“I have a deep-rooted belief that it’s possible to raise the bar for Deaf-created content, so it becomes more prevalent within the mainstream film industry,” says London-based film-maker Bim Ajadi, who lost his hearing when he was three. “I want as wide an audience as possible to watch a Deaf-led production, whether telling Deaf stories or not. Audiences should feel just as engaged and connected with these stories as the stories of any other production.”
With a clutch of accolades under his belt and an extensive back catalogue, Ajadi is passionate about using his voice to tell stories that inspire change as well as championing the underrepresented. His work spans documentaries, comedies, hip-hop drama (2020’s acclaimed Here/Not Here was commissioned by the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust), and shows such as Hollyoaks and Silent Witness. In 2020 he was named a Bafta Breakthrough talent and received a coveted John Brabourne award, which provided a grant to help him develop a short film.
His path to the director’s seat wasn’t straightforward, and he found himself there almost by accident. After swapping graphic design for jobs at various TV and film production houses – mostly within the music video industry – he worked his way up from runner to staff editor. Then, one day, he was asked to direct a music video at short notice when the original director fell ill. “It was then I realised I’d found my calling – as a director,” he says of the unexpected gig. “And I haven’t looked back since!”
A lover of film from a young age, much of what Ajadi saw on screen left him disappointed, he says. “There have been too many times when I’ve been frustrated at Deaf or disabled characters being poorly represented, relying on inaccurate and prejudicial tropes. Too often we see a Deaf or disabled character as being a victim, for example – someone who needs to be saved or who is creating a problem for other non-disabled characters. It’s a negative and wildly inaccurate cliche that only serves to promote the idea of disability in negative form. This has influenced my biggest motivation as a director – to bring in authentic representation within the human story.”
He adds: “Being responsible for representing the voices of the voiceless is so important, we need to show more diverse experiences and perspectives, yet Deaf talent often remains forgotten when addressing factors such as diversity on screen. An increase in the visibility of Deaf professionals in the TV and film industry is essential to provide role models that Deaf people can aspire to be, plus to foster the expansion of awareness among hearing consciousness.”
Ajadi has overcome plenty of challenges to get to where he has – even communicating his vision to a film-making team can prove difficult. “Communication and clarity are arguably the most essential elements of the film-making process, and with effective use of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters it can be achieved when crew members don’t know BSL,” he says. “But there’s often a period of adjustment while the new team gets used to the dynamics of this sort of communication, which is understandable.”
Even with a BSL interpreter on set, communication is not always straightforward and Ajadi can feel he’s missing out on that shared sense of purpose that brings a team together. “I think there’s often concern or mistrust in my abilities as a director just because I happen to be Deaf, and some people lack the patience or perceptiveness that allows them to easily adapt. For example, during one film I directed, there was a clear rapport between the producer and the rest of the crew, however there remained an invisible barrier between them and me. Likewise, there have been times when an artist or crew member will speak to my interpreter almost as though I’m not there.”
He believes that the way to break through these barriers is to bring BSL more into the mainstream, and particularly for it to be introduced to young Deaf people. “As with any language, the earlier children learn sign language, the better their awareness and engagement will develop with people from all walks of life. Having said that, regardless of age, it is never too late to learn. And as for hearing people, even if they only know a few signs, we feel gratitude that they’ve taken the time and effort to do something that really means the world to Deaf people.”
To encourage more people to take that step, Cadbury Fingers has teamed up with the National Deaf Children’s Society to create a series of short videos that teach signs for simple phrases such as “How are you?’ and “What films do you like?” Sign with Fingers aims to help Deaf people feel more included and able to join in the shared moments of everyday life. “When working on the set of Hollyoaks, I saw the efforts made by artists and crew to practise BSL with me,” says Ajadi, who learned BSL in his late teens. “Simple signs such as ‘good morning’ or ‘thank-you’ are always nice to see and I leave the job knowing I’ve influenced a positive change. I think it’s great there’s now more exposure of BSL.”
So what’s next for Ajadi? “As a Deaf film-maker my work has unavoidably had a singular Deaf focus – I’m known as a Deaf director making Deaf films,” he says. “My ambition is to break the perception that just because I am a Deaf director, that’s all I can do. Next, I’m looking to create a breakthrough project that proves I’m a director first and foremost, and that my deafness really is no barrier.”
Let’s help more people feel included by learning some British Sign Language. Get started at Sign with Fingers
