This May, “The Tuba Thieves” will close out the spring season of Independent Lens documentaries. Directed, written and produced by hard of hearing filmmaker Alison O’Daniel, the film uses a series of tuba thefts in Los Angeles high schools as a jumping-off point to explore the nature of sound itself, through several d/Deaf people telling stories in the film equivalent of a game of telephone.
Between 2011 and 2013, tubas were stolen from high schools across Southern California. While reporters focused on thieves, O’Daniel was curious about the impact of the thefts 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 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.
“Music isn’t necessarily about listening, and hearing is not always an auditory experience,” O’Daniel said. “With ‘The Tuba Thieves,’ I wanted to create a holistic exploration of musicality and the expansion of sound, with an eye towards both hearing and d/Deaf/hard of hearing audiences experiencing the story in similar ways.”
In April, ahead of the documentary premiere, Panhandle PBS hosted a free screening event featuring segments of "The Tuba Thieves" in their studio on the Washington Street Campus of Amarillo College. The full documentary will premiere at 9 p.m. on Monday, May 20 on Panhandle PBS.
About Independent Lens
INDEPENDENT LENS is an Emmy® Award-winning PBS documentary series. With founding executive producer Lois Vossen, the series has been honored with 10 Academy Award nominations and features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers.
Presented by ITVS, INDEPENDENT LENS is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Acton Family Giving, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts. Stream anytime on the PBS App. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens.
