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Director Signs His Way to Oscar Glory
18 Mar
Summary
- Ryan Coogler used American Sign Language at the Oscars.
- His wife is an ASL interpreter; he advocates for the deaf.
- The film "Sinners" offered a Black ASL version on streaming.
Filmmaker Ryan Coogler garnered significant attention at the 98th Annual Academy Awards for his adept use of American Sign Language (ASL). Throughout the ceremony, Coogler was observed communicating with fellow cast members from a distance using ASL, expressing sentiments like "I love you" and "thank you." This demonstration sparked curiosity, as Coogler has not publicly identified as deaf or hard of hearing.
It was revealed that Coogler's wife, Zinzi Coogler, is an ASL interpreter who has actively worked with deaf advocacy groups. Coogler himself has a history of championing the deaf and hard of hearing community. This commitment was underscored when his film "Sinners" became the first to offer a Black American Sign Language (BASL) version on streaming service Max. This move was particularly meaningful given the film's own significance and the ongoing underrepresentation of deaf individuals in Hollywood.
The visibility of ASL at such a prominent event resonated deeply with the deaf and hard of hearing community. Many expressed their appreciation online, emphasizing the importance of normalizing sign language. This gesture also comes at a time when deaf representation in film remains critically low, with only a small percentage of actors with disabilities being deaf or hard of hearing. Hollywood also faces challenges with negative stereotypes perpetuated about the deaf community.
