Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ellen Rice . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ellen , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Learning your craft: How did you learn to do what you do? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

learned by reading hearing people lips. I am an expert lip reader since I was 5 1/2 years old. I use my eyes to see things of how people do things by reading their body Languages. Without Certificated Interpreter. There is no way a deaf person 50% who is not able to read lip or hear the sounds. My eyes were the power and important tools to use my vision to see things and think of creative of idea how to act by reading the scripts. Even I wear two hearing aid helps me to hear sounds and voice. I still rely lip read with hearing people. Without my two hearing or if the battery were dead then I could not or would not be able to gears no sounds or could not think straighten without my two Hearing aids. Knowing that being a professional Actress was a huge challenge for me to learn and the hardest part. I have learned the hard way. Acting is hard work especially no support from the Agency because agency are too busy helping other actors or actress. They do not have the time to sit or explained to the Deaf Actress. They expect the actors to know. High expectations. Deaf are slow learner or fast learner too but it takes time to understand, read and take the time to know what to expect from each agency. Agency do not realized deaf May have trouble reading or understand the “Languages” because English and ASL Sign Languages is not the same languages. Agency would give us a lists of each website that actors must require to have a “Login” website and they give actors code numbers for website in order to submitted our work to the Casting Network, Backstage, Actor Access and 800 Casting or Soup Talent actors. I wish all Agency provided a Certificated Interpreter could have help the deaf speed up more opportunities to Work. The agency try to submitted my work to the filming or commercial. Many Director or Producer don’t realized I am deaf. They sometime decline the deaf actors. Because there is not enough work for the deaf role character. They think some deaf cannot speak? If they needed a speaking role? There are time I can do non-speaking role or short film or lucky to have rare deaf roles. There is not enough work for the Deaf roles. My skills are the most important was my face expressions, my motivations that attract people, people love my work, I am funny person ,it could have speed it up faster. I would learned more. There was no one to teach me? Agency did take the time to show me what I had to learn from them, acting classes is a must, reading the scripts, it can be very frustrated, if a deaf person cannot pronoun words or cat read or understand the English Languages, have get help by the family or hearing friends or your hearing children if they are willing to help their deaf parents, Actors has to lerned how to set up each website like Actor Access, Background stage, casting Network but sometime all website cause money and very expensive is one reason I cannot afford to pay cause me not able to do much work in my acting career (no money), I am very out going person, make people laugh, I am an expert ASL Sign Languages and my voice must be heard for others who cannot speak, my voice is for the deaf if they needed help for speaking while I translated or interpreter for them onsite for any help they ask me to help them. My children Anjelica and Matthew are the most important of my life. They believe in me, they tell me you can do anything Mom! My Husband is also part of my true BBF, my hero, my supporter, and my husband is Deaf. He is excellent woodland crafts, I love arts, crafts, sports, my favorite was gymnastic, my passion is to teach hearing people to understand we have different limit of mind and Languages, I absolutely love ASL Sign Languages so that I could help hearing people to learn Sign Languages. My strongest obstacles;: I move on with the next challenge, to show the world that Deaf can do anything but cannot hear. My deafness does not stop my acting career, my health with the most Santic Nerve is the most painful I had to go through l more than 10 years, I could not walk
For two months because of my back and my left leg was numb. It was hard to move around and I was extremely in a lot pain. I push harder myself not to give up my dream, my job, my family, and my husband was diagnosed cancer in July 2020. I said myself: No way this is not going to stop me from doing anything and my acting career to inspire others . I am very brave woman who believe that never give up hope. Believe in yourself with confidence, be kind to others, Do what is Best for myself. Love what I do is helping others that made me stronger as ever. My sinister died in 2010, I ask GOD forgive my sister for all the tragic she went through a lot. My sister once said: Ellen Don’t give up! I Knew in my heart I wanted to be something and I became an Actress . I am very grateful that all the Agency who has helped me but not only that I cannot hear or understand the Languages. All agency will learn how to work with any deaf and disability people like me.. patience and communication is the KEY. Learning ASzl Sign Languages is important to educated hearing. Educated was my passion to teach the world to understand how to approach in appropriate of communicate with the deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf -Blind. My quote would be: Do not ever stop your dream just because of our health, emotionally around people, bullying and being deaf is never stopped my dream is not to give up to Inspire others. To help deaf children and Adult is yo keep fighting my disease is not to give up hope! It is important to show that Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-blind can do anything in life. A lot of deaf do not share with other with the projects and work. We need to be a good example as a role model by helping each other rather they like it or not. We need to respect others. Stick with a strong positive. Nothing is never stopped my dream come true. That is what I believe in myself. Thank you L.A. Walton referral me to Amy to be interview for believe in me. Thank You Amy for for interview me. I would not be here to
Inspire thousand of people in the world that I could make a different to them. I am very grateful to that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Please feel welcome to add my. IMDB it is my Profile. has my story about being an Deaf Actress.. I was the first Hanspic Deaf Actress that ever break the leg with my first time “Deaf Role” with the z under The Hime” in 2013. It was the most excited for me. I was happy that I was booked by: the Director . They did provided me an a Certificate Interpreter. I was very happy. It was a last minutes notices. I remember how excited was my first time in the movie. Bc and expressive by them. wanted to open my business to creative a business to help the deaf to have extra money for their own hand crafts or wood work so that people will know Deaf has talents and gifts. In order to help them and teaching them. How to make money by learning to live independent of living and to educated hearing people to
Understand how to work with the deaf, hard of Hearing and deaf-blind. Hearing people has never experience or have not being exposure with the Deaf Culture and Deaf Community especially if we have disability or non disability. Hearing people is not aware of Deaf Culture or has never experience what is like to deaf. Most hearing controlled in the deaf community. As a deaf adult , actor, Actress, teacher or leadership .

We should stand up what we believe is right thing to do. Deaf Community do not like Hearing People to control our work, college, school and places that deaf people want their own business. Many hearing people taken advantage of disability and deaf community. Hearing people they know all ASL Sign Languages but they really do not unless they have deaf or hearing children. It does require a lot of hard work to communicate with the deaf people. As an Deaf Artists we all need to be noticeable or regonzine the Deaf Artists about the Deaf Actress. Because a lot of Deaf Organzation will not share about other deaf Artists that has struggling and become successful in their work. I started acting in 2010. When my sister passed away. I could not bear to give up That I had promise my adopted mother and my real Sister from San Jose, Costa Rica who killed herself in Winder, Ga when she was 50 years old. I was not to going to give up my dream. I became an Actress Artists n 2010 and my very first move has ever break the leg in 2013 when I had my first Agency Janice VanDkye. I love her. All those years My agency was having a difficult time to Understand
my languages.

I also work with my other Agency name Balinda Micheals who is hard of hearing. She grew up in the Hearing community. She and I have different of opinion. I understand more about the Deaf Culture then most all of the Agency is not aware of about the Deaf Culture. Because they have never been around in the deaf community. Balinda really inspire me.! I love her no matter what. She has several experiences in Director, Producer, Actress, a writer, and She also prep food and bakery cookies ! One of the best cookies she made homemade! of her hearing loss as she understand now about my deaf culture. I am very grateful To have Balinda in my life. We became bond as a good friends. Even not she was my agency before. We both still Working together. but we are still together. She has helped me a lot It is her first time to Work with the deaf. Beer name is Balinda Mchesls who believe in me. She got to do two audition to try out for Walt Disney. So I could some of my voice of speakimgbrole as well.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

The average of 50% of deaf who may not be able to understand in Languages like reading, limit of mind, to Educated Director, Producer, CSting and Agency is not aware of deaf people have all individually of communication of levels. We need to do better for our Community in order to allow deaf who cannot speak or can speak or read the Linnea or read the scripts. Agency sometime make Deaf read the scripts because they want to prove the Director and z producer to put any hard of hearing or deaf in any speaking roles instead of creative a “Deaf Role in ASL Sign languages. Also we need to change to do better for Atlanta and all US State of each city to have accommodate and more accessible for the Deaf to have A Professional Certificated interpreter rather is one or more deaf Actors and Deaf Actress, deaf students as well in order for them to understand what is going on around them. Not all deaf or hard of hearing can not always read lips. Some can. Hearing people do not realized how diff put for deaf person cannot hear the words or pronoun words during the filming or commercial. Many Agun y do not understand what a deaf person go through. They expect high expectations thinking that deaf can read or understand the hearing world Languages. Because the fact that I can soeak. They assume that Ellen understand them especially if I do not have any acting training or was not told by the agency should take the time to explained to the deaf person or the interpreter was not provided my need especially I am a SaG E. It cost a lot of money to become a members of SAG that many people or myself do not have enough money without a job or if we are on the SSDI low income. Sometime we have to work harder to get what I want. Many Agency expect we have to open the website in order to pay Actor Access, Backstage, 800 Casting, Casting Network, Casting ,Location , INDB, and. Talent Soup those are require by Agency but they also give you the code numbers to give you discounts so that the actors and modeling can save their money but it is still very expensive to pay each website money every monthly or a yearly.since the Covid-19 started to spread. Many people started to stay home more often. Things has change.. The Agencies expect actor to know everything or be ready but how can we afford it if we do not have the money to pay. It cause me not able to work As an Actirs or to be able to submitted the work in order to check all the website Casting for work. I have been struggling with financially because no job. I did work part time job in the pas in order to submitted my work for any projects or get paid. You have to work harder in order to be successful to become an Actress. Not easy for anyone or me. I could not afford so I decided to do more Extra or Background in order to save my money on the website. There were a lot of Free website like “Hylton Casting, Stewart Casting, Location Casting is not free only few months, Rosa Casting all of them
You find in Facebook Free of charge for any casting to submitted your headshot for work. I have been working with Hyton Castingvand Location Casting , they are very good hiring all type of ages, Senior, accepted any disability actors. No require in acting. There are some Agency are very picky certain people or they submitted your work Or not. It is very important that all Actors and Actress must have a copy of their work In order to prive that Agency submitted your work That way you can see what they are actually doing their job. A lot of the Agency do not tell actors that. I learned the hard way because one of the Agency all actors has a right to get a copy of their work report. So that we keep track of our work History. We are suppose to get credit of work in our IMDB is our acting record to keep track of experience, credit work , only used when you have done a Stand In, Extra, speaking roles, project credit like being a Producer or Director or any work we do get credit of work . That is important to know. I took training classes but unfortunately no interpreter is not provided the accommodate for disability and we need to change that in Atlanta, Ga and all state as well. Where is our accessibility to have our “ Barrier of communication need. As far my work goes I do my Best as I can. It has not been easy without a job not able to pay the website because everything cause money. I have really enjoyed all Free Casting in order to submitted my headshot and my experience because it was easy to put my foot in a job or working or to be booked. I love it! I enjoyed every minute of acting. I learned a lot from Other hearing actors and other people. It is not required to get an Agency only if you have the money to pay their website or you can work
Independent yourself without an Agency. It is good idea to have an Agency does help actors to be booked but not always booked unless it is up
To the Director or Producer unless they look by your looks, match character, by your experience talents or something the Director or Producer or Casting do not pick actors is one reason we do not get booked or get to Work. Sometime if Agency submitted our headshot not always. It is depend on the situation. Sometime if you have certain disability then it might be hard for any Deaf not able to work because their isn’t enough “Deaf Riles” because of their age, weight, the looks and no voice of speak. Some deaf people cannot speak . Some do speak. Director and zproducer do not that I am deaf but can speak good sometime they don’t relized that we do not understand in reading the instructions or reading the stripy makes it diffcult for deaf to understand the Language. Because English is not the same ASL Sign Languages is a reason why maybe I am not able to booked much. Because it is difficult to understand things we never heard of a words or no trading or no Agency will not take time to explained. Very few Agency will help or take the time to explained to the deaf or disability actors or actress. The most important is hearing people need to understand that. When it comes to limit of mind, lack of communications skill. We need to do better. I would be happy to help all Agency to set up ASL Sign languages or translated for all Deaf Actors or Actress so that we could be booked for work. The company or each movie or filming required to provided our Barrier of Communication required to provided an interpreter so that we or I can understand the Director or Producer only if if we or I were booked as a Features or Supporter speaking roles or doing Stand in principle or Sign Languages speaking roles. It is important to educated hearing people o be aware of the Deaf Culture. I would not be here to help
Others to make a different to the world. We do need more Deaf Roles with ASL Sign Languages or to have deaf person who can speak do short line or short filming.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I really wish I knew more about the membership of SAG if the Agency sit down to The deaf actors to understand what we expect to know. I wish I had know more about the film Industry if the Agency give us more Training classes eight having a diffcult hearing or not have any Certficated interpreter for the deaf actors. We would have learned and understand their rules, their policy and their high expectations. We would learn more and understand how the film industry work in order for each individual disability or being deaf has not been easy. I feel that I have been left out or behind of what is going on. The Agency need to know that Deaf need a lot of training or a deaf person or deaf actors can teach and explain to Other deaf actors as well. That would help a lot. SAG office should have a classes for the deaf actors to understand what we need to knibefore we get an y Agency. 50 % not many Agency do not take time to explained to the deaf actors. Especially if you have disability of limit of communication skills. We have o Learn take training classes but no Interpreter Is not provided under the ADA laws for disability. That is the problem for disability and deaf need help. It is important to educated Agency, Director and Producer and hearing people need to
Understand Deaf Culture languages.

Contact Info:

• Website: IMDB
• Instagram: Yes
• Facebook: Yes
• Linkedin: Yes
• Twitter: Yes
• Youtube: No
• Yelp: No
• Other: I really do not know how to look for my name in there the only way you could do Is add me there.

Image Credits
I have article about me when I was interview with disability magazine.