Interactive Performance and Storytelling
The Good Life: Growing Disabled with Dad (2024): my second interactive scented/tactile storytelling journey enjoyed two sold-out performances at Olfactory Art Keller, NYC.
Becoming Blind–as a Bat (2024): my first interactive scented/tactile storytelling journey enjoyed three sold-out performances at Olfactory Art Keller, NYC.
SIGHTED PEOPLE SUCK! (2023). My solo show premiered as part of the Gotham Storytelling Festival, NYC.
Dr. Dan’s Medicine Show (2023), “Not Blind Enough,” Brooklyn.
Awkward Teenage Years (2023), “Rooftop Dump,” NYC.
Evolving Echoes (2023), “Denver Bat,” Brooklyn.
TALE: NYC’s Finest Storytelling (2023), “Not Blind Enough,” NYC.
Turn Me into Gold: Storytelling Party (2023), “Dad Gives Me the Gold,” SF.
Story Collider (Live 2021/podcast 2022): “Going Out, NYC.
RISK (Live/Podcast 2018): “The Blind Feeding the Lame“, Denver.
Sideshow Goshko (2009-15): Accordion Sidekick +many stories including: “Morocco (In & Out), NYC.
FILM
The Kerfuffle – Samantha (Principal – Two-timer) – Disability Film Challenge/Short
We Are Vagina – Voiceover/Writer – Sparrow Film Project/Short
A Blank Walks into a Blank – Voiceover (Classic text) – Sparrow Film Project/Short
COMMERCIAL/PSA
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Non-24 – Suburban Mom (Principal) – National Network
Communication &Etiquette When Assisting Voters with Disabilities – Leona (Principal) – Board of Elections NY
THEATER
The Spectator & the Blind Man – 18th Century MC – Kraine Theater/Leona Godin
The Star of Happiness (Solo Show) – Helen Keller (Vaudevillian) – Kraine Theater/Randi Rivera
Fruit Machine 2 – Banana (Literary Improv) – New Museum Theater/Xavier Cha
Noye’s Fludde – Gossip (Alto part) – Arts at the Park/Lighthouse Guild
Do you remember when I filmed this in 2011? You and your friend were singing in the Subway. It is beautiful, as are you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtToyB0Vi2w
Thanks so much for reminding me of this–such fun to hear it again. I shared with all my friends and it was well appreciated!
I loved your Modern Love essay in the NYT. Looking forward to your book! All the best to you!
Ah, so great to hear! Thank you!
Hi Leona! I just read your Modern Love essay. It is fantastic. I could very much relate to the very end where suddenly it occurs to you most of your fellow writers in the Catskills had no one to go home to. We forget how hard it can be to find and keep love. Just wanted to send you a bit of fan mail all the way from California. Nice work.
Hi Jennifer, so glad you liked my essay and could relate! Makes me so happy. Thank you, Leona
Hi, Leona!
I recently came across your article that mentioned you were beta testing Final Draft for its accessibility a good while back. I am a somewhat new member of the blind community, and music production major in Austin, Texas. I had the opportunity to supplant one of my courses for a scriptwriting class, an endeavor encouraged by my vocational rehab career specialist. I’ve enjoyed it immensely! However, I’ve had a tough run of dabbling with the various software available and have been using Microsoft Word, with varying levels of success!
Apologies for the novel-length post, but, honestly, the prices for Final Draft have me hesitant to take the risk just for it to not be accessible!
I was just wondering how your experience with it went and if you would recommend it? Any other observations and suggestions would be greatly welcome!
Thank you in advance!
Kindest Regards,
Eric A. Hinojos
Hi Eric, thanks for reaching out! I did not stick with the Final Draft thing, so I can’t tell you where it’s at these days. But I seem to remember that the app was much better than the desktop version. I will say though that they were really nice when I called, so I think it’s worth giving them a call and seeing where the accessibility is at these days before you purchase. I think they do have trial-periods as well. Good luck, and let me know how it goes! Leona
Dear Leona, I hope this message finds you well. I loved the messages and work you’ve been doing, thank you!
I am producing my animated feature ROSIE, which starts a main character, BEAR, who’s blind (https://www.spiritanimation.com/arquivos/originals/rosie-and-bear).
The project has gathered lots of recognition so far and it’s currently on advanced pre-production and early financing stage (I’m from Brazil but I’m producing the film in English).
I would very much love to have this role voiced by a blind actor, with a deep strong voice.
I was wondering if you happen to know someone, or point me in the right direction?
Thank you so much. Wishing you a fantastic year of 2023.
Hi, that is a great idea! The first person that comes to mind is Thomas Reid who hosts Reid My Mind Podcast: http://reidmymind.com/.
If not him, I bet he’d know someone… Please drop me a line and let me know how it goes! All best, Leona
On “How Alien We Seem: On Being Blind and Obsessed with Photography” Jan 2024 article…
As an ignorant sighted person (ISP) who absolutely should try harder, I just found this article after watching an episode of “Cheers”.
Norm Peterson, the bar patron more at home on his favorite barstool than at home with his wife Vera. On being asked a hypothetical question about how he might react to catching Vera having an affair:
Sam enquires, “what would you do Norm, if you walked in and found Vera with another man?”.
Norm replies, “Well, I’d probably buy a couple of his pencils and send him on his way..”.
Missing the reference in this “one liner” I felt compelled to google the term “what is the trope about people who sell pencils in the USA?”. I should add, I am british which may explain my unfamiliarity with the BPV trope/phenomenon.
Sometimes comedy is a victim of an outdated trope, sometimes it is simply due to cultural differences, a type of blindness of ignorance that can afflict the sighted just as much as anyone, and sometimes its equal parts of both. In this case, I hope the loss of this reference may also be pointing to something wholly more positive, an evolution or progression of cultural Norms, perhaps Norm is representative of the ISP of old. We sighted folk certainly can and should try harder to overcome such blindness of ignorance, empathy is seen from the inside. To be, or not to be, maybe its time to put down the pencils. Maybe.
RIP George Wendt.
Hello, thanks for visiting and for your thoughtful comment! Makes me wonder if the BPV really is just a US thing. Or simply outdated. I also worry about the associations between blindness and ignorance, but that might prove more difficult than letting go of the BPV… Very best wishes, Leona