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Acting Blind

This touching documentary follows a cast of blind and visually impaired actors as they prepare Dancing to Beethoven, a play about blindness. The film takes us deep into the lives of the actors. We hear stories of their shock and disbelief at first losing sight and of their struggles coping with a life without it. We hear them talk about grieving and pining for the visual world. They tell the moving story of how this play is itself a victory, a type of salvation, for each of them. By opening night, at the renowned Place des Arts in Montreal, they …
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This touching documentary follows a cast of blind and visually impaired actors as they prepare Dancing to Beethoven, a play about blindness. The film takes us deep into the lives of the actors. We hear stories of their shock and disbelief at first losing sight and of their struggles coping with a life without it. We hear them talk about grieving and pining for the visual world. They tell the moving story of how this play is itself a victory, a type of salvation, for each of them. By opening night, at the renowned Place des Arts in Montreal, they are a close-knit cast, well-honed and ready to step out of the wings and into the light.

People with disabilities Theater All subjects
  • director
    Martin Duckworth
  • producer
    Germaine Ying Gee Wong
    Adam Symansky
  • story consultant
    Barry Lazar
  • consulting producer
    Barry Lazar
  • executive producer
    Sally Bochner
  • project development
    Beitel/Lazar Productions Inc.
  • project advisor
    Garry Beitel
  • director of photography
    Martin Duckworth
  • editor
    Gerald Vansier
  • sound editor
    Don Ayer
  • original music
    Robert M. Lepage
  • arrangement collaborator
    Nicolas Borycki
  • musician
    Robert M. Lepage
    Yanik Cloutier
  • vocals
    Aldéo Jean
    Isabelle Rajotte
  • lighting assistant
    Marc Hénaut
    Vuk Stojanovic
  • sound recordist
    Glenn Hodgins
  • additional sound recording
    Craig Lapp
  • online editing
    Sylvain Desbiens
    Denis Gathelier
  • sound re-recording
    Serge Boivin
  • foley
    Claude Langlois
  • foley recording
    Citélab Sonore
  • digital editing technician
    Phyllis Lewis
    Chaz Oliver
  • title design
    Gaspard Gaudreau
  • post-production co-ordinator
    Claude Cardinal
    Linda Payette
  • production coordinator
    Sia Koukoulas
    Miya Kondo
  • studio administrator
    Nickie Merulla
    Marie Tonto-Donati
  • marketing manager
    Moira Keigher
  • participant
    Norman Arduini
    Robert Arial
    Griffith Brewer
    Amanda Cape
    Sheryl Cape
    Sandra Cassell Clank
    Allan Dean
    Patrycja Walton
    Ann Arial
    Norma Dean
    Monica Romany
    Denzil Bruce
    Aisha Cassell
    Saguenay Pedneault-Walton
    Coyote Pedneault-Walton

Education

Ages 12 to 18

Notes

Warnings: Mild adult humour, allusion to suicide

How do the actors describe the impact of acting in this play? What elements of drama might benefit the mental health of those involved? What supports are available in Canada or should be available for those who have low vision or blindness? After watching the film, what did you learn about barriers they face on a daily basis? How has technology changed over the years to improve the quality of life for those with low vision or blindness? What technologies in this film paved the way for the modern inventions we have today?

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Acting Blind
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