National Technical Institute for the Deaf

Sean Forbes, who has gained fame as a hip hop artist since graduating from RIT/NTID, released his most recent music video last night to coincide with this tomorrow'’s nationwide premiere of “The Hammer,” based on the life story of Matt Hamill, another RIT/NTID grad who became a collegiate wrestling champion and Ultimate Fighting Championship contestant.

The video, “Hammer,” was shot partly on the RIT campus earlier this month, including along the Quarter Mile, the wrestling room and the D. Robert Frisina Quad. Other images were filmed at an abandoned building in Detroit. Images from the video were made to resemble scenes from the film, which was also shot in part on the RIT campus.

“The Hammer” opens in 100 cities across the country on Thursday, with an additional showing on Nov. 2. Visit the movie’s website for complete screening information.

Forbes, whose video production company is known as the Deaf Performing Arts Network (D-PAN), has been a successful rap music artist since graduating from RIT in 2008. The music video’s director was RIT/NTID alumnus Adrean Mangiardi, who has worked as a film director since graduating from RIT’s School of Fine Arts in 2006.

Forbes said he met Hamill while appearing at deaf-themed events in the past couple of years. Hamill suggested using the song as his theme when he walked into the UFC ring to fight, but he announced plans to retire at the end of this year.

“Maybe one day he’ll make a comeback and walk in to the music,” Forbes said. The video will be the first single on his upcoming album, “Perfect Imperfection.”

Forbes wanted to shoot his video on the RIT campus where “The Hammer” was filmed. “RIT/NTID is a beautiful campus, and it was my home for many years. I feel that for Matt and I, RIT/NTID really shaped who we are. Prior to coming to college, I had just started to accept my deafness, but meeting many other people like myself, and realizing many of them like music, that may have led me to where I am today.”

Their work on the video started before sunrise, as Forbes, wearing a hooded RIT sweatshirt, walked alone on the Quarter Mile near trees ablaze in autumn colors. The camera crew rode in a golf cart to get their shots of Forbes walking. Later, more footage was taken near the Wallace Center and in a wrestling room where Hamill spent many hours. The final scenes were shot in the Frisina quad, when Hamill arrived. Even NTID President Gerry Buckley joined the crowd and displayed an enthusiastic series of fist pumps.

“The shoot in the quad was awesome,” Forbes said. “A great number of people showed up, and it was as I imagined. One thing I love about RIT/NTID is the diversity of people from all over the world. I always tell people in interviews that my years in Rochester were some of my best because I got to meet people from everywhere.”

After the team was finished filming, Hamill and Forbes took time to pose for pictures before returning to their homes – Forbes, in Detroit, and Hamill in Utica, N.Y.

“I enjoyed every bit of it,” Forbes said of his day in Rochester. “I look forward to coming back again.”

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