It also includes any film that is played by hearing actors for deaf roles pretending to know sign language.
Or by deaf people that do not know sign language and quickly learn it making it look ridiculous.
Often these films contain erroneous messages such as negative stereotypes, continued misrepresentations or incorrect usage of the sign language and "are letting deaf people down" [3][4][5] In regard to deaf performers, the #DeafTalent movement spread like wildfire across social media in 2015.
Just as blackface is not an acceptable way to depict a black character, having a non-deaf actor pretend to be deaf is irresponsible, unethical, and offensive.
Computer software has made filmmaking more affordable and the proliferation of internet and the ability to stream in sign language freely and internationally has contributed to an increase in Deaf Cinema.