Interview:
Anthony Mowl,
Ben Shelton,
directors,
"Deaf Santa Claus"
All Charles Graves wants for Christmas is to be Santa Claus. Or, to be precise, Deaf Santa Claus. For the deaf New Braunfels resident, it is more than just handing out holiday gifts to children. Charles wants to spread joy to the members of the deaf community who want and need to see themselves in Jolly Old St. Nicholas. Directed by Anthony Mowl and Ben Shelton, the documentary Deaf Santa Claus follows the inherently jovial and kindhearted Texas School for the Deaf employee’s efforts to transform himself into a professional Santa Claus, despite the obstacles inadvertently and deliberately imposed upon him by the hearing community. The documentary also examines the relationships between Charles and his supportive wife Kari, who is also deaf, and their proud teenage daughter Kalei, a hearing person about to set down her own path in life. Deaf Santa Claus screens at 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Rollins Theatre at the Long Center and at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Galaxy Theatres Austin during the Austin Film Festival. The Austin-based Anthony Mowl, a fourth generation deaf person whose daughter is also deaf, makes his directorial debut with Deaf Santa Claus. He also serves as Charles Graves’ business partner. L.A.-based Ben Shelton previously directed episodes of The Daly Show, Impress Me, and The Flipside as well as the Netflix teen comedy Candy Jar. Aired: Oct. 30, 2024. Web sites: https://deafsantaclaus.com/ http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AustinFilmFestival |
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