To my own disappointment for not able to view the latest Disney-Walden Media, Inc film, "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Capsasian" with captions this opening weekend, May 16th. What?
Many deaf people DISLIKE the Rear Window Captioning (RWC) films!!
I could not possibly view "Iron Man" lately or last two weeks ago. I enjoy viewing any epic films on the majestic silver screens.
No questions about the importance of "bread and butter" issues more than the film and dining accessibility!
I am not interested in seeing "Big Mama" with open captions. this May 16th weekend. What about our own preferences for seeing any particular films with open captions?
Don't we have such right to do our polling for what films we want to see with captions on the big screen, not the film distributors or studios? We ought to select films within ourselves to view!
We must do something about the poor selection of films with open captions which often result in shabby (lousy) box office showings among open-captioned films! Whose fault? The movie theatre managements and film studios!
For example, the Regal Gallery theatre in Washington, DC (Regal Entertainment, Inc.) often schedule the open-captioned films during the illogical showtime like noontime on Fridays or 10pm on Sundays. Whose deaf people want to see open-captioned films on very late Sunday nights? Not all deaf people able to view the open-captioned film on Friday noontime! The DC Metrorail stations are usually closed at midnight on Sundays.
We must boycott the Rear Window Captioning theatres to show the entertainment industry that we will be no longer tolerate the RWC system! No real pleasures dealing with the RWC plexiglass holder and frequent hassles with it during the film viewing(s).
What do you think of our would-be organized boycott against the entertainment industry, film distributors and movie theatre managements?
Or we would stick our guns to the only-DVD viewings and do not give any hell about going to the movie theatre so far?
Don't we need the new organization of the deaf to manage the open-captioned films to replace the Insight Cinema or what?
ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
Friday, May 16, 2008
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8 comments:
RWC must stay, Open captions must go.
they suck, yes nice - but always slow in getting it out...
what we need is digital distribution of movies, which is occurring in the near future, with subtitles ready built in, so can have multiple languages
we can show up, demand subtitles shown, OR have subtile night, and makes it much easier
in the mean time, RWC is what we all need, the companies putting their text into computers, but we need it shown differently, on screen via subtitles would be better, than RWC but better than open captions as they usually suck.. scratchy, not crisp and NEW like a new movie etc.
I share the very same concerns as you, Robert.
We have to keep in mind hearing people complain, yes they do, when they see subtitles on the big screen.
So with that factor in mind, it is easier for the movie theater to minimize complaints by moving open captioned movies to days and time where there are less moviegoers.
If the theater for some reason doesn't have open captioning (which is way better than RVC but still needs work) they resort to RVC. It's easier to have a person fumble with the Plexiglas than have 10 people come to the front desk and demand a refund.
It still sucks but it's better for the movie industry. *sigh*
At least we get to save money by watching DVD's over going to the theater.
-Meggy
Midwest Guy,
With due respect, open-captioned films are much easier on deaf eyes.
We go to the movie theatre(s) to enjoy ourselves, not demeaning ourselves to hassle with the plexiglass (weak goose neck and damaged plexiglass).
I am much aware of the pros and cons of RWC and Open-Captioned Films due to much sooner availability among films with RWC as compared to open-captioned films.
We could change this scenario for our own benefits, not the entertainment industry!
Deaf people should be in full control of what our options for public entertainment, not anyone!
RLM
Meggy,
With due respect, How did you know about anyone hearing complain about seeing open captions on the movie screens? Any proofs?
Several deaf people and I inquired handful of hearing people what they thought of open captions. Some hearing moviegoers did NOT notice open captions at all!
Other hearing movie patrons feel blessed because they sometimes could not hear clearly thru the speaker due to the interference noise from cell phone yakkings or electronic beeps.
Open captions surely benefit hearing movie patrons more than we would assume of.
RLM
RLM,
Keep in mind we both can't speak for everybody. Like you said, 'a handful' and 'some hearing moviegoers.' You must feel blessed to be in an area where most patrons do not mind subtitles on the big screen.
In my area, people aren't as receptive as the ones in your area. Here's one example of me seeing people walk out of a movie due to subtitles: The Kite Runner. Keep in mind this movie is spoken in a foreign language yet people complain because they do not want to read the subtitles. I have seen and heard people complain about the captioning because it's distracting them from the movie. (ugh, right?) Even my own family members, who I grew up with the TV being captioned at all times, complain about it. I have several hearing friends who doesn't like captioning, yet on the other hand, I DO have friends who don't mind captions at all because some of them agree with the benefits you have brought up.
With the benefits in mind, perhaps the movie industry should ask people upfront about how they feel if the movie they went to was open captioned and they could see it doesn't do as much harm as they could have possibility thought.
-M
Check fomdi.com. It shows where both open captioned and rear window captioned movies are showing. We saw Iron Man today at the Potomac Yard Regal Cinema, and it was open captioned. It was shown at 3:15 pm, a good time, and there were several people in the theater.
Forgot to add, found an open captioned showing of Narnia today on fomdi.com. We actually had to choose between two movies today.
Jamie,
Many thanks for sharing your generous time with info for the Fomdi.com. I did try "Fomdi.com" earlier, but mispelled it on the search engine.
That would be really nice if the DeafDC.com and DeafRead to leave the permanent link to the Fomdi.com
Yes, I am aware of the open captioned film version of "Narnia" being shown in Sterling, VA near the Dulles airport area. No public transportation being available.
Why we, deaf people have to deal with hassles of looking for the availability of OC/RWC films?
I really don't enjoy "Narnia 2" because of dealing with the RWC plexiglass transparent for about 20 minutes to read captions clearly.
The RWC captions sometimes did not appeared from time to time, then the announcement like 'This is the Rear Captioning Window. Please adjust your ............" almost every 10 minutes.
I gave "Narnia" the grade of "D", because of the RWC system surely ruined my pleasure of film viewing!
RLM
RLM
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