Haverford College

Strange Truth 2024

The Tuba Thieves 

2023, 1h 32m

Written and Directed by Alison O’Daniel

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

7:00pm

Bryn Mawr Film Institute

Discussion with writer and director Alison O’Daniel in conversation with Warren “Wawa” Snipe to follow, moderated by Kristin Lindgren, Director of College Writing Center and Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing, Haverford College.

This film will be shown with open captions. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided at this event. Audio description is available for this screening upon request.

Between 2011 and 2013, tubas were stolen from high schools across Southern California. While reporters focused on the thieves, Director Alison O'Daniel, who is hard of hearing, was curious about the impact on the students and school communities. She wondered how these thefts were altering the sound of the bands, which ultimately led her to question the role of sound itself and what it means to listen. In The Tuba Thieves, O'Daniel explores the question of sound, prioritizing a hard-of-hearing form of storytelling in which information collides and is allowed to be misunderstood. In prioritizing Deaf and hard of hearing communication, she generates new sensitivity to sound and meaning.

The Tuba Thieves follows the stories of Nyke Prince, a Deaf woman who is given a drum kit; Geovanny Maroquin, a high school saxophone player impacted by the tuba thefts; and Sam Quinones, an L.A. Times reporter seeking answers. Various Los Angeles musicians are also highlighted, performing in Deaf spaces and presenting concerts frequently (mis)interpreted as silent.

Image Credit: Cinematography by Derek Howard, Meena Singh, Judy Phu

All events are open to the public. Screenings are free for all Tri-Co students, staff, and faculty. Members of the Tri-Co community who wish to reserve their tickets in advance should contact jweissin [at] haverford.edu for this year’s promo-code. Walk-up attendees can show a Tri-Co school ID at the box office to get a free ticket. 

Blue Bus transportation provided on April 3 from Stokes Hall (Haverford) to the Bryn Mawr Film Institute (BMFI), departing Haverford at 6:30 p.m. and leaving BMFI at 9:30 p.m.

http://hav.to/strangetruth

Contact: hcah [at] haverford.edu

Organized by Visual Studies and VCAM Director John Muse, Spanish faculty and Chair Aurelia Gómez De Unamuno, Visual Studies and English faculty Matt O’Hare, and English faculty and HCAH Director Gustavus Stadler. 

Made possible by the John B. Hurford ’60 Center for the Arts and Humanities’ Sonic Worlds initiative; the Hillman Moving Images Endowed Fund; VCAM; CRAFT; Bryn Mawr Film Institute; the Department of Spanish; the Distinguished Visitors Program, and the Visual Studies Program at Haverford College.