DVD teaches sign language to kids

In Barbara Granoff’s business model, sign language is not only for

the hearing impaired.

“The Big Surprise” is the first DVD in what Granoff hopes will be

a series called “Sign-A-Lot.” The 30-minute program features a cast

of ebullient children who are joined by two animated gloves named

“Lulu Lefty” and “Ronnie Righty.”

The DVD was released Sept. 12 by Granoff’s Newport Beach-based

company, See Me Sign LLC. In the first weeks since the video’s

release, Granoff said she has been relying on word-of-mouth

marketing.

“We’re very grass-roots,” she said.

The DVD was designed to teach sign-language skills to children who

are not hearing impaired. See Me Sign’s concept is similar to that of

ABC Me Sign, another of Granoff’s enterprises. ABC Me Sign offers

sign language classes to small children who have not yet learned to

talk.

Tracy Desmond, who teaches ABC Me Sign classes, was also an

advisor for the DVD. Desmond said children who are taught sign

language -- whether they’re old enough to speak or not -- can gain a

head start in understanding language or communication.

“Their brains are just firing left and right,” Desmond said.

The DVD is for children who are already speaking.

“It’s really to get the benefits of sign language to hearing

children that are older than 3,” Granoff said.

Granoff said the benefits of learning sign language can include

improved reading skills and higher self-esteem.

“Sign language is a second-language and it increases IQ scores,”

she said.

Costa Mesa-based Avant Productions produced the DVD. Clark

Siverson, who supervised the project, said Avant worked on the video

from February to the beginning of September.

The Costa Mesa company developed the program’s visual scheme from

Granoff’s script.

“We came up with the animation and the green screen and the idea

of putting it in a 3-D environment,” Siverson said.

In many shots, the cast is shown in a make-believe animated

environment. Sets have names like Opposites Playground and Music

Meadow.

When cast members show how to make a sign for a word, an animated

representation of that word pops up on screen. For example, when a

child shows how to say “butterfly” in sign language, a cartoon

butterfly appears.

In “The Big Surprise,” cast members show signs for words related

to food, movement, feelings, musical instruments and opposites,

Granoff said. She is already planning sequels to teach the alphabet

and colors.

When children watch the video, Granoff hopes they play along as

the kids on screen demonstrate various words.

“It’s very interactive. It will ask the kids at home to shout out

the answer or sign with them,” she said.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at

o7andrew.edwards@latimes.comf7.