We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michelle Mary Schaefer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Michelle Mary, 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?
As a Deaf woman, I have faced countless barriers from audism, ableism as well as sexism yet none of it has stopped me from pursuing my passions for storytelling in the entertainment industry.
While only 0.5% of disabled individuals are represented as screenwriters (I’m a screenwriter but not represented) and less than 2% of disabled actors are accurately represented on-screen, we still see able-bodied actors taking on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing roles and portraying them inaccurately. However, my journey has been one of resilience, survival, and purpose a testament to pushing forward despite the barriers.
Many years ago, I nearly lost my life due to a medical error. I was rushed to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where Dr. Alex Haller saved my life. As I lay in the incubator for months, uncertain whether I would survive, Dr. Haller told my parents that I had ” a strong will to live, and that I’m a fighter” and from that will an artist was born.
Growing up, I was captivated by film and television. I loved watching movies, acting out scenes, and performing in community and dinner theatre. I dreamed of being on Full House, Seventh Heaven, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As a kid I even saved all my money to buy the “Hollywood Phone Book” and using my TTY began calling creators and producers directly (it was before I had access to the internet and email). From the beginning, I had both passion and determination to be part of the industry.
But the road was far from easy. I was constantly told “No, you can’t do this,” or “No you won’t be successful.” The barriers were not about ability but a perception. Many believed the only role I could play was Sarah Norman in Children of a Lesser God which I did six times. But I am far more than that, and always have been.
In college, a transformative moment came when my professor, Carl Freundel, told me I could write scripts. That encouragement opened the doors to a new form of story telling. While balancing classes, rehearsals, writing and research, I wrote my first script in 2002: Hanneli, a deeply personal story about Hannah Pick-Goslar. Hannah herself along with her sister Rachel (Gabi), read the script and loved it. I still hope to bring this story to the screen in honor of Hannah, and her sister, and all who perished during the Holocaust. Also in one of the letters I received from Miep Gies (who helped the Frank’s family during the hiding) she said “I can forsee that both as a scriptwriter and as an actress you will very well communicate with your audience.” And that meant a lot to me that someone sees and believes in me.
For years, I have written multiple TV Series and Feature script. I continue fighting every day to finding funding, collaborators, and partners to greenlight these stories. Authentic stories and representation matters and I know the audience are hungry for them. Yet, I’ve often been underestimated because of my Deafness, even though my skills, creativity and drive are undeniably strong and deeply rooted.
While developing these projects, I founded Annabelle Louise Productions, named after my beloved dog Annabelle, whose unconditional love carried me through so many difficult moments. Through the company, we have produced four award-winning short films: REAL, Babe to Blocked, It’s a Match and Sweet Sam which each one proof that stories rooted in truth and representation resonate deeply with the audience and has nailed distribution deal.
My supporters, my fans, my friends, and community constantly ask when they will see more. And trust me: I work every day, pouring my heart and entire savings into my dreams, taking risk and refusing to give up.
Alongside filmmaking, I’ve invested in my education and training. I have certification in Intimacy Coordinator/Direction, Business of Entertainment, Films and TV and Mental Health First Aid, as I work toward becoming a Mental Health Coordinator for Films and TV. I also hold a Master’s Degree in Deaf Education, a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate Communication (Screenwriting, Writing for the Media, Public Relations) and an Associate of Arts in Theatre. Yet, despite all of this, I continue to face discrimination rooted in audism as I seek employment. Still, I persevere.
Above all, I’m an Actor. Acting is my first love, the heartbeat of everything I do. I am honored to be the first Deaf female Actor to play Billy in Tribes by Nina Raine, a role I performed five times, finishing under the director of Broadway’s Louis Hobson. I’ve also proven that when artists look beyond limitations, anything is possible: from Hamlet in Hamlet, to Hannah in Sarah Treem’s When Were Young and Unafraid, to Joan in Fun Home, Ashlinn in Made of These, and Iris in Happy With You.
Recently, I was cast in my first SAG Feature Film, Merv directed by the amazing Jessica Swale and starring Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox. Filming in Wilmington, North Carolina was magical. The cast and crew treated me as an Actor, a human being. My role wasn’t written as Deaf, and that is exactly the point. Characters do not need to be labeled as “hearing roles.” (But of course, roles written for Deaf characters should always go to Deaf actors. Yet even in 2025, hearing actors continue to take opportunities that rightfully belongs to us.) However, human roles become richer when Deafness is allowed to exist naturally, adding depth and authenticity. I am deeply grateful to Jessica, the producers, and Zooey for seeing me as I am. You can watch Merv on Prime.
To the writers, directors, showrunner, producers and filmmakers out there: If you are wondering how to be inclusive, ask us! There’s nothing to fear. True collaboration expands stories, deepen characters and strengthens the industry.
My story is not just about surviving, it is about creating, fighting and believing in what’s possible.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I have been in the industry for over 30 plus years and recently was in my first SAG feature which shows my dedication and perseverance.
As an Actor, I’m always seeking opportunities in film and theatre with challenging roles that allows me to bring characters to life authentically.
As a Writer, I’m driven to find dedicated collaborators, strategic partnership, funding, and distribution to champion and greenlight my authentic TV and feature projects.
As a Director, I’m constantly looking for projects that ignite my creative vision and allow stories to come alive on screen and on stage.
As an ASL/Deaf Culture Consultant, I’m always seeking projects to collaborate on to ensure authenticity and accurate representation and translations from English text to ASL.
As an Intimacy Coordinator/Direction I’m always seeking projects that allows me to provide intimacy support on stage and on screen.
As a CEO of Annabelle Louise Productions, we are always seeking for collaborators, strategic partnership, funding, and distribution to champion and greenlight projects. We are Award-Winning Production Company, that values authentic stories and representation matter. The company is dedicated to bringing diverse and compelling narratives to audiences worldwide.
Contact me, and we will make a difference together!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
To succeed in this industry and life you must lead with authenticity, stand firm in your resilience, and never lose your perseverance. There will always be people who try to scam you, pretend they’re interested, and then ghost you. Never allow any of that to stop you from pursuing your projects or your goals.
As you navigate your path, you will stumble over thousands of gravels meant to test your worth, dedication, and drive. But stand tall and keep moving forward. Good things come to those who remain honest, passionate, committed, communicators and doers.
And always remember it is great to support other person who’s in the same niche as you. It won’t hurt your business, if anything, it’ll help you both. Competition happens at the bottom. At the top, we collaborate.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
I don’t really believe in the term “ideal client,” because I view every person as an individual with passion, talent, and their own unique way of collaborating to bring stories to life onscreen. What I’m truly looking for are honest, passionate, committed communicators and doer. People who value authenticity, inclusion, and representation in every project. Just open your mind, eyes and heart to all the possibilities.
I would absolutely love to work with Jessica Swale again, and I would be thrilled to act alongside Claire Foy in my feature film, Destiny. After working with Zooey Deschanel on Merv, which was one of the most memorable experiences on set where I felt fully included and seen, especially as a Deaf artist. Many people have said Zooey and I could pass as sisters, so why not create a comedy where we get to bounce off each other? I’m more than ready!
Overall, I simply want to collaborate with passionate, dedicated folks. Yes, I have my dream directors, actors, producers, editors, intimacy coordinator, and production companies I hope to work with one day but dreams can become reality. Anything is possible.
Let’s talk.
Let’s create.
Let’s collaborate.
Let’s make a difference.
Let’s greenlight!
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Blue Headshot by Katherine McCullough Escobar
Two Onset of Happy With You by Kathryn Fulp by Allison Joyce
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