DALLAS – Look, if you haven’t seen the movie “Sinners” yet, then you’re seriously missing out.
The movie was released in theatres in April, but has already been listed among 2025’s best movies (so far). It’s an exhilarating vampire flick that, at its core, ambitiously packs deep messages about music, cultural appropriation, and religion.
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It is now available for streaming on HBO Max, but for the first time in streaming history, Warner Bros. Pictures will have the movie available in Black American Sign Language (BASL).
“The release of SINNERS with BASL is a major step forward in accessibility, representation, and visibility in streaming,” Warner Bros. said in its press release. “BASL is a distinct dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) with its own dynamic history and unique grammar, signing space, rhythm, facial expressions, and cultural nuances.
“For the first time, the Black Deaf community will have streaming access to a more immersive experience in their language,” Warner Bros. added. “Max subscribers, who sign in ASL but are unfamiliar with this dialect, will also be able to follow along with this interpretation.”
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Influential voice in the Black Deaf community and Texas native, Nakia Smith, has been tasked with delivering the interpretation.
“Growing up in Dallas taught me resourcefulness; you learn early on to advocate for yourself and your community,” Smith wrote in an emailed response. “That Texas spirit gave me the drive to push for better representation and to hustle for opportunities even when doors didn’t open easily!”
Interestingly, this was Smith’s first time interpreting for a full-length feature film. Having previously done notable work on Netflix and some short clips dating back to 2021.
“When I got the email, I couldn’t believe it! I was like, ‘Wait…me? For this movie?!’ The opportunity came through my work advocating for BASL, and I’m so grateful the team believed in me to bring authentic representation."
Considering how much the film relies on sound, I asked Smith how she managed to overcome the challenges of capturing dialogue and movement in real-time.
“Interpreting in real-time is intense,” she confessed. “You have to keep up with the speed, emotion, and context of what’s happening, especially in a film with heavy dialogue or expressions. I overcome them by going with the flow and trying my best to summarize the dialogue.”
With help from renowned performance artist and Director of Artistic Sign Language, Rosa Lee Timm, to ensure the cultural authenticity and balance esoteric phrases that people may have never heard of before watching the movie or musical scenes.
“When I hit an unfamiliar word or concept, I break it down with my DASL, Rosa Lee, into its meaning and look for a way to convey that visually in BASL,” Smith explained. “Since the movie leans so much on sound, I had to bring all of that through visuals — the vibe, the tension, the emotion. For the I Lied To You song, it wasn’t just about the lyrics; it was about showing that hurt and betrayal. The river dance scene? That one was wild. Real eerie. I had to use my face and body to match that whole mood, not just sign it, but really feel it and make sure others could too."
Since the movie was made available for streaming with BASL, the feedback has been overwhelmingly supportive of its inclusivity.
“BASL isn’t just a variation of ASL; it’s a language with its own grammar, expressions, and cultural roots tied to the Black Deaf experience,” Smith explained. “Including BASL isn’t just about access; it’s about acknowledging and honoring the richness of Black Deaf culture, which has often been erased or ignored.”
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“Accessibility within streaming is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our goal at Max is to make these great stories accessible to all audiences in a way that is authentic to the content and the communities we serve,” Naomi Waibel, SVP of Global Product Management at Warner Bros. Discovery, added. “SINNERS with Black American Sign Language is an example of how culturally nuanced access can enrich the viewing experience for our audiences.”
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While Smith couldn’t share more details, she did note that there would be more collaborations coming soon. However, this latest representative move demonstrates that while she may be moving in silence, she’s making big noise for Texans, and we couldn’t be more excited!
“This isn’t about me alone — it’s about every Black Deaf person who deserves to see their language and culture celebrated on screen," Smith concluded. I hope this opens doors for more authentic stories and true representation."