On August 19, the Disability Committee’ (DC) meeting featured the conversation, Storytelling, Deaf Representation, and Creative Power with Director Shoshannah Stern.
During a conversation moderated by Co-Chair Ashley Eakin with the assistance of ASL interpreter Karri Aiken, Stern reflected on her journey and breakthroughs of directing as a Deaf woman in Hollywood and her groundbreaking work in deaf-led storytelling.
Stern discussed her career trajectory as an Actress, Writer and Director, including her recent collaboration with Marlee Matlin on the documentary, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, and offered a behind-the-scenes look at her creative process on the film.
Stern also advocated for more deaf and disabled people to be in positions of power — particularly as executives — for there to be systemic change to allow for more inclusion in our industry.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore is Stern’s directorial debut. She became a DGA member in 2024.
About the Committee
The mission of the Disability Committee is to examine a broad range of issues DGA members with disabilities face on sets, with the goal of developing recommendations to address these matters. In 2023, DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter, announced its creation as a provisional committee, whose members would lead work to destigmatize disability as a way to empower other members to feel comfortable with disclosing their disability identity and push the industry towards greater acceptance of Directors and Directorial Team members with disabilities. In 2024, the Committee was designated a permanent committee by the DGA National Board.
