Five needles - deaf history

Today some students attended a presentation by Eva Clarke (a hearing lady) about her first-hand experiences of the Holocaust. The event was offered as an opportunity for mainstream students to develop their knowledge about this terrible period of human history.

The students learnt a lot from the talk but had not been aware of the experiences of deaf people during that period. So I take this opportunity to share the link to a film "Five Needles", funded by Neath Films and was supported by the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust.

Five Needles is based on the true accounts of Deaf survivors of the concentration camps during WW2. The film follows four Deaf women who, like many other Jewish Deaf people of that time, conceal their Deafness in order to try and stay alive in those brutal conditions.

Below is a trailer to the film. Click here to see the full film.

Actress for lead role in BSL Film - London, UK

For the budding actresses among you - Request from BSLBT:

We are looking for a deaf Muslim girl between the age of 18-22 to play Zarah, the lead role in Raabia Hussain's ZOOM film for the BSLBT.

This is a touching story of a deaf Muslim teenager in 2001 who overcomes her feelings of isolation after the xenophobic backlash after the terrorist attacks in New York.

You need not have any acting experience, but you should be comfortable being in front of a camera! The film will be broadcast on the Community Channel and on Film4.

Please respond with your details and a recent photo to mark@neathfilms.com.

Good luck!

Another Actor opportunity: NeathFilms '911'

NeathFilms are looking for Actors and Background Artists to appear in '911' a short film in BSL. They have published the following information:

'911' is a short film funded by the not-for-profit British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust to be transmitted on Film Four, the Community Channel and entered into International film festivals.

This is a touching story written by first time director Raabia Hussain. 911 tells the story of a deaf Muslim teenager in 2001 who overcomes her feelings of isolation after the xenophobic backlash after the terrorist attacks in New York.

We are looking for:

 Asian Females 16-20 - To Play Zarah

Caucasian Males 30-45 - To Play Harold

Caucasian Females 30-45 - To Play Dorothy

 We are also looking for Male and Female background artists with no acting experience necessary, deaf or hearing who are able to sign in BSL.

 Please respond to mark@neathfilms.com. Assistant Producer, Neath Films Ltd, Unit M2 Shakespeare Business Centre, 245a Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8RR, Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 207 733 8688, Mob: +44 (0) 7950 432 169