New Filmmakers Los Angeles :: Pride Month Shorts

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) is a non-profit organization that showcases innovative works by emerging filmmakers from around the world, offering a forum for Los Angeles' community of entertainment professionals and filmgoers with a constant influx of monthly screening events.

NFMLA partners with SAG-AFTRA, the Producer's Guild, Film Independent, Women in Film, Disney, Sony, DreamWorks, UCLA, MovieMaker Magazine, Variety, Film L.A., the City of Los Angeles and foreign consulates, to host an array of annual programs, workshops, panels, competitions and networking opportunities.

Their Cinema Film Shorts Program illuminates a wide range of topics and for the month of June, highlights the LGBTQ experience. These emerging international filmmakers, directors and actors give authentic representation by humanizing the characters and making them relatable to their audiences. The storylines revolve around conflicts of identity, community and family. Everything from a serial killer on the hunt for love, millennials who decide to get their lives together after one last night of debauchery to four misfits who make the world their stage.

The Rage Monthly caught up with John McGinty, who recently reinterpreted the role as the first deaf Hunchback in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" at the La Mirada Theatre. He's the star of the NFMLA entry called "SIGN," a silent film about the relationship between a hearing man and one who is deaf. It's the first collaboration between actor/director/bestselling author Andrew Keenan-Bolger, writer/composer Adam Wachter and actor/director Alexandria Wailes.

The filmmakers felt compelled to address this under-explored human experience, using only silent vignettes, a musical score and American Sign Language. The short tells the story of the gay relationship between Ben, a hearing man, and Aaron, who is hearing impaired. With the help and collaboration of talented deaf friends in the New York theatre community, the film was shot in a four-day marathon session in multiple locations across New York City, staffed by actors, ASL interpreters, hearing impaired consultants and many passionate volunteers.

When asked to describe the theme of SIGN, McGinty offered this, "The theme of the story in 'SIGN;' is the idea of intersectionality, especially with gays, where their identities sort of intersect and how to depict that. It is to understand how similar the deaf and gay experiences can be and that there is no true definition of love... It can be anything!" He concluded with, "Another theme is 'communication' and how significantly it can impact certain relationships."

When explaining the relationship between his character who is hearing impaired and the character who is able to hear, McGinty went on to explain it as a love story. "The film really tells the entire story of the relationship. But, I can tell you that my character is quite assertive and goes after what he wants. I don't want to spoil it, but yes, it is a love story... But, the question is, what kind of love story is it?"

Shooting the film in four days offered a number of challenges for the cast and crew. "I think the biggest challenge I had was that we shot so many scenes in four days and it is quite difficult to find the proper emotions to interact with the other character since scenes were out of order."

McGinty explained why he feels it is more important now than ever to create awareness of the deaf community and represent it to the hearing community. "Honestly, in the bigger picture, this is not about 'a deaf and hearing relationship,' it is about two people who want to be in a relationship despite their differences. I think it is important for the audience to understand that we're all just human."

Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with the filmmakers, industry supporters and film lovers with an open bar at the Filmmakers' Lounge adjacent to the private entry of the 500-seat theatre in Downtown Los Angeles.

LGBTQ CINEMA FILM PROGRAMS

SATURDAY, JUNE 24

LGBTQ Stories of Love: "Cocoon," "Outside The Lines," "SIGN" and "Two Women"

7:30 p.m. Pre-screening Reception
8:15 p.m. Feature Program Screenings
9:20 p.m. Post-screening Q&A

LGBTQ Stories of Struggles & Conflict: "The Was," "Demons", "Garbage" and "Good Boy"

9:00 p.m. Pre-screening Reception
9:45 p.m. Feature Program Screenings
10:50 p.m. Post-screening Q&A

NewFilmmakers is located in the South Park Center, 1139 S. Hill Street in Los Angeles. For tickets and more information call 323.521.7385 or go to newfilmmakersla.com