One week on from the #CaptionTHIS and #SubtitlesNOW Twitter campaigns, the Collaborative for Communication Access via Captioning (CCAC) has released its first film to raise awareness of the importance of subtitles, (or captioning) for deaf people across the world.
The video features deaf people from countries across the world, and was created by the CCAC using volunteers, so that it could be freely distributed via YouTube.
The CCAC is a hub for all those who support the captioning mission and was set up in America in 2009 before going on to work with international members.
Here’s the video. You can find out more about CCAC here: http://ccacaptioning.org/
yourlocalcinema (@yourlocalcinema)
June 14, 2012
Great video! Thanks to the wonders of digital, the cinema industry now has a fantastic opportunity to ensure that European cinemas become more accessible. End-user solutions are now available to enable under-served, untapped audiences Europe-wide to enjoy the cinema experience. Not only people whose first language is not the local language, but also people with hearing or sight loss.
All digital cinema servers & projectors have built-in facilities that enable films to be screened with multi-language subtitles, captions for people with hearing loss, and audio description (narration) for people with sight loss. Film distributors ensure that most popular cinema releases are routinely subtitled in many European languages, as well as captioned and audio described. Large-capacity DCP hard drives can easily accommodate a digital film and multi-language text/audio tracks.
People would very much appreciate such a service. Take a look at this page of feedback from the UK cinema-going public – people who have discovered – or re-discovered the joys of cinema, thanks to subtitles/captions/audio description: http://www.yourlocalcinema.com/quote.html
The potential reach is huge. Hundreds of thousands of Europeans would benefit from experiencing films in a variety of languages. And of course people with hearing or sight loss would benefit immensely. Each year tens of thousands of children are born across Europe with significant hearing loss. Every day thousands start to lose their sight. Millions, including more than a hundred thousand children, have significant hearing or sight loss.
With ageing, loss of some hearing or sight is inevitable. Access to film via subtitles and audio description is something that we may all appreciate eventually.
Derek Brandon
Twitter: http://twitter.com/yourlocalcinema/favorites
Tina
June 14, 2012
LOL. Thanks Charlie!