Changer: A Hand Telling
Available Now
A timeless, cross-cultural storytelling event bridging Native myths and Deaf culture
Changer accepted to nine film festivals and counting!
Upcoming Festivals:
Local Sightings Film Festival
Native Spirit Film Festival
Superfest Disability Film Festival
Previous:
Seattle Deaf Film Festival (world premiere)
Latino & Native American Film Festival
Sarasota Native American Film Festival
Portland Deaf Film Festival
1904 Deaf Film Festival
Seattle Wine and Film Festival
Changer: A Hand Telling
A story told for families across generations
The beloved Coast Salish tale of Changer takes new form yet again – this time, as an innovative film presented in Native Sign Language.
Released last year as a radio play, renowned Deaf storyteller Howie Seago worked with original adapters Fern Naomi Renville and Roger Fernandes to create this first-of-its-kind, sign-language-based film featuring two Deaf Native storytellers. This film takes the original audio and augments it with gorgeous Lower Elwha S’Klallam landscapes and visual storytelling created for the screen.
Central to this project is Dr. Melanie McKay-Cody, serving as Director of Artistic Sign Language and Native Cultural Consultant.
In the spirit of the work, we are offering this work on a donation-basis. Please consider donating the cost of a ticket to support future works like this.
Accessibility:
This production is presented as an on-demand video that runs 1 hour and 5 minutes. The entire film is signed and has closed captions.
Changer: A Hand Telling was filmed on Lower Elwha S’Klallam Tribe land.
Poster by Seneca Harper. Original Artwork by Roger Fernandes.
[Image Description: a poster for Sound Theatre Company’s upcoming production. In the center is the circular “Changer” face against a dark wooden background and 3 icons showing the ASL sign for Changer, above it is the title “Changer: A Hand Telling.” The Changer face is a face in the moon in a Native art-style, split down the middle, features alternating in color between dark blue and white. The Changer sign is two hands facing each other as if holding a ball, one hand over the other, then rotating both ways. Below it is the text “Coming November 2021,” production credits, Sound Theatre logo, and land acknowledgement. End of description.]
Film Stills
Credits
Cast
| G Christian Vasquez | El Salvador | Changer, Sonny Burns |
| Roberto Sandoval | Coyote, Johnny Burns, Sandi Jackson | |
| Dr. Melanie McKay-Cody | Cherokee | Cleo Burns |
Production
| Fern Naomi Renville | Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, Omaha, Seneca-Cayuga | Original Adapter |
| Roger Fernandes | Lower Elwha S’Klallam | Original Adapter |
| Howie Seago | Director | |
| Dr. Melanie McKay-Cody | Cherokee | Director of Artistic Sign Language / Native Cultural Consultant |
| Kyle Seago | Cinematographer | |
| Raven Two Feathers | Cherokee, Seneca, Cayuga, Comanche | Cinematographer |
| Doris Black | Costume Designer | |
| John R. Huddlestun | ASL Interpreter Liaison | |
| Jessamyn Bateman-Iino | Stage Manager | |
| Grecia Leal | Stage Manager |
Sponsors
