You are right- the movie is not our property.
But we have an obligation to make sure that the portrayal is fair and authentic. Eben and the producers will walk away from the deaf community once the movie is done (and distributed, if it is any good). We are the ones who will have to suffer the consequences of their stereotype of deaf people.
If the movie goes ahead with Eben, it will not be the end of the world. But I am not looking forward to “explanatory” conversations with the people that have seen the movie and misperceived deaf people.
We are deaf people, and we are human. We are just as good as anyone else, and for them to cast a hearing person sends a message, on the lower frequencies, that only a hearing person could have done this role and that deaf actors just couldn’t “cut” it for the role.
We have no business telling Matt what to do.
We are not under any obligation at all because this is a film that Matt has invested in.
He is entitled to do as he pleases. No one is controlling him except for certain group of deaf people that are TRYING To control him.
White Ghost, I was being sarcastic in my reference to “fully functional ears.” My point was that just about all of us here have had the unpleasant experience of watching prospective jobs elude our grasp because of discrimination. But our bitter experiences do not give us the right to dictate how other people should produce their movies.
Without our help, Matt Hamill is strong enough to assure that this movie will offer only solid information about deaf people. He is strong enough to guarantee its authenticity, without our meddling in the project.
And I don’t know what Eben Kostbar is going to do after this movie, so I am not going to engage in a speculative debate on that matter.
DJ, frankly. I don’t see it that way. But certainly some Deaf individuals are being a bit paranoid about all this. There is a reason why Matt chose an actor to play himself. Nothing more. Nothing less. Let’s not get read so much into all this. All this is a bunch of knee jerking going on around.
Alrighty, I had a cup of coffee, had some carbs and hugged a tree and I want to ask, based on this method of reasoning I have to ask, who would play Michael Jackson?
A white African American?
or
An African American thats white?
And who’d play FLDS leader Warren Jeffs (Mormon sect which believes in polygamy) if there is gonna be a movie about him? A Mormon or a Jewish or a Muslim?
Again as a few people have said, it is called “acting”. I know it is not fair. We all want to give or receive some credit.
As for Matt Hamill, best wishes. It is always good to examine ourselves and cultures in different ways.
I, for one, find it unfair to compare color. We can compare deaf with gay (face value) and with certain enthicity. Just seems more fair that way.
So, are they now demanding only Italians play italian roles? Only gay play gay roles? Oh, yah why didn’t the lebsians go in an uproar when Marlee played a lesbian? It’s just like what many other commenters have commented similarly. Simple logic.
Anyways it all still comes down to the sum of it all and that is, it’s Matt’s decision not ours.
Yes, Candy. Heaven forbid. Marlee Matlin who is a straight, deaf mother with a hearing husband and have children playing the role of a lesbian! Utter outrage!
Wait a second…I’ve never watched Marlee as a lesbian. Does she play a hearing lesbian or a deaf lesbian?
And should we boycott all future Gallaudet Board of Trustee meetings until redress is offered to the lesbian actress sent into unemployment by Matlin’s shameless promotion of her own heterosexual career?
I’m learning something new everyday. Not only does the Deaf Community have the rights over deaf children, deaf adults, CIs, Hearing Aids, and family choices, but now they can pick the actor to play the role since Matt is deaf. WTF!
So this is what they call DeafHood? Or is it just Deaf Control.
First I watch videos that my nine year old laughed at and now the d/hoh blogging world is in arms over a hearing actor acting deaf. Oh good grief, let Matt pick who he wants to play him. It is called acting. I hope he does not back down.
McConnell and Valerie,
Matt didn’t “choose” an actor to play himself. Eben and the producers approached him with an offer for his life rights and paid him. Matt might or might not get a bonus (I don’t know the details of the agreement) if the movie is made, so he has a vested interest in seeing the movie get made.
The decision to play the role is 100% the producers’, not Matt’s. Matt is not the target of our discussion, the decision of the producers to cast Eben in the role (and a doubly-complicated situation arises here because Eben is one of the producers) is. Eben sees this as his “Rocky” and is betting that this role will launch his acting career.
If a producer bought the rights to my life, I would be very supportive of this producer and that is what Matt is doing here. But if the producers chose to cast a deaf person, I am sure Matt would support this as well.
Deaf Control?
ha, ha, ha……..
By having no chance to get the deaf man’s leading roles…Who are our deaf men’s leading roles for doing some big movies, TV series, Broadway and others? Make some lists!
Com’n ev’ry’n!
Almost none!
Give a deaf guy a chance for doing a leading role in a movie.
Phyllis Frelich (Tony award winner — Broadway), Marlee Maltin, Linda Bove (Sesame Street – Permanent Actress) ….they are women powers!
Lou Ferrigno – Hulk, Hercules, and many small roles.
That’s it.
If Lou, as a famous bodybuilder, can act as Hulk.
Then why not Matt Hamill, as a famous professional wrestler, can act too?
Pondering…
Zippy, you’ve got a point there. California has Schwarzenegger who was a professional bodybuilder who then became a famous actor and is now the Governator. Lookit where his bod got him.
I find it puzzling deaf people of whatever degree or lifestyle, language or ‘culture’ are being slammed for not toing the line, who drew this line ? Is the deaf community now a cult we have to conform to ? So after umpteen years of toing the mainstream view of what we are supposed to be, we now have to adjust to the ‘Deaf’ version… The gospel according to St Paddy of Deafhood…. Last time I looked I was wasn’t a walking advert for that….. like allhere I am an individual first, and a deaf person second. If they want me to push the deaf cultural concept, what’s the wage ?
Ann_C–
Remember Ronald Reagan?
He was the actor, then Governor….boom President of the USA.
Remember Jesse Ventura of Minn.
Wrestler, actor and then Governor.
Anything is possible
)
We will keep an eye on Matt Hamill then… who is being dealt with “not deaf enough” card lately. He could make a joke of us if he rises through fame and power, huh?
;o)
DJ, to “choose” isn’t what I meant more like the producers respecting what Matt has to say. From his website:
“He has spent a lot of time with me, my family and friends and knows me better than any deaf actor I know of. This is why I stand firm on my decision to have Eben play me. I insisted all other parts be played by deaf actors and I promise this film will make the deaf community proud.”
“The movie is about my life and I believe I have earned the respect to decide how I want it told.”
Nuff said. He has that leverage.
Paotie!
I totally agree with you about Matt. I second your letter..
I’m now writing a draft for my blog as to why my “deafhood” died…
Ben
Heh heh, Ben. It died…?
McConnell,
I’ll bet you a dime the producers had the statement on the website prepared for Matt. They’re paying him well and he has the obligation to support this production.
If they cast a deaf person in the role, Matt would be saying the exact same thing. That’s why I feel it’s worth fighting for the deaf actor, somewhere, who is losing the role of his lifetime here.
Bet? Why not ask Matt instead instead of these wild-eyes speculations?
metaphorically yep. I’m still working on the draft
coming soon. lol
Ben
Ben ..
You did a great job on your article, too! Very well-written and concise.
I’m looking forward to your letter.
Paotie
Well, if a deaf actor were to play Matt Hamill, I’d support SeekGeo for the role. If he can dish it out and lay the smackdown on his Hell’s Kitchen victims, imagine what he could do to his opponents in the ring!
*grin* at JS’s comment about SeekGeo’s laying the smackdown…
Oh Yay!
My Seek Geo!
He’d be great if he plays for Matt Hamill.
I *already* sneaked Seek Geo’s to steal Paotie’s replica boa when I became a Pink Panther.
*looks around* uh.. moi?!
*blushing*
He he.. well… *blushing* Oh JS.. *blushing* Ok I better stop blush!
LMAO.. “lay the smashdown” — Not sure if Matt Hamill would have liked it seeing me wearing one of my infamous wigs playing his role smashing opponents in the ring. *grins*
Did I wish there is a deaf actor to play the role of Matt Hamill?
Sure, you bet!
But since it was his personal choice which have nothing to do with production or anything that I know then we have to respect his decision.. his choice.
I guess me going out for an audition is out of question then.
White Ghost, leave my replica boa!!
-SG
Talked to Matt,
He is not getting “one dime” out of this movie or received payments from producers that “influenced” his decision about the lead actor selection.
He says he’ll always respect the deaf community. But apparently many Deaf people are not giving him the respect he deserves (as well as a bunch of nonsense grief, too).
Shame on them.
Look to his website for future updates. I’m not going to tell you what those will be…just wait.
Cool! This just strengthens his decision. I’m seeing a lot more and hearing a lot more support for Matt, than not.
Candy ..
I agree – there seems to be more support for Hamill.
GO, HAMILL, GO!!
Paotie
[...] Matt Hamill – Don’t Listen to the Hecklers! [...]
FACT: No payment has been made to the members of the production team, or Matt Hamill, for their development efforts. Any development costs that have arisen within the last two years have been personally paid for by the managing members.
http://www.matthamill.com/
Just like I said a few days ago, Matt isn’t getting paid for this. These people NEED to stop with their wild-eyed speculations and rumors. It just gets sillier and sillier.
SeekGeo, you would be willing to act as Matt Hamill the Homophobe?
How pathetic.
R-
I think I hear this high pitch squealing right now.