Josh Feldman is a queer actor, writer, and producer from Los Angeles. He also happens to be deaf. His new series This Close follows two deaf friends as they navigate through their late 20s and early 30s.
Feldman created the dramedy with his BFF Shoshanah Stern, who is also deaf.
“We realized that we should write something that’s very ‘us’,” Feldman tells Out in a new interview. “Something we know best: friendship between a woman and a gay man.”
Related: Is Hollywood Finally Ready To Portray Disabled Gay Characters?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The project is unique for a number of reasons, most notably because it will be the first TV show created by and starring deaf people, who are usually portrayed on-screen by non-deaf actors.
“Most deaf characters in other shows speak because it’s easier for hearing audiences to access the dialogue,” Feldman explains. “I don’t speak at all. So when I meet a hearing person, they expect me to speak for myself because that’s what they’ve seen on TV.”
Feldman plays Michael, a young gay man going through a turbulent time in his personal life.
“During my twenties, the periods of biggest personal growth happened after breakups,” he says. “And that includes bad decisions. I wanted him to make those because eventually they lead to growth but not for a while.”
Related: If you think dating is hard, trying dating while deaf
He continues, “Our goal was to make sure that the biggest moments in the show were done in sign language because in our lives, our biggest moments are in sign language.”
This Close will premiere on Sundance Now on February 14th.
Watch the Season 1 trailer below.
h/t: Out
Nowuvedoneit
Well I certainly had read of the huge protests for deaf gay inclusion in the media, who could forget the marches and the social media hashtags? 2017 was the year our deaf gay brothers made their mark!
SiamSam
What about those who identify as deaf but were assigned hearing at birth? In our oppressive auro-normative society, the transaural community demands you use sign language and pay for their cochlea neutralization therapy or you support audio supremacy and deafness-phobia.
Tête Carrée
Just don’t watch the show and save us your dink act.
Brody
Sam, you win comment of the day.
Raymond
SiamSam
Giving a newborn the gift (yes gift) of hearing is not a means of repression of those who are deaf. Be happy with your life but playing the oppressed because a newborn can now hear is pathetic. Life is not all about you.
spacecadet
I’m really interested to see this – it looks smart and thoughtful and funny.
Dashing Partycrasher
Agree! Great trailer with solid acting
Rex Huskey
what is a “queer actor’? Is it different from a queer acting? or maybe an actor being queer?? watszup?
Tête Carrée
Really?
masterwill7
Love it! Hope it comes to Netflix in time! 🙂
the_ashpan
I’ll be watching this…..if we get it in the UK.
Hulk3193
That black boy behind, in the photo, very cute. Anybody know who he is?