We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Mary Schaefer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle Mary, how do you think about risk?
Life is all about taking risks. You’ll never know what you can do if you never take risks. Also, if you don’t ask or send the email, the answer will always be a “no.” If they reject you, it’s their loss; you redirect yourself to another direction to achieve your goals and projects. The key is passion, determination, and perseverance.

Life is short; always be happy, take risks, and do what you love. That is strength and living authentically.

Every role I portrayed onstage and onscreen was a risk to bring characters alive to the audience. I love every aspect of this as I navigate as an Actor.

Every script I write is courageous, to pour out the life experiences, stories, or even imaginations into words in which a story is born. That is a risk, and it is beyond beautiful to see a complete project. People have said I’m wasting time writing, but I silence that negativity and keep writing. To this day, I have written several scripts.

I have been called crazy for producing and directing short films that I wrote, such as, “Babe to Blocked,” and “It’s a Match.” Yes, it was a risk. However, watching the story come alive from the words to the screen was worth it! I was constantly pinching myself while watching the film during the post-production stage, which was magical.
I look forward to sharing the project with you via film festivals.

Setting up a production company is a risk; I knew I wanted to make a difference within the industry, so I founded Annabelle Louise Productions and am looking forward to the company blooming. The company is dedicated to bringing diverse and compelling narratives to audiences worldwide.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m an Actor, Screenwriter, Director, Producer, CEO of Annabelle Louise Productions, ASL Consultant, Deaf Culture Consultant in Theatre and Films, Social Media Manager, Communication Manager, and Project Manager who is Deaf. However, I do not allow my Deafness to stop me from following my passions despite society’s ignorance, oppression, assumption, rejection, and discrimination. Once you have the passion within you, the fire keeps going, and it has been burning since I was four years old. I have been in the industry for years and working extremely hard daily, non-stop, which shows my dedication.

I do both Theatre and Film, which makes me a talented Actor with the ability to perform onstage and onscreen; not only that, I’m the most versatile Actor who happens to be Deaf, playing all kinds of roles. Roles include Hamlet in “Hamlet,” Joan in “Fun Home,” Ginny in “5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche,” and many more! I am also known as the first Deaf Female Actor to portray the role of Billy in “Tribes” by Nina Raine, and I have done the part five times. I played Sarah Norman in “Children of a Lesser God,” and played her six times. I love playing challenging roles and would love to be Elphaba in “Wicked” on Broadway!

Not just an Actor; I write scripts because I value authentic stories, as our voice matters, and even to create roles and opportunities for everyone. “REAL,” the tiny film web series, has been a hit in film festivals, a grand prize winner, and the best original script. Now, it’s being optioned to develop it further with Skyphire Entertainment in association with Annabelle Louise Productions.

I wrote a complete TV Series, “Always Natalie,” a 22-minute comedy/drama concerning the chaotic dating life of our Deaf protagonist, Natalie, in the present day. I have been working on “Always Natalie” since 2010 and am looking for dedicated, passionate, hard-working producers, showrunners, folks, and networks to bring this to the screen. I even look forward to playing the role of Natalie and hope Marlee Matlin plays my Mother in the series. “Always Natalie” will show more representation onscreen and give folks more opportunities onscreen and behind the camera.

I wrote a feature film, “Destiny,” hoping to act along with Claire Foy! I’m working with Brandon Lee Torres, Gina Torres, Jason Matthews, Martha Anger, and Elran Ofir to bring this beautiful will-be-an-award-winning project alive. I’m incredibly excited!

I’m working on a short film/TV proof of concept with a talented producer/writer, Tasha Hardy, and fantastic writer, Keiko Tamura “I Love You So Much.” “I Love You So Much” is an award-winning silent film that’s reminiscent of “Wonderstruck” meets “Coffee Shop,” about a musician (Michelle Mary Schaefer) who loses her hearing and has to integrate into a new community, finding hope in a repeat customer at her new job at a deaf cafe. Having left a singing career behind, she finds a unique way to make a daily positive impact that ultimately leads to saving a stranger’s life. We look forward to bringing this story to life by working with many brilliant, talented Actors on board including Switched at Birth’s Ryan Lane!

I’m currently working with a screenwriter, Alessandra Bautze on several projects and am writing a new exciting feature film which will star me and Kari Alison Hodge!

While auditioning, doing theatre, writing, and waiting for opportunities, I empowered myself to bring the short film I wrote, “Babe to Blocked,” alive to the screen. I worked extremely hard solo for five months in the pre-production and productions as a project manager, location scout, prop master, director, Actor, catering, etc. I could not be even more proud of the project because, for years, people have told me that I will fail. But this also shows that your passion is the fire, and it kept me going. “Babe to Blocked” is currently being edited to submit to film festivals. I recently wrote, produced, and directed another short film, “It’s a Match,” which is also currently being edited to submit to film festivals.

I’m always looking for new projects onstage and onscreen and even aim to collaborate with other authentic creative artists. We have so many stories to be told, all forms of creativity.

Life, in general, is not a smooth ride. Yet, I have faced many struggles as a person who is Deaf with barriers to equal access to events, films, etc., along with discrimination.

Now in this industry, I have fallen thousands of times and am genuinely a resilient person. I do not allow society’s judgment on their assumptions and ignorance about me and the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing stop me from following my passions. I’m always advocating and educating daily.

Yes, there have been some harsh comments from Directors who have said, “Wow, you are so beautiful, but you cannot act because you are Deaf. Deaf people cannot be Actors.” Excuse me; Deaf people can do anything but not hear. Look at Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Phyllis Frelich, Deanne Bray, and many more. I still dream of working with Marlee Matlin, which will happen someday! I even had folks being shocked that I write scripts; those stories are authentic, and my voice and creativity matter just like all writers. Even though it’s 2023, people are still shocked by our skills and capability, yet we still need opportunities to be viewed equally, just like you.

There are zillions of times that I have been told the only role I could play is Sarah Norman in “Children of a Lesser God,” as I have six times. I do not want to be limited to specific roles, which is why I’m a very versatile Actor playing all kinds of roles, not hearing roles, they are HUMAN ROLES, and I happen to be Deaf. It adds layers to the character and story.

I remember I saw a notice for an audition for a short horror film, “Made of These”; I told myself to do it as you never know—as it has always been my motto. I nailed the role of Ashlinn; the writer/director Ven Scott and his production team were blown away as the rest is history. I’m incredibly proud of the film and the folks I worked with. Thank you, and we need more folks like Ven, who open his mind, eyes, and hearts to end up with a powerful film.

With thousands of rejections, I admit there are times when I almost gave up my passions. But I didn’t; instead, I fell, rested, and rose again. I put my hands on my heart and looked in the mirror, asking myself, “Why did I start this, and why does this matters?” I know, I smile, and I have been in this industry since I was a kid, constantly working non-stop. I know not to give up, as it’s worth every step of this journey; I feel rich to share this with all of you.

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative is living authentically, pouring my heart intensely within the career and, believing in myself, rolling my sleeves up, making projects happen. I would not sit around complaining about the lack of opportunities; instead, I create them. I’m all about action and teamwork, bringing things alive onstage and onscreen. I knew I had to be consistent with my words and projects, which it shows. It was not an easy journey, yet it is my pure happiness.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many wonderful places, as I do LOVE the beach however, if my best friend was in town visiting I would take them to The Claremont Village in Claremont, California. It’s my favorite place to walk around, dine, and be around the most friendly people in town. (sighs) Claremont certainly does have my heart.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my dog, Annabelle Louise, who gives me unconditional love. She keeps me going in life and within my career. She is one reason I named my production company after Annabelle Louise Productions.

Thank you, and I love you, Annabelle Louise.

Website: www.michellemaryschaefer.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@michellemaryschaefer4313

Other: www.annabellelouiseproductions.com

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