Transcript

[Background: Orange/Blue/Purple gradient background. At the left top: “July: EPISODE 11”: on white/teal gradient background. At the left middle: “GLADly Chat”: with all agency’s logos in light tone on blue paint brush stroke background. 

Two columns starting from the center to the right: Two portraits of David Reynolds and David Saavedra. David Reynolds in black and white portrait, their hair combed back, wearing black polo shirt and suit coat. David Saavedra in his character portrait of James the Less. They are wearing Rome era costumes. They have goat mustaches.  

“Actors David Reynolds & David Saavedra (in bold): Jesus: A Deaf missions Film Q&A”: Video introduced David Reynolds and David Saavedra hugging together in a crowd. Video graphic images panning in and out of the video in gray and red.  

The video shows David and David walking toward the camera. 

Maisha, wearing green polo shirt with blue jeans, short hairstyle with gold earrings and purple eyeglasses, greeting Actors David and David to the chair. 

[Graphic image: “Hosted by CODIE (Center on Deafness Inland Empire) & Harkins Theatres Moreno Valley 16”: on black banner with orange/white stripes] 

Maisha: We would like to thank David Reynolds for coming here. David, another actor, has agreed to join us at the last minute. Thank you, David! We would like to thank Harkins Theatre for making this happen. Q/A after the film. Q/A gives the audience the opportunity to ask the actors about the movie. The actors will answer your questions.  

At the beginning of the movie, why is Jesus’ sign name different? (Showing Jesus another sign name). 

David R: You know, this sign (showing Jesus’ name) was created because of the crucifixion. We discussed Jesus’ sign name. Around 2,000 years ago, Jesus had not been crucified yet. So, we produced this sign name of Jesus for the movie. Yeshua is Jesus’ original name in Hebrew. (Show sign name). Until Jesus was crucified, then the sign name has changed to (show Jesus’ sign name in crucifixion). 

Maisha: How were you recruited as actors in the movie? 

David S: How did I end up getting involved in this movie? It is quite a funny story. I was looking for another job. I have applied for jobs with no luck. My friend, Michael Davis, who you saw at the beginning of the movie with the director has contacted and asked me to participate in an auction as an actor. I have known him before.  We used to work together at our church. He asked if I wanted to be part of the movie, and I agreed since I had plenty of time back then. I have auditioned for a character of a person with leprosy. Through the audition via Zoom, the director, Joseph, and Michael have decided that I would be better suited as the character of one of the twelve apostles, James the Less. I said OKAY and I was hired at the last minute. 

David R: I have been in many TV shows and movies as an actor, well known for Dr. Wonder’s Workshop. I was an actor (in Dr. Wonder’s Workshop series). I’ve known Joseph Josselyn, the director of the movie, Jesus. We’ve worked together in the fourth or fifth season. He’s my good friend. I also know Michael Davis.  He’s a resident of Riverside as I am. We used to work for his production company, GUM Vision Studio.  During the pre-production phase of the Jesus movie, I have just finished acting for “Uncondemned.”  I wanted to be involved in the Jesus movie. I must be involved. I want to grab this opportunity because there are few opportunities for elder male acting roles. I’ve decided to audition as one of the Pharisees. I want to take on a challenging role as a cruel character. 

Maisha: A few friends of mine hate his character in the movie. Obviously, he did a wonderful job in this role. 

David R: If you’re interested in seeing more ASL movies, we need to come together as a community to raise funds for creating more ASL films. I have many friends who have the ability or the skills to produce movies in any types of positions. I hope there are more movies coming that use ASL in a few years from now. I expected to see more (ASL movies) coming… 

David S: Amen 

David R: …including Deaf-Lead or Deaf Production Films. 

Maisha: I have noticed familiar backgrounds in the movie. I have noticed the film took place at Griffith Park (in Los Angeles) and Sycamore Park. It is in Riverside!  The production excelled in creating an international setting but was filmed nearby! I frequently go to Sycamore Park for hiking and in the movie, I immediately recognize this place! My question to you: Did the film production take place outside of the country? 

David R: Some of we went to Bulgaria to film there. I am lucky I was a part of this group.  David S was unable to attend as he is not part of the group. Twelve apostles did not go there.  David S went to Utah, Louisiana.  I went locally (California), Los Angeles, Griffith Park, Texas, and Iowa, too.  Iowa has a huge green screen for the filming.  Its environment looks like they are outside, but we are being filmed inside.  The film production often took place in Texas and other locations. 

Audience Q/A: Is the movie ensemble mostly made up of Deaf or Hearing actors? 

David R: All actors are deaf, including major and minor acting roles.  Some extras (people behind the scenes in the background) are hearing. 

Audience Q/A: How does James (David S.) feel about being filmed while on turbulent waters? 

David S: I watched the movie (a scene of Jesus walking on water).  Acting on set is quite different from watching it. In the movie, we see dark water in turbulent waves, but I did not feel or see that because we were filmed with a blue wall.  There were no special effects at all.  After the production and seeing the movie, it is quite different from my experience acting on set. Back to the scene I am in with the blue wall, we were in the motorized boat. We took many takes. I believe at one point; we stayed there overnight around four days and four nights.  I was in a motorized boat, moving back and forth for a few hours.  Then I took a break for snacks before getting back to it again.  I became sleepy there.  It was at 2, 3, or 4 in the morning, repeatedly. 

David R: That walking on water has a special studio in Louisiana in which they have special effects for walking on the water.  He is lucky. I wanted to go, but I was not part of this group. I wanted to walk on water. I want to walk on water. 

David S: (repeating the audience’s questions) My favorite scene and my least favorite scene. 

Maisha: What is your favorite part behind the scenes?  Your least favorite part behind the scenes.  For example, (pointing to David S), maybe your least favorite scene was riding in the boat. 

(David S and Maisha were laughing) 

David R: My least favorite thing is waiting all day for the film to begin because they were working on the set.  One of my favorite things is observing the process of movie production. It is because I have been an actor for a long time.  I have been involved in TV and movie production for a long time. Sometimes I want to help with production, but I cannot as I was hired as an actor.  I used to work as an ASL translator for different productions.  I love working as an ASL translator.  I am fascinated by translating English to ASL.  I want to take on more roles and responsibilities for the production, but I am hired as an actor. 

David S: (laughing) yes.  My least favorite scene – being outside under the sun all day.  The scene where Jesus and the woman were having a conversation near the water well.  That is the first week of movie production. There is no shade. The sun was on me all day. I felt uncomfortable being in the sun. 

David R: Were you in the film settings in Bakersfield? 

David S: Yes!  I have made it through being under the sun in Bakersfield!  After that, nothing was difficult for me. (Laughing)My favorite part is being in an ASL movie.  I am looking forward to more ASL movies. We are off to a great start. 

Maisha: We are at the end of Q/A. Thank you, David, and David for your participation! (Hands waving) 

David R: David and David sound good! 

Maisha: Perhaps you both can make a movie about David and David. 

[Graphic image of a closing credit.  Black background.  Blue fonts: “Special Thanks to: IN ASSOCIATION WITH GLADly CHAT Episodes…” 

White fonts:  

“Cristina Mancini, Marketing Program Specialist, Harkins Theatres 

Actors David Reynolds and David Saavedra 

Harkins Theatres Moreno Valley 16 

Lindy Zornoza, ASL Interpreter”]