Dinner Table Syndrome
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Film Short
Drama, Horror
A deaf boy sits at Thanksgiving lunch, surrounded by hearing relatives who call themselves family—but they don’t know him, and he doesn’t know them. Armed with his brand-new "miracle cure" cochlear implant, he’s expected to play along, but the implant doesn’t fix the language barrier.
Dinner Table Syndrome
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Film Short
Drama, Horror
1 Campaigns | Minnesota, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $6,420 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
92 supporters | followers
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A deaf boy sits at Thanksgiving lunch, surrounded by hearing relatives who call themselves family—but they don’t know him, and he doesn’t know them. Armed with his brand-new "miracle cure" cochlear implant, he’s expected to play along, but the implant doesn’t fix the language barrier.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Dinner Table Syndrome is a part-drama, part-horror film that immerses viewers in the isolating experience of a deaf boy at a chaotic Thanksgiving lunch. Trapped in a world of exaggerated mouths and overwhelming noise, he’s excluded from conversations and burdened by his mother’s unrealistic expectations to keep up with his cochlear implant. The result is a haunting portrayal of exclusion and identity.
WHAT IS DINNER TABLE SYNDROME?
Dinner Table Syndrome is a phenomenon where deaf individuals are physically present at gatherings but excluded from conversations, left feeling isolated and unseen.
Our film is not a sugarcoated story. It’s a cinematic expression of what it feels like to be trapped in a world where you cannot hear the language, and inclusivity is an afterthought. The film captures the suffocating loneliness of being physically present but emotionally and linguistically disconnected.
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR & A DEAF-LED FILM
Director’s Note
As a Deaf person, I’ve lived through Dinner Table Syndrome—being stuck at a table, surrounded by conversations I couldn’t follow, and feeling completely invisible. It’s a real thing, and it’s exhausting. This film is personal because it’s something so many Deaf people go through, but it’s rarely talked about or shown on screen.
This isn’t just about being left out; it’s about what inclusion really means and how often the world gets it wrong. Dinner Table Syndrome dives into that experience—the frustration, the isolation, and the fight to feel seen. With a Deaf-led team, we’re making sure this story is told the right way.
Why now? Because Deaf stories are still rare in cinema, and we need to change that. This film isn’t here to sugarcoat anything—it’s here to start conversations. Thanks for helping us make that happen.
~ Charlie Ainsworth
A DEAF-LED TEAM
This film was created by a Deaf-led team—authenticity at its core! Creating opportunities for marginalized filmmakers is crucial for building careers in the industry. We’ve completed filming, and now we need your support to bring it through post-production.
What’s next? Your contributions will help cover essential post-production costs: editing, sound design, coloring, and special effects. (Seriously, we can’t wait to show you one particular special effect we have in mind—you’re going to love it!)
One example of what we need is the following image:
To “enlarge their mouths.” This effect highlights the overwhelming, chaotic environment our protagonist faces, making the horror of exclusion visceral and haunting. This is just one of several special effects we're applying in this film... trust me you wanna see it.
Plan for the finished project: Once completed, Dinner Table Syndrome will make its debut on the film festival circuit, sharing its powerful story with audiences worldwide. We also plan to host a special premiere specifically for Deaf audiences—a space where we can all be included and celebrated.
Stretch Goals: If we surpass our $6,000 goal, additional funding will allow us to:
• Submit to more prestigious and international film festivals.
• Add accessibility features like ASL interpretation, subtitles, and open captions.
• Create a marketing push with promotional materials and social media ads.
• Host free or low-cost screenings for Deaf communities across the country.
• Develop exclusive supporter merchandise inspired by the film.
HOW TO HELP
• Pledge!
• Follow us at @AngryDeafPeople!
• Share!
Stay Angry and make a difference.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Film Festivals
Costs $600
Submission Fees. Help us share Dinner Table Syndrome with festivals around the world. And DCP Creation
Sound design
Costs $1,500
Sound in this film is gonna be done by the awesome Johnny Hagen and there are a lot of sound tricks in this one!
Special Effects
Costs $1,800
Cover software needs and Deaf talent Austin Balaich who will craft unique effects like exaggerated mouths and eerie atmospheric visuals.
Editing
Costs $1,200
Editing by Alex Zeibot + tools. Your support helps with Adobe license, Frame.io access, and others to complete the final cut.
Coloring
Costs $900
Support our deaf colorist’s artistry. Help refine lighting, tone, and visuals to create the stunning atmosphere of Dinner Table Syndrome.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Share this update!
About This Team
CHARLIE AINSWORTH – DIRECTOR/WRITER/PRODUCER
Charlie founded Angry Deaf People Productions in 2018 with a focus on ending the misrepresentation and underrepresentation of deaf people on the screen. Angry Deaf People has produced eight short films. Charlie wrote seven of the scripts and directed six of the short films; notably The Pastman, Life Captioned, How to Caption Your Movie, and Hamburger Airplane. With an MFA in screenwriting from the David Lynch Graduate School for Cinematic Arts, Charlie is eager to produce and lead deaf films into a new frontier.
JULES DAMERON – ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Jules (he/him) is a deaf trans gay film & theatre director, working with both deaf and hearing actors. Jules graduated from Gallaudet University with a B.A. in TV/Cinema and then obtained an MFA in Film Production/Directing at one of the leading film schools in the world, the University of Southern California. Shifting between both deaf and hearing cultures, Jules has a strong insight into how the deaf community has a different way of sharing information. Mediating between two cultures has helped Jules harness a direction style and vision that is unique and unparalleled.
ALEXANDER ZEIBOT – DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY/EDITOR
Alex’s passion for performing arts first ignited when, as a little child, he saw a ballet performance at the fabled Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. Ever since then, he was an avid spectator at every circus performance that came into town. Later as a student at Gallaudet University, he participated in several theater productions as a performer, lighting technician, and associate choreographer.
Alex studied film and production at University of Washington, where he contributed his talents to various student film productions. He produced a featured documentary about one of the early DeafBlind AIDS advocates. He also served as the chairperson of the KissFist 72-Hour Film Challenge sponsored by Seattle-based Deaf Spotlight.
AUSTIN BALAICH – DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY/VFX ARTIST
Austin is a multidisciplinary creative director with professional skills in 2D/3D animation, motion design, traditional art, video editing, and visual effects. Austin got his BFA in Animation from the prestigious Brigham Young University’s Center for Animation. With a strong foundation in traditional and digital animation, Austin works on projects ranging from an artists studio to a full-scale film set.
Austin enjoys the challenges that come with visual effects. He has done VFX for many productions but to name a few, MATHER, HAMBURGER AIRPLANE, and GEB’S GREENHOUSE.
Austin is the Creative Director at Sorenson, a global language services provider.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Dinner Table Syndrome is a part-drama, part-horror film that immerses viewers in the isolating experience of a deaf boy at a chaotic Thanksgiving lunch. Trapped in a world of exaggerated mouths and overwhelming noise, he’s excluded from conversations and burdened by his mother’s unrealistic expectations to keep up with his cochlear implant. The result is a haunting portrayal of exclusion and identity.
WHAT IS DINNER TABLE SYNDROME?
Dinner Table Syndrome is a phenomenon where deaf individuals are physically present at gatherings but excluded from conversations, left feeling isolated and unseen.
Our film is not a sugarcoated story. It’s a cinematic expression of what it feels like to be trapped in a world where you cannot hear the language, and inclusivity is an afterthought. The film captures the suffocating loneliness of being physically present but emotionally and linguistically disconnected.
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR & A DEAF-LED FILM
Director’s Note
As a Deaf person, I’ve lived through Dinner Table Syndrome—being stuck at a table, surrounded by conversations I couldn’t follow, and feeling completely invisible. It’s a real thing, and it’s exhausting. This film is personal because it’s something so many Deaf people go through, but it’s rarely talked about or shown on screen.
This isn’t just about being left out; it’s about what inclusion really means and how often the world gets it wrong. Dinner Table Syndrome dives into that experience—the frustration, the isolation, and the fight to feel seen. With a Deaf-led team, we’re making sure this story is told the right way.
Why now? Because Deaf stories are still rare in cinema, and we need to change that. This film isn’t here to sugarcoat anything—it’s here to start conversations. Thanks for helping us make that happen.
~ Charlie Ainsworth
A DEAF-LED TEAM
This film was created by a Deaf-led team—authenticity at its core! Creating opportunities for marginalized filmmakers is crucial for building careers in the industry. We’ve completed filming, and now we need your support to bring it through post-production.
What’s next? Your contributions will help cover essential post-production costs: editing, sound design, coloring, and special effects. (Seriously, we can’t wait to show you one particular special effect we have in mind—you’re going to love it!)
One example of what we need is the following image:
To “enlarge their mouths.” This effect highlights the overwhelming, chaotic environment our protagonist faces, making the horror of exclusion visceral and haunting. This is just one of several special effects we're applying in this film... trust me you wanna see it.
Plan for the finished project: Once completed, Dinner Table Syndrome will make its debut on the film festival circuit, sharing its powerful story with audiences worldwide. We also plan to host a special premiere specifically for Deaf audiences—a space where we can all be included and celebrated.
Stretch Goals: If we surpass our $6,000 goal, additional funding will allow us to:
• Submit to more prestigious and international film festivals.
• Add accessibility features like ASL interpretation, subtitles, and open captions.
• Create a marketing push with promotional materials and social media ads.
• Host free or low-cost screenings for Deaf communities across the country.
• Develop exclusive supporter merchandise inspired by the film.
HOW TO HELP
• Pledge!
• Follow us at @AngryDeafPeople!
• Share!
Stay Angry and make a difference.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Film Festivals
Costs $600
Submission Fees. Help us share Dinner Table Syndrome with festivals around the world. And DCP Creation
Sound design
Costs $1,500
Sound in this film is gonna be done by the awesome Johnny Hagen and there are a lot of sound tricks in this one!
Special Effects
Costs $1,800
Cover software needs and Deaf talent Austin Balaich who will craft unique effects like exaggerated mouths and eerie atmospheric visuals.
Editing
Costs $1,200
Editing by Alex Zeibot + tools. Your support helps with Adobe license, Frame.io access, and others to complete the final cut.
Coloring
Costs $900
Support our deaf colorist’s artistry. Help refine lighting, tone, and visuals to create the stunning atmosphere of Dinner Table Syndrome.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Share this update!
About This Team
CHARLIE AINSWORTH – DIRECTOR/WRITER/PRODUCER
Charlie founded Angry Deaf People Productions in 2018 with a focus on ending the misrepresentation and underrepresentation of deaf people on the screen. Angry Deaf People has produced eight short films. Charlie wrote seven of the scripts and directed six of the short films; notably The Pastman, Life Captioned, How to Caption Your Movie, and Hamburger Airplane. With an MFA in screenwriting from the David Lynch Graduate School for Cinematic Arts, Charlie is eager to produce and lead deaf films into a new frontier.
JULES DAMERON – ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Jules (he/him) is a deaf trans gay film & theatre director, working with both deaf and hearing actors. Jules graduated from Gallaudet University with a B.A. in TV/Cinema and then obtained an MFA in Film Production/Directing at one of the leading film schools in the world, the University of Southern California. Shifting between both deaf and hearing cultures, Jules has a strong insight into how the deaf community has a different way of sharing information. Mediating between two cultures has helped Jules harness a direction style and vision that is unique and unparalleled.
ALEXANDER ZEIBOT – DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY/EDITOR
Alex’s passion for performing arts first ignited when, as a little child, he saw a ballet performance at the fabled Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. Ever since then, he was an avid spectator at every circus performance that came into town. Later as a student at Gallaudet University, he participated in several theater productions as a performer, lighting technician, and associate choreographer.
Alex studied film and production at University of Washington, where he contributed his talents to various student film productions. He produced a featured documentary about one of the early DeafBlind AIDS advocates. He also served as the chairperson of the KissFist 72-Hour Film Challenge sponsored by Seattle-based Deaf Spotlight.
AUSTIN BALAICH – DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY/VFX ARTIST
Austin is a multidisciplinary creative director with professional skills in 2D/3D animation, motion design, traditional art, video editing, and visual effects. Austin got his BFA in Animation from the prestigious Brigham Young University’s Center for Animation. With a strong foundation in traditional and digital animation, Austin works on projects ranging from an artists studio to a full-scale film set.
Austin enjoys the challenges that come with visual effects. He has done VFX for many productions but to name a few, MATHER, HAMBURGER AIRPLANE, and GEB’S GREENHOUSE.
Austin is the Creative Director at Sorenson, a global language services provider.