Deaf Talent® — Origin & Founding

 

Deaf Talent® was created and founded by Jade Bryan, the first Black Deaf filmmaker, in response to long-standing systemic exclusion of Deaf artists from meaningful, paid opportunities in theater, film, and television.

 

The Deaf Talent® initiative was established to address disparities in access, authorship, and ownership within Deaf and mainstream entertainment industries—particularly where elite institutions and informal gatekeeping have historically limited who is seen, hired, funded, and credited.

 

From its inception, Deaf Talent® has been creator-led, Deaf-centered, and opportunity-driven, prioritizing:
 

    •    Paid work over unpaid “exposure”

    •    Credit and authorship protection

    •    Independent pipelines outside elite approval systems

    •    The development of emerging Deaf artists across disciplines

 

Deaf Talent® functions as both a movement and a trademarked brand, ensuring that its mission, name, and legacy cannot be diluted, misrepresented, or appropriated.

 

Under Jade Bryan’s leadership, Deaf Talent® has supported, employed, and platformed Deaf artists through original productions, talent development initiatives, and independent media projects, contributing to a growing ecosystem of Deaf-led creative work.

 

Deaf Talent® is not an institutionally owned program, collective, or generic label.

It is a founder-created initiative with a documented history, defined values, and protected intellectual property.

 

Deaf Talent® exists to ensure Deaf artists are not waiting for permission to be included—but are building what was never offered.