A word from the Director:
After being an admirer Crom Saunder’s work for many years, I met him at an bilingual ASL/English Improv Theater workshop that he taught at Second City, just before COVID broke out. After that class, I was dying to work with him again, so I was thrilled when he agreed to be our ASL Master and Sign Performer for the Calvin Can’t Fly ASL Storybook. Here’s what he had to say about the experience.
Enjoy!
— Sarah
Here’s what Crom had to say about the experience:
What was fun about working on this project?
What was fun about this project was seeing so many different layers come together for the final version — so great that it was a collaboration in the truest sense — several people bringing their skills to the table.
What was your favorite scene?
I think probably my favorite scene is when Calvin defines a hurricane to his perplexed cousins. I tried to make the delivery similar to Remy’s explanation to his rat friend about how to enjoy food, in the film “Ratatouille,” where his excitement and knowledge blazes forth.
Why is the story important today?
In the world we live in now, with disposable information so easily accessed and just as easily forgotten, I think the message of how reading is really vital to gaining knowledge as well as increasing critical thinking, and is also just a joyous experience is an important one to instill in our children. Us adults, too.