Interview with Amaree from Netflix’s “Audible”
Renca Dunn, Daily Moth Reporter:
Netflix will release a documentary film called “Audible,” directed by Matt Ogens, which spotlights a Black Deaf high school athlete named Amaree Mckenstry-Hall and his close friends during their senior year at Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD).
Nyle DiMarco, an alumni of MSD, is one of the executive producers. We were notified by the production team that the documentary is expected to be released in July. The documentary is 36 minutes long.
We reached out to Amaree, the featured person in the documentary for an interview about his experience.
Renca:
Hello Amaree! I’m excited to have you here with us for this chat. Can you quickly introduce yourself, where you’re from, and what you’re doing now?
Amaree Mckenstry-Hall:
My name is Amaree Mckenstry-Hall. (Shows sign name) I come from the Maryland School for the Deaf and I now live in Indiana.
Renca:
You just graduated in 2020, right?
Amaree:
Yes, in 2020.
Renca:
How do you feel with one year of going virtual?
Amaree:
Oh, it was horrible. I’m appreciative to have made it through the coronavirus pandemic. Thank the Lord I made it. I feel like I’m back to myself.
Renca:
When they filmed you at MSD, did you feel strange with the cameras close up to you? Or did you feel like it was nothing? Or was it weird?
Amaree:
I did feel strange. I thought I would be some kind of actor, but no, I was filmed when I was trying to focus on a test or during classes. There was no script or acting. We were just being ourselves. So as I did school work, the cameras were prying in my face. My friends were laughing but I had to stay so focused. Even during football practice, the cameras were up close and when I did a move, I bumped into the camera! I did feel some stress but I just let it go and after a couple of weeks, I got used to it. I knew what I was doing and where to move.
Renca:
How many weeks did they film and follow you?
Amaree:
I think it was about two months, I’m not sure. It started at football camp in August and continued up to November, so it was about two, three months.
Renca:
Wow, that’s a long time to film and follow you!
I’m curious, how did they pick you?
Amaree:
Well, before the end of the previous year, after football was finished, they filmed players who were juniors and seniors. They asked for all the sophomores and juniors, who would move up the next year — I was to become a senior — to provide interviews. During the very last part, I was asked what was a huge, life-changing impact for me. I said it was when I lost my very close friend. It made the interpreter, the filmmakers, and the interviewers emotional. It seems like that’s what made them pick this story and as they found out more, they realized I had a lot of adversity in my life.
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Renca:
What is something that you want to share for the Deaf community to keep in mind before we watch the documentary? What would you share?
Amaree:
Really, I don’t have a lot on my mind. But I want for you in the Deaf community to get an idea of what the Maryland School for the Deaf is like. Don’t hate on MSD or try to find something negative.
Renca:
You’re asking the community to be positive and not dwell on the negativity. You want them to see positive things, yes?
Amaree:
Yeah, I guess. You know, with “DeafU,” people were like, “Oh, that’s Gallaudet!” But hold on, you’re supposed to get an idea of the diversity out there. I’m different. I’m from Columbia (campus) and later went to Frederick. It’s different, Columbia and Frederick, they’re separate. In Columbia, there are more Black students and the students are more of hard-of-hearing. So when they go to (Frederick), they’re not used to it. But in a few years they finally feel like it’s meshed together, the Frederick/Columbia people. So that’s my vision.
Renca:
What is your encouragement for deaf people, for Black Deaf youth who might want to be like you? What is your encouragement for them?
Amaree:
I want to say something to Black people. I want you to be yourself and find your own identity. Don’t follow other people… I’m trying not to say “the white system,” but don’t try so hard to fit in. Stay with your upbringing, where you came from, your environment, your hood, whether it is with the white community or the Black community, anything, just be yourself.
Renca:
Thank you, I appreciate your time.
Amaree:
No problem, thank you.
Renca:
Thank you so much for being willing to meet with us at the Daily Moth for an interview. We’re looking forward to watching the documentary this summer. It’s exciting.
Renca:
Thank you Amaree for your time.
We are looking forward to the release of “Audible.” We will update you with more information when it comes out. For now, mark your calendars, July 2021.