“I think to see someone like Troy, who has worked in the theater for 30 years and struggled and persevered and been so committed to his craft, even though the odds are so stacked against him…to see him have this moment is just so joyful,” the film’s writer and director Sian Heder told Deadline.ĬODA is the first Best Picture contender from Apple, and the first film featuring a predominantly deaf cast to secure that nomination. He also recently became the first deaf actor to garner an individual SAG nomination for his performance, sharing a nom for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture with Matlin and the rest of the film’s ensemble. Kotsur’s Oscar nom follows that of his CODA co-star Matlin back in 1986 for Children of a Lesser God, which saw her become the first deaf actor to both secure a nomination (in the category of Best Actress) and take home a statuette. “I would love to be a director, a teacher, an actor, and it’s really important to do what I can and have options, depending on what’s available out there, rather than limiting myself.” I want to be able to wear different hats and have different responsibilities,” he said. “As an actor…I don’t want to feel that I’m limiting myself. Looking ahead, Kotsur also hopes to pursue directing, after attempting it in the past and realizing “Hollywood wasn’t quite ready. “It’s a new challenge and I’m really looking forward to it.”

“I’m thrilled that both the producer and the director are deaf, and we’re working with a deaf and hearing cast and crew,” Kotsur said of the project. In the drama from director Jevon Whetter, Kotsur will play the team’s leader, Coach Farrior. Up next for the actor is Flash Before the Bang, a film telling the underdog story of the all-deaf track team at the Oregon School for the Deaf, which won the state championship in 1986 while competing with an assortment of hearing schools. “It doesn’t matter if we’re deaf or hearing we’re just people.” We have such a rich storytelling tradition in the deaf community, and I hope that folks are motivated to be creative together,” he said. “It’s exciting to see because everyone has their stories to tell.

Kotsur says that he can “feel the positivity out there” right now, with regard to the effort to increase onscreen representation of all underrepresented groups, and has also seen significant progress of late, as far as opportunities for deaf actors, citing the A Quiet Place films and Marvel’s Eternals as examples. The awareness of ASL and deaf culture is such a positive.” “It tends to just be one deaf role in a film, like many of Marlee’s roles in the past, and so I hope that Hollywood is beginning to be more open-minded and gives more diverse artists an opportunity to tell their stories. It’s so important for the group of people in our ensemble who just happen to also be deaf,” he said. “I just felt so touched that so many deaf people all over the community are so excited and they’re all celebrating.

Oscar Nominations: 'The Power Of The Dog', 'Dune' Top List 'Drive My Car' Among Big Surprisesįrom the perspective of Kotsur, the importance of CODA’s recognition by the Film Academy and other awards bodies can’t be overestimated.

Coda meaning