Apple Original Films unveiled plans Tuesday to air a groundbreaking documentary chronicling one of America’s lesser-known but pivotal civil rights actions. Deaf President Now! will tell the story of transformative 1988 protests at Gallaudet University. Students successfully demanded the appointment of the school’s first Deaf president. It proved to be a pivotal moment in Deaf advocacy and helped pave the way for the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
New Apple TV+ documentary Deaf President Now! tells an important civil rights story many people haven’t heard of
The new Apple Original Films documentary Deaf President Now! brings together Academy Award-nominated Deaf advocate Nyle DiMarco and Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim as co-directors. The film focuses on eight dramatic days of protests in 1988 that erupted after Gallaudet University‘s board of trustees appointed a hearing president despite having several qualified Deaf candidates. The students’ sustained campaign of rallies and boycotts ultimately led to the resignation of the hearing president and the historic appointment of Dr. I. King Jordan as the university’s first Deaf president.
“For far too long, the disabilities stories that have shaped the United States have been conspicuously absent from the history we tell,” said DiMarco, who also produced the film.
A fourth-generation Deaf advocate, DiMarco emphasized that the documentary not only preserves a crucial moment in civil rights history but also celebrates the resilience of the Deaf community.
‘Deaf Point of View’
The film features exclusive interviews with key figures of the movement, including the “Gallaudet four” — Jerry Covell, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Tim Rarus, and Greg Hlibok — along with Dr. I. King Jordan himself. Beyond traditional documentary techniques, the film introduces an innovative narrative approach called “Deaf Point of View.” It combines impressionistic visual photography with intricate sound design to immerse viewers in the Deaf experience.
Production of the documentary set new standards for inclusion in the film industry, Apple TV+ said. More than 40 Deaf or Hard of Hearing individuals participated as subjects, cast members or crew. Deaf Lens producer Wayne Betts Jr. played a crucial role in developing the film’s visual language, which DiMarco termed “Visual Noise.” The production team prioritized authentic representation of American Sign Language (ASL) throughout the film.
Helped pave the way for the ADA
The events documented in the film had far-reaching implications beyond Gallaudet’s campus, helping pave the way for the ADA.
“It was shocking to me that most people, including myself, had never heard of this moment in Deaf history,” said Guggenheim. His previous works include An Inconvenient Truth and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.
The documentary represents Apple’s continued commitment to Deaf representation in film. In 2022, the company’s film CODA made history as the first movie featuring a predominantly Deaf cast to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, with Troy Kotsur becoming the first Deaf male actor to win an Oscar.
Concordia Studio produces Deaf President Now! This marks the studio’s latest collaboration with Apple TV+ following several successful projects. They include the Emmy Award-winning documentaries Girls State and Boys State, plus the critically acclaimed Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. The project brings together producers Jonathan King, Michael Harte and Amanda Rohlke, alongside DiMarco and Guggenheim.
Watch CODA and documentaries on Apple TV+
Apple hasn’t specified an air date for Deaf President Now! But you can stream CODA and documentary films and series anytime. The service is available by subscription for $9.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
After launching in November 2019, “Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 471 wins and 2,090 award nominations and counting,” the service said.
In addition to award-winning movies and TV shows (including breakout soccer comedy Ted Lasso), Apple TV+ offers documentaries, dramas, comedies, kids shows and more.
Source: Apple
