To celebrate New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week, which starts May 8, and raise money for Deaf Aotearoa, a film crew drawn from towns and cities across Otago has created a commercial film using music and NZSL — no spoken dialogue — which is premiering at the Sherwood in Queenstown next Friday at 7pm.
For the Love, was a co-production between James Roberts, Nadia Insolia and Rob Romero, was filmed and produced in Queenstown and Kingston, with a focus on integration and communicating through barriers.
It was intended as a cinematic and promotional piece for Deaf Aotearoa and NZSL Week.
The film starred Dunedin couple Rob and Michelle Sinclair, who are both deaf.
Mrs Sinclair, a facilitator for Deaf Aotearoa’s children and youth team, said her husband was "nervous about being involved, as he didn’t want to make a mistake ... [but] the cast and crew were amazing, they were so patient [and] used different ways to communicate".
Though there was no interpreter on set, Mrs Sinclair said she taught everyone basic sign language and it was a bonding experience.
"They learned about our deaf culture ... they taught us about acting.
"We got through it together."
Producer and production manager Nadia Insolia said producing a film without spoken dialogue was "thrilling" and the end result was a "nostalgic piece which transports [the audience] back to the feeling of young love, butterflies and romance with a wholesome storyline".
