CODA, the award-winning film that premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, features an all-star cast. The movie tells the story of a young girl who is the only hearing member of a deaf family. It was an ambitious project, and the filmmakers wanted to ensure that the cast was as authentic as possible.
The filmmakers achieved this goal by casting three deaf actors in the lead roles. Troy Kotsur, who won this year’s award for Best Supporting Actor, was cast as the father, and Daniel Durant as the son. Both Kotsur and Durant are deaf actors who have been in the industry for many years.
British actress Emilia Jones was cast as the lead, and she spent six months studying sign language in order to accurately portray her character. Jones also had the opportunity to work with Kotsur and Durant, and she was able to learn from their experience and expertise.
The filmmakers’ commitment to authenticity and inclusion is commendable, and it has paid off. CODA has received widespread critical acclaim, and it has won numerous awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. The film has also been praised for its portrayal of deaf culture and its commitment to representation.
In total, there are three deaf cast members in CODA: Troy Kotsur, Daniel Durant, and Emilia Jones. Kotsur and Durant have been in the industry for many years, and Jones has demonstrated her commitment to the project by learning sign language. The filmmakers’ commitment to authenticity and inclusion has been rewarded with critical acclaim and numerous awards.