What’s On: HERE/NOT HERE deaf hip-hop drama exploring British Sign Language

A new deaf hip-hop drama exploring British Sign Language, Krump street dance, football and Visual Vernacular – the choreographed and poetic form of sign language – filmed in Bermondsey will have its TV premiere on Film4 and Together TV.

HERE/NOT HERE brings together a diverse creative team and company from deaf and hearing communities and is directed by award-winning film-maker and deaf artist Bim Ajadi from Bromley. The film will be hosted online on BSL Zone.

Written by Jonzi D, artistic director of the annual hip-hop dance and theatre festival Breakin’ Convention, the film is a unique collaboration with the film’s professional and non-professional, deaf and hearing cast.

HERE/NOT HERE is a thought provoking hip-hop drama film which sees three rival groups – Deaf VVers, footballers and Krumpers – clash over who should use an abandoned warehouse space.

Despite their differences, they find and inspire a common language through movement to communicate, collaborate and come together.

The project features a company of established and first-time BAME actors, dancers and Visual Vernacular performers.

Director Bim Ajadi said: “HERE/NOT HERE is about fear of invasion of a space.

The message of this film is not to be too quick to judge strangers, once you’ve crossed that line in getting to know a person more, you might be surprised by how much you have in common, how you’ve learned something new, how much you feel valued.

“This is about being open-minded and trying to accept and appreciate new and different people.”

Bim Ajadi is an award-winning film-maker. He co-directed Look Up for the opening of the 2012 London Paralympics Ceremony and directed and edited I Believe, a music video for Zebra Uno which won Best Music Video and Best Editor at the CKF International Film Festival.

Bim is profoundly deaf, which he says gives him a unique visual perspective.