Sailing does your soul good. It made me think a lot about what happened when I was 20. My four deaf buddies and I decided to buy a 1975 27foot sail boat for $2,500 and sailed out of Maryland to Florida with hopes to voyage to the deepest Caribbean we could navigate until it was time for Fall semester…, testing our and the boat’s willpower and grit.
I can’t count on both hands how many interventions parents held with us, telling us to reconsider the trip due to our sheer inexperience. We persisted and said we were certified in sailing— which we took a course in Puerto Rico during spring break… just weeks before. We were kids wanting to drink up the world so there weren’t anything they could reason with us.
I remember when we were in the middle of Chesapeake bay. We had just begun. We were so excited that a friend shotgunned a monster energy drink. What an idiot. But anyway — the Bay was massive that it looked like we were out in the open, in the middle of Atlantic Ocean, with absolutely no sight of land. “Fuck yeah, we’re sailing!” we thought as we brought out the jib. But then there was a storm at 2am in the morning. Thunders cracked. Rained cats and dogs. The waters were choppy as it dangerously breathed up and down, above and then below us. The tiny 27foot felt like it was about to tip. As we braced for our final moments of life, we stayed up all night fighting the storm… in a bay.
Obviously we survived. That event gave us confidence in this wee boat, that it would indeed take us to the Caribbean. We pushed down south via the intercostal waterway. Unfortunately, after a long month, the engine faltered in Florida, the very last city before venturing out for the Caribbean. We were broke as a heck and couldn’t afford a new engine so we had the boat up for salvage and went back to our respective homes. Over the years — it’s been 11 years now— we would group-text and wonder if the boat would survive the Caribbean.
After my recent legitimate sailing experience out in the open of the Pacific Ocean to Catalina Islands, I realized that…
We would’ve died.
Sailing does your soul good. It made me think a lot about what happened when I was 20. My four deaf buddies and I decided to buy a 1975 27foot sail boat for $2,500 and sailed out of Maryland to Florida with hopes to voyage to the deepest Caribbean we could navigate until it was time for Fall semester…, testing our and the boat’s willpower and grit.
I can’t count on both hands how many interventions parents held with us, telling us to reconsider the trip due to our sheer inexperience. We persisted and said we were certified in sailing— which we took a course in Puerto Rico during spring break… just weeks before. We were kids wanting to drink up the world so there weren’t anything they could reason with us.
I remember when we were in the middle of Chesapeake bay. We had just begun. We were so excited that a friend shotgunned a monster energy drink. What an idiot. But anyway — the Bay was massive that it looked like we were out in the open, in the middle of Atlantic Ocean, with absolutely no sight of land. “Fuck yeah, we’re sailing!” we thought as we brought out the jib. But then there was a storm at 2am in the morning. Thunders cracked. Rained cats and dogs. The waters were choppy as it dangerously breathed up and down, above and then below us. The tiny 27foot felt like it was about to tip. As we braced for our final moments of life, we stayed up all night fighting the storm… in a bay.
Obviously we survived. That event gave us confidence in this wee boat, that it would indeed take us to the Caribbean. We pushed down south via the intercostal waterway. Unfortunately, after a long month, the engine faltered in Florida, the very last city before venturing out for the Caribbean. We were broke as a heck and couldn’t afford a new engine so we had the boat up for salvage and went back to our respective homes. Over the years — it’s been 11 years now— we would group-text and wonder if the boat would survive the Caribbean.
After my recent legitimate sailing experience out in the open of the Pacific Ocean to Catalina Islands, I realized that…
We would’ve died.
I love this so much. Tim, who is Deaf, is the package delivery man. Tallulah’s mother taught her British Sign Language to communicate with Tim!
Are you learning sign language during quarantine? 😬
Thank you @dailyfrontrow!
When asked how did I come up with this idea that this would work as a reality show at @netflix , “I am a Gallaudet graduate and back in my college days, my friends and I always used to say that Gallaudet really needed a reality TV show because we knew it would be a hit. Every time we would go on spring break or venture out to bars or clubs surrounding the campus, hearing people were so fascinated with us. They would want to hang with us and they were obsessed with our language and how we communicated. So it was clear that there was a real interest in our culture. People outside our community really don’t understand the Deaf world, maybe they’ve never even met someone who is Deaf, so there’s a unique level of fascination. We have so much diversity and so much beauty within our community. We are not a monolith, we have complicated layers. Gallaudet is the perfect entry point for people to see the variety, depth, and breadth of who we are.”
Photos by Creative Director @nicolaformichetti and Photographer @christianhogstedt #DEAFU #NETFLIX
Thank you @dailyfrontrow!
When asked how did I come up with this idea that this would work as a reality show at @netflix , “I am a Gallaudet graduate and back in my college days, my friends and I always used to say that Gallaudet really needed a reality TV show because we knew it would be a hit. Every time we would go on spring break or venture out to bars or clubs surrounding the campus, hearing people were so fascinated with us. They would want to hang with us and they were obsessed with our language and how we communicated. So it was clear that there was a real interest in our culture. People outside our community really don’t understand the Deaf world, maybe they’ve never even met someone who is Deaf, so there’s a unique level of fascination. We have so much diversity and so much beauty within our community. We are not a monolith, we have complicated layers. Gallaudet is the perfect entry point for people to see the variety, depth, and breadth of who we are.”
Photos by Creative Director @nicolaformichetti and Photographer @christianhogstedt #DEAFU #NETFLIX
Thank you @dailyfrontrow!
When asked how did I come up with this idea that this would work as a reality show at @netflix , “I am a Gallaudet graduate and back in my college days, my friends and I always used to say that Gallaudet really needed a reality TV show because we knew it would be a hit. Every time we would go on spring break or venture out to bars or clubs surrounding the campus, hearing people were so fascinated with us. They would want to hang with us and they were obsessed with our language and how we communicated. So it was clear that there was a real interest in our culture. People outside our community really don’t understand the Deaf world, maybe they’ve never even met someone who is Deaf, so there’s a unique level of fascination. We have so much diversity and so much beauty within our community. We are not a monolith, we have complicated layers. Gallaudet is the perfect entry point for people to see the variety, depth, and breadth of who we are.”
Photos by Creative Director @nicolaformichetti and Photographer @christianhogstedt #DEAFU #NETFLIX
#HBOpartner – Because @AIDSLifeCycle’s 545-mile bike ride to raise awareness was cancelled this year due to coronavirus, I completed a 545-minute (a little over 9 hours) bike ride as a personal effort for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Los Angeles LGBT center!
I want to use the opportunity to mention that marginalized groups are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS due to the lack of access to services, resources, and education. The disparity in health care also impacts marginalized communities, and even more during this pandemic. Thank you @HBO and their #HumanByOrientation initiative for partnering with @AidsLifeCycle, helping raise awareness, and supporting everyone that has HIV/AIDS effects.
Go to AIDSLifeCycle.org and click the donate button.
@HBO and #HumanByOrientation #HBOpartner
SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!! Can’t wait star in it and share my Deaf world with you all 🤟🏼🤟🏼🤟🏼🤟🏼!!!! <0/
In 1999 (i was 10), I told a Deaf joke to sign language interpreters at a conference 😂
Somebody get me out of this Groundhog Day bullshit… Wear a mask while you do it though 😂
ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL DEAF U breaks the mold! Thank you @forbes for this great piece.
[October 9th on @Netflix]
ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL DEAF U breaks the mold! Thank you @forbes for this great piece.
[October 9th on @Netflix]
ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL DEAF U breaks the mold! Thank you @forbes for this great piece.
[October 9th on @Netflix]
ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL DEAF U breaks the mold! Thank you @forbes for this great piece.
[October 9th on @Netflix]
ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL DEAF U breaks the mold! Thank you @forbes for this great piece.
[October 9th on @Netflix]
October 9th on @netflix! Very excited about this and can’t wait for you all to meet all the incredible cast!
@boobie_burford
@renate.rose
@cheyennaclearbrook
@d_taylor14
@tessazabrina
@alexajenal
@ogdzt
@camjeon17
\0>
I’m excited to share my Netflix series with you!!! DEAF U, a coming-of-age docuseries follows a tight-knit group of Deaf students at my alma mater Gallaudet University. MARK YOUR CALENDAR: OCTOBER 9TH on NETFLIX!
When I was a student at Gallaudet, my friends and I always thought that the world would absolutely eat up a reality show about our insular Deaf community at world’s only Deaf university.
Now I get to show that world to the universe!
<0/
AND!! Audible is a cinematic and immersive coming of age documentary following Maryland School for the Deaf high school athlete Amaree McKenstry-Hall and his close friends as they face the pressures of senior year and grappling with the realities of venturing off into the hearing world. Amaree and his teammates take out their frustrations on the football field as they battle to protect an unprecedented winning streak, while coming to terms with the tragic loss of a close friend. This is a story about kids who stand up to adversity and demand to be heard. They face conflict, but approach the future with hope – shouting to the world that they exist and they matter.
I’m excited to share my Netflix series with you!!! DEAF U, a coming-of-age docuseries follows a tight-knit group of Deaf students at my alma mater Gallaudet University. MARK YOUR CALENDAR: OCTOBER 9TH on NETFLIX!
When I was a student at Gallaudet, my friends and I always thought that the world would absolutely eat up a reality show about our insular Deaf community at world’s only Deaf university.
Now I get to show that world to the universe!
<0/
AND!! Audible is a cinematic and immersive coming of age documentary following Maryland School for the Deaf high school athlete Amaree McKenstry-Hall and his close friends as they face the pressures of senior year and grappling with the realities of venturing off into the hearing world. Amaree and his teammates take out their frustrations on the football field as they battle to protect an unprecedented winning streak, while coming to terms with the tragic loss of a close friend. This is a story about kids who stand up to adversity and demand to be heard. They face conflict, but approach the future with hope – shouting to the world that they exist and they matter.
In honor of National Disability Employment Month, I’m partnering with SourceAmerica to raise awareness about disability employment issues and reiterate how workers with a disability are always essential. Head to @SourceAmerica to learn more! #NDEAM75 #ad
DEAF U revealing Donald Trump’s ASL Sign Name is the realest tea 👀👀 DEAF U premieres tomorrow on @netflix!!!
DEAF U CAST:
@boobie_burford
@renate.rose
@d_taylor14
@alexajenal
@tessazabrina
@cheyennaclearbrook
@ogdzt
If you’d like some more information, check out @signvote for accessible content on the 2020 election!
#signvote
#cripthevote
#revup
#election2020
@laurenridloff
@shoshannah7
@thecjjones
@seanforbes
@themarleematlin
@johnmaucere
@votedotorg
@dpantv
Sunday marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which cemented civil rights protections for people with disabilities. Equal access and representation matter! That’s why I’m proud to have two projects among these Netflix titles featuring incredible stories of disabled people. Deaf U, a coming-of-age docuseries follows a tight-knit group of Deaf students at my alma mater Gallaudet University; and Audible, a documentary short about a Deaf high school football player poised for success, but has to manage harrowing circumstances off the field as well. I hope you enjoy these projects as much I have working on them!
![Nyle DiMarco Instagram - ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL DEAF U breaks the mold! Thank you @forbes for this great piece. [October 9th on @Netflix]](https://www.gethucinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NyleDiMarco-133-150x150.jpg)
![Nyle DiMarco Instagram - ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL DEAF U breaks the mold! Thank you @forbes for this great piece. [October 9th on @Netflix]](https://www.gethucinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NyleDiMarco-181-150x150.jpg)
![Nyle DiMarco Instagram - ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL DEAF U breaks the mold! Thank you @forbes for this great piece. [October 9th on @Netflix]](https://www.gethucinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NyleDiMarco-182-150x150.jpg)
![Nyle DiMarco Instagram - ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL DEAF U breaks the mold! Thank you @forbes for this great piece. [October 9th on @Netflix]](https://www.gethucinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NyleDiMarco-183-150x150.jpg)
![Nyle DiMarco Instagram - ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL DEAF U breaks the mold! Thank you @forbes for this great piece. [October 9th on @Netflix]](https://www.gethucinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NyleDiMarco-184-150x150.jpg)
