For Immediate Release
(Newswire.net — February 3, 2013) Denver, CO — Unless you are filming a reality show, movies don’t get made by kids off the street. Then add to that the majority of them being deaf or hard of hearing and get them to work together at various movie locations , play basketball, learn lines and participate in the art and craft of Independent Film-making. That’s exactly what Darla Rae has done in the creation of the movie “Spirit of Love”, a story inspired by a camp for kids in Atlanta, GA created by retired NBA basketball record setter Mike “Stinger” Glenn.
“These are not actors, just regular kids. And that was the point of telling this story and creating such an inspiring film” reflects Darla Rae, producer and director. Being accustomed to making feature and documentary films in very short time frames, her concerns about the time it would take to have freshman performers learn lines, take instruction and to have them interact. Then add the technical aspect of using sign language to get everyone to know what to do. “It is always a pressure situation and Indie Films don’t have the luxury of time and money, specifically with Micro Budgets. Every moment counts. I was impressed how well these young people brought enthusiasm and natural talent to be a part of a truly groundbreaking project. I don’t think anyone has ever made a movie featuring teen actors who are deaf and hard of hearing working with hearing actors or at least teens that had never acted before or been on a movie set. The more I found out how few films are made with teen role models like our characters, my mission was clear to make this fully captioned movie so the deaf, hard of hearing and their hearing family and friends could all watch together. I’d never thought it important to caption my films before. Now I get it, and I hope others will too.”
The movie was made with a large cast, for an independent micro budget, in only 14 days of shooting on set during sweltering summer heat, and complicated travel schedules for the actors, some commuting over an hour each direction every day to help tell the story. In addition to the diligent cast and crew, it involved over 20 ASL Interpreters. Everyone came to realize how many people have been touched by the camps over the years. This movie will help future camps and offer entertainment to a large community that has very few options available to them to enjoy large screen or feature length movies with characters which they identify with.
Darla Rae and her production company Film It Productions has made feature length and documentary films that have received international awards, Congressional viewings, recommendations from healthcare and sports organizations and praised for producing stories about topics that have not been addressed before. She holds many classes and privately consults with aspiring actors and storytellers to help them understand the art and business of truly Indie moviemaking.
For more information, Darla Rae can be reached at darla@film-itproductions.com or 720-620-0536.
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