Many states, like Texas, are attracting movie productions with tax incentives. Ohio Film Incentives have paved the way for a pioneer movie, In Other Words, that features a deaf leading man and a blind leading lady. Leading the way, deaf actor, RYAN LANE plays opposite a blind actress in this pioneer film.
Jeremy Wilde in this movie loses his hearing at a young age and then loses his father in his teens. Becoming embittered and enraged at his losses, he cuts off communication from the hearing world. After enrollment in a special boarding school he falls in love with a student and graceful dancer Lenora, whom learns is blind. Through hurdling the communication barriers, they forge a bond. Jeremy is challenged by Lenora's joy for life and faith in God.
The producer stated, “This film is a first of its kind.” That is, it is the first to have a deaf actor playing opposite a blind actress in the two leading roles. Deaf actor, Ryan Lane (ABC Family’s Switched at Birth and FOX’s House M.D.) has signed on to play Jeremy Wilde the main character of the film.
Ryan Lane says of the film, "This movie is something that, as far as I know, has never been done before. Although I am deaf, I have not thought before about how I would communicate with a blind person. This new concept is very interesting and exciting to me. Being the only deaf person in a hearing family, it's hard for me to understand someone like Jeremy, who is a very closed off to the hearing world. This will be a challenge for me to play such an angry person living in the past with no hope for a future. I am really looking forward to conquering this challenge."
The blind acting community is much smaller than the larger deaf acting one. Therefore, it has been much harder for producers and the director of In Other Words to find a blind actress. Where many producers would have thrown in the towel, the producers for this movie are committed to using a blind or visually impaired actress for the leading lady.
This is the first film to have the entire production in the state capital under the Ohio film incentive. “Columbus has so much to offer…The Ohio School for the Blind has a brand new facility and dorms for our locations,” says director Joshua A. Porter. The movie is currently in pre-production with I’AMedia ltd, an Ohio film studio.
Although the film is in early stages, several distributors have expressed their interest in this project and have scheduled meetings, solely based on intrigue and interest in the uniqueness of the script. The producers hope to secure a limited theatrical distribution deal that will showcase the film in at least four hundred theaters. Ryan Lane’s agent, Robbie Mahrou (369 Universal Artists) and I’AMedia are working together to secure a product placement deal for a big name voice relay service provider for the film.
For more information contact: info@visions2video.com. Follow them on Facebook on In Other Words – The Movie.
Austin has schools and communities for the deaf and blind. Perhaps Austin filmmakers will follow Ohio's lead to attract and serve deaf, blind, and general audiences with inspirational stories about and for the hearing and seeing impaired.
Contact me, Dr. Diane Howard, at dhoward@vvm.com or visit my Web site at http://www.dianehoward.com.
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