Deaf Spotlight is excited to host the lineup full of amazing local and out of state visual verncular (VV) performers! VV is a cinematic storytelling technique using physical expressions of body movement and motion in four-dimensional environment: cuts, angles, zooms, and rhythm. We cannot wait to see them in action!
Lisa McBee | VV Performer
Lisa McBee is a vibrant, high-spirited deaf woman with a “pure and simple” philosophy on life. Her charismatic personality and beautiful attraction inside and outside can be seen through her soulful performances with American Sign Language (ASL.) Lisa can take her audience on a captivating journey through the eyes of a deaf person. She deeply embraces the deaf life and culture. She loves to showcase her talents in poetry, and storytelling.
She has acted in and participated in the making of many Deaf videos and is involved in ASL Casting in the film industry. Lisa has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts Visual Communications. She constantly expands her knowledge and loves sharing herself in the deaf community.
Facebook | Instagram | Website
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Evelina Gaina | VV Performer
Oh the stories Evelina could tell you...
Evelina Gaina is a woman of many talents: an actress, an entrepreneur, an event planner, a storyteller, a teacher, director, and a mother. Born in Romania, Evelina first learned International Sign and Romanian Sign Language from her Deaf parents. After moving to America, they all learned American Sign Language together.
Evelina calls the City of Angels - Los Angeles - her home: the place where all stories are born, created and adapted. She got her acting trained by Deaf West Theatre. Not only that, visual vernacular training by Bernard Bragg. She performs her one woman show called No Name Yet! Show in America and Europe. Currently, she resides in DC metro with their lovely family and spread the love of acting to her daughter.
[ID: a square post with a purple brick background and white text; a headshot of Evelina Gaina on the left side and text on the right side. Text under a decorative X: “Evelina Gaina, Performer”. Evelina, a Romanian woman with long brown hair, stands posing with a hand on a hip and a hand holding a piece of chalk. She wears a black shirt and a black and white hat and smiles.]
Justin Perez | VV Performer
Was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He was a student at Texas School for the Deaf. He has always been fascinated by American Sign Language (ASL) performance art and storytelling styles. Throughout his teenage years, he had incredibly deep bonds with several of his close friends who also enjoy sharing a variety of ASL stories, and that was where he defined numerous storytelling techniques along with sign language expressions. The more he shared his stories with the public; the more people have asked him to continue sharing his stories.
Facebook | Instagram | Website
[ID: a square post with a purple brick background and white text; a headshot ofJustin on the left side and text on the right side. Text under a decorative X: “Justin Perez, Performer”. Justin, a multiracial-skinned man in a dark shirt and has curly dark hair. He poses with his elbow propped up to the side.]
Sam Sanders | Performer
Sam lives in Seattle, teaches children aged 0-5, and enjoys telling visual vernacular stories whenever inspiration strikes.
[ID: a square post with purple brick background and white text, a headshot of Sam Sanders on the right side and text on the left side. Text under a decorative X: “Sam Sanders, Performer”. Sam, a white man with swooped hair to the side and a graying beard, and he is smiling slightly.]