As with all film festivals, the opening night film is a coveted spot and helps set the tone for audience expectations. For the 2021 online edition of the Sundance Film Festival, that function fell to the drama Coda, written and directed by Sian Heder. Based on the 2014 French film La Famille Belier, the story chronicles 17-year-old Ruby (Emilia Jones) and her complex life with her deaf parents (Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur) and older brother (Daniel Durant). As the family liaison to the hearing world, Ruby must navigate the pressures of a working life aboard her father’s boat and her senior year in high school, where her secret crush to a fellow student (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) gets complicated when they get assigned a duet in choir. For it is in her choir class, under the tutelage of Mr. V (Eugenio Derbez), that Ruby finds her voice and her sense of self.

Whereas audiences might be voicing their approval at a traditional premiere at the Eccles Theater, virtual spectators instead had to watch from the comfort of their living rooms. And for the cast, who was scattered all over the country, it was a surreal moment to feel the streaming admiration to the emotional and life affirming story. We asked Emilia Jones about it.

What was it like to have your opening night of Sundance viewed from your own sofa?

I wish I could be there. Last night I was actually on a night hoot, so I was in a field somewhere in the snow in like minus 24. I didn’t have any internet connection, so I was trying to see if people were liking the film, but it was hard. It’s weird, I wish we could all be together, I wish I could be with Sian and all the cast celebrating. But it’s so exciting that it’s at Sundance, everybody put their heart and soul into this film, so I am so happy that people were enjoying it and given this opportunity.

What was your own awareness of the hearing impaired and deaf community prior to making this film?

Honestly, I really didn’t know any sign language. I didn’t know about deaf culture; I didn’t know about the deaf community. I read the script and I immediately wanted to know everything. I wanted to learn sign language and I have always been fascinated. I always wanted to learn but I had never had the opportunity. So, I read the script and I thought whoever is lucky enough to be able to play Ruby is a very lucky girl. And then when I found out that I got the role, I was over the moon. 

What was your process like learning sign?

I started ASL lessons and I learned ASL for nine months. But the first lesson that I had was just about deaf culture and about the deaf community, which is so helpful. When I arrived on set, Marlee, Troy and Daniel really took me under their wings and helped me grow and learn more and more.

How intriguing was it to communicate with your fellow actors through sign instead of voice?

I mean it was tough, it was a challenge for sure, but I think that’s what drew me to the role. I knew that Sian, after talking to her, loved naturalism and loved actors bouncing off each other on set, and it was very kind, whatever you feel. You can change lines, you can just be the characters, and I thought to myself, I don’t know this language, I am learning these lines, but I am not super, super confident. But because Ruby signs so much in the script, when I arrived on set and I started talking to Troy, Daniel and Marlee, I actually realized I knew a lot more sign language than I thought I did. So, it did allow us on set to improvise a little bit and have that freedom, which I loved. And we would always meet up on the weekends too, which helped me. But yeah, I fell in love with the language and I loved filming in it. It was challenging at times, because obviously, things change right before we start filming and it’s hard if your line changes when it’s in your language, but when it’s not in your language, it’s quite daunting. But all my ASL coaches and Alexandria, they all were so brilliant, and everybody helped me so much and I fell in love with the language.

You have such a rich, soulful voice. Have you always been aware of your musical gift?

I mean honestly, I hadn’t had a singing lesson prior to Coda. I would sing in the shower and I am always humming and things, but I had never really sung properly. But yeah, I love music, I am always listening to music, music is a big part in acting for me, because it makes me feel so much. So, if there is a sad scene, I will put my headphones in and I listen to a song. So, I love that there was music in Coda. It was all live on set, all the songs. It was a challenge for sure, but I loved it, but I love music and I love singing, so I love combining two things that I absolutely adore. It was super fun.  And Nick recorded on set with me, he was so great, and we had a lot of fun.