The cast of 'CODA' on finally seeing deaf culture portrayed on screen
The new movie CODA focuses on a deaf family with a hearing daughter who wants to be a singer. Here, the cast talks about the importance of seeing deaf culture and deaf families portrayed on screen.
Video Transcript
- (SINGING) I got a feeling that I never, never, never had before.
- You're the girl with the deaf family?
- (SINGING) Yeah.
- Yeah.
- (SINGING) I just want to tell you right now.
- And you sing? Interesting.
KEVIN POLOWY: This movie has received a rapturous response since first premiering at the virtual Sundance Film Festival. Could you tell early on while working on it, while on set, that this was going to be something really special?
EMILIA JONES: Everybody poured their heart and soul into this movie. And so, we kind of always felt like we were making something special because everybody was giving their all. But it wasn't until the scene with Troy at the back of the pickup truck. We did the first take, and Sian called cut, and everybody was crying. And it was kind of-- and all the interpreters on set were CODAs, and they were crying too.
And it was kind of a moment for me and Sian and Troy. And we kind of looked around, and we thought, OK, what we're making, it's special. It's making people feel. And because the CODAs were crying, it was also exciting because we were telling something we were-- It was truthful, and it was accurate.
MARLEE MATLIN THROUGH INTERPRETER: I said to myself when I first read the script, I said, my God. First of all, this screams my name. I have to be in it. Because I knew from just the outset that this could be an awesome film because of the fact that it was so authentic, that it included deaf actors, that the characters, the storyline, being so universal yet being so specific, having lived as a deaf person, understanding, identifying with a story, looking at what it was telling us, and what I read, that's what I knew.
I knew. I knew it would be well received as long as the people kept an open mind and listened to the message of the film, its story, everything that you see on the screen.
KEVIN PLOWY: How would you say you've related to Jackie? I mean, she is such a dynamic character, and also just extraordinarily cool, I must say.
MARLEE MATLIN THROUGH INTERPRETER: I agree, I agree. She was-- I concur. I think she was cool. Jackie and I are both mothers. I happen to have four children who are all hearing. I'm the only deaf person in my family, unlike Jackie. And I think what we share is a sense of humor.
We both are very protective of our children and of our families. And yet, Jackie's point of view, I would have to say, depends on her daughter as her interpreter. And that's not necessarily how I identify with my children.
KEVIN POLOWY: I have to ask you about Emilia Jones. She's so excellent in this movie. I'm pretty sure she's going to be a huge star. What's been your impression working with her?
DANIEL DURANT THROUGH INTERPRETER: Oh, I mean, everything she did in CODA was amazing. And she's-- she knocked my socks off, really. I was so impressed. She can do it all. She learned how to fish. We changed her accent from her native British to-- I mean, honestly, I don't know how that works exactly because I'm a deaf person. But, you know, to American to Boston.
She learned sign language and deaf culture. I mean, all these things were on her plate. She was doing all that at once for this role. And, you know, how she acted, I mean, she made it look easy, honestly.
But behind that, I'm sure she was working hard. She was practicing every night. But when she was on set, she made it look easy because she's so amazing.
KEVIN PLOWY: I mean, how daunting was the sign language aspect for you? You know, especially, because obviously, you have to learn it, you have to communicate it. But you also have to use it opposite of someone like Marlee Matlin, this legend. And all these deaf performers.
EMILIA JONES: I know. It was very daunting, but I love a challenge. And I think that's what drew me to this role. I knew that it's not every day that you get to learn three skills for a project and bind some of those skills too, you know?
I had to sing out and sign at the same time, which is kind of like multitasking under pressure. So I loved that this film was pushing me and educating me, too. I didn't know anything about deaf culture or ASL. And so, that excited me that I was totally in the deep end but learning so much.
KEVIN PLOWY: And as a hearing person, I mean, what were the biggest challenges for you in directing your cast that was half hearing actors and half deaf actors?
SIAN HEDER: I think the challenge for me was, you know, that relationship is so intimate between director and actor. So when I started and there was an interpreter with me in between the relationship with the actors, it was very nerve wracking for me because I'm like, I'm choosing my word, but then this person's choosing their words, and what if that word isn't what I intended?
And so, I had been studying sign, and I quickly said to my cast, hey, is it OK if I just sign with you directly, and because I want to be able to express emotion on my face and connect with you. And Troy and Daniel and Marlee were like, yes please, let's do that. Let's all go for it. So we always had an interpreter there, and we had fantastic interpreters on set who were jumping in to clarify things and make sure that everybody was on the same page. We all went for it and I got laughed at a lot when I ridiculously messed up a sign, but it was a great way to work.
EUGENIO DERBEZ: I knew that we were doing an amazing movie. But when I saw the final result, I was in awe. I was shocked because Sean-- And I think that it's because she's a female. She's a woman. She has more-- Her sensibility is amazing.
It's way more-- she's more intelligent than-- emotionally intelligent than a men, so I think she brought the movie to another level. And that's why this movie touches your heart, makes you laugh. It has everything. The way she handled the plot and the comedy and drama at the same time, I was really in awe.
KEVIN PLOWY: The Rossis are such a fun, funny, fun-loving family. I don't know that we necessarily stereotype or generalize that families as a society. I mean, it's hurting people. But I also don't know that we've ever seen a family like this portrayed in a major American film. How important was that aspect for you that the freshness and the richness with which this particular family is depicted?
TROY KOTSUR THROUGH INTERPRETER: To me, it's a typical dynamic, growing up with deaf adults and being part of a deaf family. But I didn't realize the hearing audience and how fresh of an experience it is for them. Because to me, it's just commonplace, but it's amazing, the reaction of the audience and how they really-- it really resonates with them. That you see this loving family that hasn't been portrayed in the past, and observing their reactions has been very interesting for me. And it makes me think like, where the f have you been all this time?
KEVIN PLOWY: Do you feel like stories about deaf people or deaf families have been sorely underrepresented in pop culture over the years?
TROY KOTSUR THROUGH INTERPRETER: That's a really good question. Let's say you're driving, you get lost, and you need directions. Let's say you don't have your phone, and you encounter a stranger, and you ask them for directions. And when you meet with them they motion that they're deaf, and you say, oh, well I didn't know that. Because you would overlook that.
Deafness isn't noticeable until you interact. You're not seeing a cane or a wheelchair or anything that would differentiate them. Or even an interpreter. You bump into them and you don't realize. But that's their identity on the inside. And a lot of times, the deaf community is overlooked out there.
KEVIN PLOWY: Considering this film deals so much with music, I wanted to ask you about your own experience with it. And I apologize if I come across naive at any point, but it does seem to me like it's a common misconception that deaf people cannot enjoy music. How would you describe your relationship with music and/or lyrics? I mean, do you enjoy it in any form, whether it's picking up on vibrations or reading lyrics like poetry?
MARLEE MATLIN THROUGH INTERPRETER: Yes, I love music. My two older brothers introduced me to Billy Joel and James Taylor when I was a young kid, and I would read their lyrics, and I would listen in my own way, not the same way you do. But I learned to listen and sign to it.
TROY KOTSUR THROUGH INTERPRETER: I'm not really into music. So many people say how touching it is, and oh, that's so sad that you're missing out on this beautiful experience. OK. Look, I was born deaf. I lived in a silent world. As far as music, I see people singing and it doesn't do much for me.
I do want to know what they're talking about. I'd like to ask for the lyrics so I can look them over. That might be interesting. But then, the irony is, here, Ruby loves music. And my real life daughter wants to learn guitar.
And I'm thinking like, what does this mean to you? And then she explains to me about these famous musicians and how emotional the music is, and I try to learn.
DANIEL DURANT THROUGH INTERPRETER: Me personally, I love music. You know, you see that scene in the film when the dad's in the truck and he's just like booming the bass when he goes to pick up the daughter at school, if you remember that scene. That's exactly what that people do. That is really authentic.
For example, myself and Troy who plays the father, we are both profoundly deaf. We can't hear anything at all. But we both love feeling the vibrations, the bass, the boom, the thumping. I mean, there's a whole variety of deaf people, and they all have music in their own ways.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
