One thing he said keeps coming up in our Center: “Never leave the sandbox, and keep creating.” We’ve been holding onto that one.
Thanks again to Jonaz, and to everyone who came out that night! We will announce our next DWLS very soon; stay tuned!
23 days agobudeafcenter
VD: The reel opens outside the Tsai Performance Center at Boston University. It’s a stone building with a red banner over the arched doors, and someone is walking inside. Red text on screen reads “Deaf World Lecture Series: Jonaz McMillan.” Inside the auditorium, Jonaz stands on a wooden stage and signs to a full audience. He wears a dark short sleeve button up shirt, brown pants, and glasses. Behind him, the screen shows the cover of his picture book, *Monster Hands*. It has bright blue and green lettering and two kids running from a big yellow monster on a purple starry background. Black caption boxes with white text show his words throughout the reel. Next, the screen shows the question “What is urgent to you?” in large light blue letters. Jonaz tells the audience, “If you’re still thinking, that’s fine! I would love to have your thoughts!” The camera moves in closer as he signs about his creative process: “I will draw, write, draw, modify, and doodle my ideas; then I will sign the story to my family, and then to my friends.” He uses big, expressive movements and leans into a wide stance. In front of a plain screen, he describes the feeling of a sandbox: “As I get older, it becomes a feeling of a ‘sandbox.’ We don’t usually remember when we stop playing in the sandbox. Never! When was my last day of the sandbox? I couldn’t tell you. It’s not like ‘Okay, today is my last day. Bye!’” Pages from *Monster Hands* fill the screen while Jonaz acts out the story on stage. Wide shots show the packed, sloped auditorium, with students watching and some taking notes on laptops. Large captions read “Laugh!”, “Yes!”, and “Chomp!” as the crowd reacts. He signs, “That is a childlike joy,” then, “Now, I will explain the writing journey.” He points up at a slide of a bookstore shelf and raises both arms in celebration. The caption reads, “My book alongside many of my favorite authors!” In the closing shot, the screen shows his website, jonazmcmillan.com, and his handle, @jonazmcmillan. The audience raises their hands and waves them in Deaf applause.
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