We recently connected with Michelle Mary Schaefer and have shared our conversation below.
Michelle, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
That is an excellent question. Yet, to be resilient means being able to adapt to life’s misfortune and setbacks. Resilience means dealing with failure successfully and having the strength to persevere in difficult situations. Resilient people are often more likely to take risks, are determined, and can motivate those around them.
Now, my Deafness in a world full of sounds and isolation makes me a resilient soul, individual, creator, and artist. Yet, there are so many barriers in this world: barriers to job opportunities, communications, and access, such as captions and ASL interpreters, are all often declined to us.
We can choose to be strong or not. Those like me choose to be strong, leading us to constantly educate, advocate, and speak up to society and our allies to move forward in life equally. However, it often falls in the ears of those who are willingly ignorant and those who are fearful of us, which is unnecessary. Other Deaf individuals and I are beyond grateful for the allies to advocate, listen and ensure we have opportunities and full access, which is unfortunately rare nowadays. Sometimes, I feel like we are going backward in life, which leads me to write scripts from my own life experiences as it’s beyond authentic that those who can hear genuinely cannot write it from the heart because they have never experienced oppression and discrimination. As a resilient soul, every day is a new day. I get up and try again, being significantly persistent with my passions in the industry and my work. I thank my dog for that one immense support as she keeps me going. She sits by me on my director’s chair as I work hard daily, non-stop. I live by this quote by Thomas Edison “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Truthfully, there is no Diversity, Inclusion, or Equity without the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing and individuals with Disabilities and even total access to accommodations. I literally cannot wait for the day when we all become equal. Yes, it will take a lot of work to be accountable and fully engage in listening, understanding, acceptance, respect, and empathy with its changes. But it is straightforward and can be done. Just let go of the fear, ego, and assumptions, then bloom together, which begins with us.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m an Actor, Screenwriter, Playwright, Director, Producer, Intimacy Coordinator, Intimacy Director, Director of Artistic Sign Language (DASL), Deaf Culture Consultant in Theatre and Films, Social Media Manager, Communication Manager, and Project Manager who happens to be Deaf. However, I do not allow my Deafness to stop me from following my passions despite society’s ignorance, oppression, assumption, rejection, and discrimination. Once you have the passion within you, the fire keeps going, and it has been burning since I was four years old. I have been in the industry for years and working extremely hard daily, non-stop, which shows my dedication.
I do both Theatre and Film, which makes me a talented Actor with the ability to perform onstage and onscreen; not only that, I’m the most versatile Actor who happens to be Deaf playing all kinds of roles. Roles include Hamlet in Hamlet, Joan in Fun Home, Ginny in 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, and many more! I also am known as the first Deaf Female Actor to portray the role of Billy in Tribes by Nina Raine, and I have done the part five times. I love playing challenging roles and would love to be Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway!
I’m currently studying and being trained as an Intimacy Coordinator/Director in Theatre and Films with IDC Professionals (Alicia Rodis, Claire Warden, Jessica Steinrock, and Alexis Black.) I have worked with many professional Intimacy Directors in Theatre who have taught me so much, along with their encouragement leading me to want to go into the field.
Also, with this path, I will work with everyone, even the Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, LGBTQ, and individuals with Disabilities in Theatre and Films. I’m excited about the future changes to ensure its full accessibility and consent, along with intimate stories told with safety and artistry onscreen and onstage.
Not just an Actor; I write scripts because I value authentic stories, as our voice matters, and even to create roles and opportunities for everyone. REAL, the tiny film web series has been a hit in film festivals, a grand prize winner, and the best original script. Now, it’s being optioned to develop it further with Skyphire Entertainment.
I wrote a complete TV Series, Always Natalie, a 22 minutes comedy/drama concerning the chaotic dating life of our Deaf protagonist Natalie in present-day. I have been working on Always Natalie since 2010 and am looking for dedicated, passionate, hard-working producers, showrunners, folks, and networks to bring this alive to the screen. I even look forward to playing the role of Natalie and hope Marlee Matlin plays my Mother in the series. Always Natalie will always show more diversity, Deafness, disabilities representations onscreen. And even to give folks more opportunities onscreen and behind the camera.
I wrote a feature film, Destiny, and am working with two amazing talented producers/filmmakers, Brandon Torres and Elran Ofir. We are in the process of attaching a director to Destiny while looking for film funding to bring this beautiful will-be-an-award-winning project.
I’m working on a short film/TV proof of concept with a talented producer/writer Tasha Hardy and amazing writer, Keiko Tamura, I Love You So Much. I Love You So Much is an award-winning silent film that’s reminiscent of “Wonderstruck” meets “Coffee Shop,” about a musician (Michelle Mary Schaefer) who loses her hearing and has to integrate into a new community, finding hope in a repeat customer at her new job at a deaf cafe. Having left a singing career behind, she finds a unique way to make a daily positive impact that ultimately leads to saving a stranger’s life. We look forward to bringing this story to life working with many brilliant talented Actors who are onboard.
While auditioning, doing theatre, writing, and waiting for opportunities, I empowered myself to bring the short film I wrote, Babe to Blocked alive, to the screen. I worked extremely hard solo for five months in the pre-production and productions as a project manager, location scout, prop master, director, actor, catering, etc. I could not be even more proud of the project because for years, people have told me that I will fail. But this also shows that your passion is the fire, and it kept me going. Babe to Blocked is currently being edited to submit to film festivals.
I’m always looking for new projects onstage, and onscreen and even aim to collaborate with other authentic creative artists. We have so many stories to be told, all forms of creativity.
Life, in general, is not a smooth ride. Yet, I have faced many struggles as a person who is Deaf with barriers to equal access to events, films, etc., along with discrimination.
Now in this industry, I have fallen thousands of times and am genuinely a resilient person. I do not allow society’s judgment on their assumptions and ignorance about me and the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing stop me from following my passions. I’m always advocating and educating daily.
Yes, there have been some harsh comments from Directors who have said, “Wow, you are so beautiful, but you cannot act because you are Deaf. Deaf people cannot be actors.” Excuse me; Deaf people can do anything but not hear. Look at Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Phyllis Frelich, Deanne Bray, and many more. I still dream of working with Marlee Matlin, which will happen someday! I even had folks being shocked that I write scripts; those stories are authentic, and my voice and creativity matter just like all writers. Even though it’s 2023, people are still shocked by our skills and capability, yet we still need opportunities to be viewed equally, just like you.
There are zillions of times that I have been told the only role I could play is Sarah Norman in Children of a Lesser God, as I have six times. I do not want to be limited to specific roles, which is why I’m a very versatile Actor playing all kinds of roles, not hearing roles, they are HUMAN ROLES, and I happen to be Deaf. It adds layers to the character and story.
I remember I saw a notice for an audition for a short horror film, Made of These; I told myself to do it as you never know—as it has always been my motto. I nailed the role of Ashlinn; the writer/director Ven Scott and his production team were blown away as the rest is history. I’m incredibly proud of the film and the folks I worked with. Thank you, and we need more folks like Ven, who open his mind, eyes, and hearts to end up with a powerful film.
With thousands of rejections, I admit there are times when I almost gave up my passions. But I didn’t; instead, I fell, rested, and rose again. I put my hands on my heart and looked in the mirror, asking myself, “Why did I start this, and why does this matter?” I know, I smile, and I have been in this industry since I was a kid, constantly working non-stop. I know not to give up, as it’s worth every step of this journey; I feel rich to share this with all of you.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Your heart knows the burning passions within it is the answer. So you have to be very persistent in whatever you desire to do. And when you follow your passions, dreams, and career, that is truly living. It is beyond rich.
My dear late friend, and director, Sandy Staggs of Proud Mary Theatre Company in Spartanburg, South Carolina died unexpectedly after the opening weekend of 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche. He was a true friend, an artist who took the risk and poured his heart into the theatre company and the show. Sandy believed in me, my passions, and my talent, and he knew at the audition I was Ginny and was cast. That play, Ginny and Sandy, will always be in my heart. He never saw my Deafness as a barrier; he saw me as a human, an Actor. When he passed away, my heart shattered, and the cast and crew, all of us, along with its love, continued to perform the closing weekend in his honor. He has incredibly made a difference in all of our lives. He taught one lesson: “Life is short, and doing what you LOVE is the new rich and happy.”
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I love collaborating with others, and I’m always looking for folks to collaborate on projects within Theatre and Films. There is so much magic when it comes to two or more passionate artists doing what they love and bringing projects alive!
As I mentioned, I’m looking for dedicated, passionate, hard-working producers, production companies, showrunners, networks, and folks to bring my rare, complete TV Series, Always Natalie, to the screen. I have been working on the project since 2010, and I am not giving up. Even an Oscar Winner for best editing, Sandra Adair loves the story and believes in the series, telling me not to give up. I will always have her love and support; thank you, Sandra.
Also, I have been working extremely hard on Destiny along with Brandon and Elran. We are looking forward to this amazing story to be brought alive to the screen. And I look forward to signing a fantastic talented Director onto the project. And by a miracle to have Claire Foy say “yes,” to playing opposite of me!
In my heart, I know it is possible, and I’m working hard every single day to make this happen. I even emailed and made phone calls to move projects forward, which is often silent, and I am still waiting for a response. Other times I would use the VP (Video Phone) to make the phone call using the VRS (Video Relay Service) with an ASL interpreter to introduce myself and discuss the project. But, as soon as they hear the word “Deaf,” they immediately hang up on me, which leaves me so puzzled. Why so fearful? We, the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, are capable of many things, and it is nothing to be afraid of. (Sadly, when we make calls, in general, to order food, make appointments, and talk to the bank, they can be cruel to us, which society needs to be aware of when we make calls via VRS. Just respect and speak to us as you would talk to others who can hear.)
I know that I cannot do it alone, and I have been hitting the brick walls for years, yet with my passion and determination, the sun will come out, and we will greenlight more projects. I will continue to write more authentic scripts: feature films and even another TV Series! I’m just beyond grateful for the folks who have come into my life believing in my scripts, especially Destiny and REAL, thank you! I literally love teamwork, and the feeling of seeing projects come alive is the most intense ever. If you are interested, contact me via my website, www.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.michellemaryschaefer.com
- Instagram: @michellemaryschaefer_official
- Twitter: @MichelleMary82
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWjShVo2WsPgQrdUw-X8yjA
Image Credits
N/A
