Image Description: Gradient blue background. Text says, “It’s important for the Deaf community to make their own media… but we shouldn’t feel forced to do only that.” Images of 9 various Deaf movie/TV/documentary posters underneath. Text underneath says, “filmdis.com“
On August 13, 2021, CODA was released to the world via Apple TV+ streaming and it took the world by storm.
CODA, directed by Sian Heder, stars hearing actor Emilia Jones, and three deaf actors: Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin, and Daniel Durant. An American remake of the French-Belgian film, La Famille Bélier, it tells the story of seventeen-year-old Ruby Rossi who helps run the family fishing business and is trying to get through high school like every other teenager.
The twist is that Ruby is the only hearing person in her immediate family. Her parents and brother are all deaf, and she struggles with the stress of feeling responsible for her family and their communication, and wanting to live her own life after high school graduation.
But we’re not here to talk about the movie itself or give it a view. What we’re here for is to talk about the aftermath of the fame that CODA received.
The movie went on to win many awards. Troy received multiple awards for his character, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He’s also been booked for multiple roles in various shows since. Daniel Durant went on to become a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, has booked a few roles, and is currently filming for a new movie. He also performed at the Super Bowl in 2024. Marlee, while having been nominated for a few awards for CODA, didn’t win any of them, and she hasn’t been booked for anything worthwhile other than one episode of New Amsterdam and an episode of Blue’s Clues & You and Hell’s Kitchen as herself.
In an interview for The Hollywood Reporter alongside Shoshannah, Marlee talks about how the industry has been since the virality of CODA and Troy’s Oscar. “In all honesty, there’s still no change. There’s always like, ‘Yes, you’ve done it Yay!’ And I always say to myself, ‘Yes, but I know it’s always temporary. It’s always a temporary celebration, at least for our community.’ You know, they say, ‘Oh, let’s wait a few more years, a couple years, 10 years, 15 years.’ Oh, okay. And then another person. ‘Yay!’ I think that’s probably what will happen. CODA was several years ago, and now here we are.”
Shoshannah added, “Marlee has not worked since CODA. How is that possible? I think the system is made and built by people that live a different experience than we do, and they expect people like us to somehow figure it out, somehow figure out how to navigate the system. And they’re like, ‘Look, you did it!’ But the system is still exactly the same.”
Don’t get me wrong. It’s great that Troy and Daniel have gotten opportunities. They absolutely deserve it. But why hasn’t Marlee gotten a single opportunity? Is misogyny involved in this in any way? Sian Heder said that this movie changed everything for the Deaf community for the better, but has it? While other deaf actors have gotten roles, a lot of our community is still forced to create our own projects and tell our own stories, stories that likely won’t get the same reach as our hearing peers.
As a result, Marlee and Shoshannah created the new documentary film Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, which premiered at Sundance at the same time as Nyle DiMarco’s Deaf President Now! Documentary film. Flash Before the Bang, the new film that Daniel Durant is currently filming, is written, directed, and produced by Deaf playwright Jevon Whetter. The film is about a deaf track and field team from Oregon. It’s based on the true experience of Jevon.
So instead of focusing on Marlee so much, let’s talk about the Deaf community in general.
Us making our own Deaf stories is crucial, but it shouldn’t feel like that’s all we’re able to do. We want to collaborate with our hearing peers. We want to be superheroes and Ghostbusters and vampire slayers! We even want those ordinary “boring” roles that are just characters living a regular life and it doesn’t necessarily have to be about other deafness. Yes, being deaf is who we are, but there’s a difference between our deaf identity being the focal point and being a mother in a family drama film that just happens to be deaf.
As previously mentioned, the director said that CODA changed things for the Deaf community. But Marlee, an actual deaf person, says the opposite. Nothing has changed. Is there a possibility that the writers’ strike bears some responsibility? After all, Deaf and disabled actors were worried that the lack of work would lead to being forgotten. If you’re not always in Hollywood’s eyes, the industry can forget about you. Disabled writers were not able to continue their jobs due to the strike. And now with the removal of DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) by the current administration and so many companies, how much more will our livelihoods be at risk? That’s not to say we didn’t have issues with people being against DEI before, because obviously we did, but now that it’s officially removed, who’s to say that even more people won’t be inclined to discriminate against Deaf and disabled actors, writers, etc. even more?
So the question remains- when will we see change? Real consistent change? And will our hearing peers speak up and help us out? Because we know that we can’t do it alone.