Learning to Listen
Runtime: 13:46
Gavin Pearson, a lonely deaf student, struggles to fit in with his hearing peers. After an accident lands him in the principal’s office, Gavin uses his love of piano to overcome the barriers that separate him and his classmates.
Director - Cora Roman
Cora Roman is a 22-year-old, emerging filmmaker from Athens, Ohio. She has worked as 1st Assistant Camera, Cinematographer, Screenwriter, Actress, and Director on several student short films, including Tarnation City, Sinslayer, Melt, The Ugly Phase, and No Cash Value.
Cora champions a strong sense of visual unity, by which her work is characterized, and enjoys using the medium of film to explore and experiment with various genres, styles, and storytelling devices. She is passionate about sharing hope and joy through film by focusing on heartfelt and resonant stories, but is not afraid to address complex subjects. Cora believes storytelling should be driven by emotion, drawn from experience, and backed by empirical research.
Cora graduated from Liberty University in 2026 with a B.S. in Film Production and Content Development and a Minor in Theater Arts. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Film and one day hopes to teach.
Directors Statement
When I began writing the script, I knew almost nothing about deafness. My desire to learn and passion toward the subject inspired me to make a cochlear implant user the main character of the story. The script ended up mixing research with my personal experiences and emotions. Above all, I wanted to accurately represent how a person with a cochlear implant might navigate daily life. This enabled me to write and tell a story that respectfully portrays a deaf person while being entertaining and dramatic.
In addition to research on cochlear implants, films like Wonder (2018) and Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) inspired the story and art direction. These films are about characters who are different from others and showcase the challenges and joys of their lives. They also focus on family and relationships with loved ones, another aspect my film shares.
I was driven to tell this story, which revolves around a character who is deaf, because it gave me the opportunity to explore a unique voice and perspective through film. I hope that Learning to Listen encourages viewers to think differently about themselves and the world while being relatable, comforting, and hopeful.
