I imagine you’ve forgotten about the woman who approached you just before Christmas, when you went to the cinema to see the latest film of the Star Wars saga; Rogue One.
Just after you’d been grumpy at the man checking the tickets, and walked off in a huff towards the screen, I was the one that came over and said “Excuse me”.
You’d found out it was a subtitled showing and walked away muttering very crossly about this. I said to you “please don’t complain, the subtitles are a lifeline for me”. Your father replied on your behalf, “they should have told us”. I then rather feebly simply reiterated what I had just said and walked away.
As happens to everyone, only afterwards I thought of what I should have said, hence this letter to you. I wasn’t after an argument; I wanted to give you some awareness of my situation.
When I witnessed your cross exchange with the ticket guy, and queried with my husband as to what had happened, I felt a defensive urge to say something. Let me try and explain properly what I meant to say now.
The film was great wasn’t it, I really enjoyed it. How far did you travel to go to the cinema? I will assume, as the probability will be higher than not, that you live locally.
Again, this is an assumption, but on the basis of probability, I imagine that one day last week, you and your Dad decided you’d like to see Rogue One and would go together.
Upon checking your diaries, you saw you both had a free afternoon on Sunday, excellent. You checked online for the times that the film was showing that afternoon, and so turned up to the one that suited you best, to buy your tickets and popcorn. VOILA.
Let me tell you what it was like for me.
Last week, I too, decided that I would like to see Rogue One and as we are all fans of Star Wars, wanted to attend with my husband and children.
As I am profoundly deaf, and 100% reliant on subtitles to follow a film, the week of release, we checked www.yourlocalcinema.com for captioned showings.
We saw that my local town cinema had some captioned showings but, at 9pm on Sunday or 3pm on Tuesday this would mean either a very late Sunday night finish when I have work on Monday, and certainly not one my children can attend with me, or skipping work on Tuesday – well that would be frowned upon. Did you know that there were only 5 subtitled showings of Rogue One on the Saturday of release week, in the whole of the UK?
OK, lets revisit my options. My husband could take the children (hearing) separately earlier in the day, and I see the 9pm Sunday showing solo, (and just make sure I get an early night on Monday). But where’s the fun in that?
Or, we widen the search radius. So we looked at other cinemas, within 30 or so miles and found our 4pm Sunday showing. OK, so we have to trek 30 minutes up the motorway past my local cinema to get there, but that was much more respectable.
Checking our diary, we realised this clashed with a prior engagement, to visit a friend and have mince pies and a cup of tea. Botheration. Maybe I should just wait another week or two, and hope for more listings to be released, and avoid Social Media for a while!
Not wanting to risk seeing spoilers, and really – who wants to wait to see a film they’ve been looking forward to? We sent a text message to our good friends to ask, ‘would it be possible to come over earlier in the day?’ The reply was friendly. Phew. So that’s sorted, and off we go.
Quiz time! Tell me, which one sounds more like something you would do…
- Rearrange your friends to see a film at the cinema?
- Rearrange cinema plans to see your friends?
My guess is number 2 is far more likely. You can go to the cinema anytime after all.
You see my point?
I understand you didn’t know it had captions. You said this in your own defence. But the information was there on the website. I checked (I have to; I’m travelling for half an hour to get there). And they did actually tell you at the time of purchase – therefore you did have a chance to change your mind and get a refund. Point is, you CAN go any time. The subtitles don’t affect your ability to understand the dialogue in the film. Why exactly where you so aghast at the idea of subtitles?
So now you understand my situation, let me explain why I approached you. Fact was, it was because I was worried your reaction would damage the cinema’s approach to subtitled delivery. If you complained again a second time, a third time, so on, I was worried the cinema would start to respond to this. No one likes receiving complaints.
It was a knee jerk reaction to approach you. To ask you to please, be careful about what you say and do. To please remember that some people have fought a long time for access at the cinema. The progress in 10 years has been akin to wading through treacle.
We are slowly getting there. Cinemas are starting to listen, they are working with us. Kudos.
But the relationship still feels fragile. Cinemas are commercial businesses, they need to make money. They will always favour the screenings that bring the pounds in. But, I ask you, as a deaf person surely you agree I have the right to see a film in release week, at a normal time, just like you?
So if you feel yourself getting cross that there are subtitles on a screening, when in high probability you could have had your pick of when to go, hopefully now, you understand why I ask that you don’t complain. Take the blinkers off, look at the wider picture. Consider why the subtitles are there. Consider the fear of what’s been fought hard for, being threatened by the majority.
Hope you enjoyed the film.
With Kind Regards
Bryony Parkes
Bryony’s world revolves round her children, 97 meters of garden, visits to the cinema and her current yearning for a cat. She is also profoundly deaf, a keen advocate for equal access and can be found in the Midlands watching Doctor Who with a cup of tea and mince pie.
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Alice
January 10, 2017
Great letter, Bryony. Thanks for sharing. I have the same frustration but think we are still wading through treacle as open captioned sessions in Melbourne are almost as rare as hen’s teeth. Keep up the good work.
Linda Richards
January 10, 2017
I very nearly stood up to applaud this after I read it at 07.10! Well done! Both for approaching the said pair and for this ‘open letter’ to them.
Two things for me:
1): I’d love to see this article syndicated, shared or whatever to ‘hearing’ newspapers and magazines. Only by getting our position ‘out there’ will people start to understand the effort behind organising what, for hearing people, is such a commonplace trip, and, by which we can celebrate the grit and determination of Deaf people to travel to ‘their’ events whether it’s for a subtitled film, a Deaf event or to get to their second home – the Deaf Club. Yes, this article will be on TLC Facebook page and I can share it there but for sheer numbers and increased awarensss, let’s hope it’s in every Deaf magazine and sent out as a press release or shared article to all the other press and print outlets. With due credit to the writer and TLC of course.
2): I’m going to use extracts of this or as a link to explain to funders why their criteria of only being able to fund Deaf residents or groups in certain areas is impossible. We do NOT all live in the same area, or worse, as with some funders, nor do we live in the same street. Deaf Clubs are NOT ten a penny with one in every town or street corner. I know from discussions with some funders or the awards given, that some Deaf organisations have been economical with the truth to get funding. Those I fundraise for will not do that. Those who still do this should stop. Let’s work towards a true udnefastdning of what Deaf people’s lives are like and how we can show the value of supporitng and funding our very rich culture through out Deaf Clubs.
Thank you for this article.
Dean Wales
January 10, 2017
Hi Linda, you’re absolutely right. As ‘some’ assurance I’m hearing (although I sign BSL and have many D/deaf friends) but work in the subtitling industry and I’ve retweeted, shared etc. this story via work and personal feeds, the more this is done the better. I also volunteer for Action on Hearing Loss and often lobby locally for better access for D/deaf people to the arts as, although hearing, I find the lack of subtitled content (particularly in cinema and catchup and On Demand TV) totally unacceptable. Best wishes, Dean.
Linda Parkin
January 11, 2017
Hi Linda, on your second point I have that issue too when dealing with funders – especially in London, where you end up playing postcode lottery with 33 boroughs. The phrase I sometimes use is “unlike other linguistic or cultural minorities, there are no Deaf neighbourhoods”.
Linda Richards
January 13, 2017
Thank you very much, I’ll borrow that!
Christof
January 10, 2017
Very well said. Cinemas up and down the country don’t do enough to make their showings accessible for deaf people. We went to the cinema about five times and four times they either forgot or did not switch on the subtitles as promised so now we have given up on them and watch films on Sky Movies instead. Its so much better than having to trek 30 miles to the “nearest local” cinema that will provide subtitles only to have to trek back home in disappointment with wasted travel expenses that is not reimbursed by the cinema.
Time for the cinemas to clean up their act and make the films accessible for deaf people. As you said, the subtitles don’t affect their ability to understand the dialogue in the film and in USA the captions (subtitles) are always on everywhere on TV in public places such as restaurants and bars. I imagine there would be an uproar if we had cinemas switching off sound as we deaf people don’t always need them (although I like them on for sound effects but it is a personal choice for everyone).
Queby
January 10, 2017
Excellent posting.
Queby
January 10, 2017
Let’s not even start on the lack of captioning in the theatre!
Rod Jones
January 10, 2017
Well said.
Dean Wales
January 10, 2017
Brilliant response Bryony. I’m hearing but work in the subtitle industry, I’m also a volunteer for Action on Hearing Loss. I also have lots of D/deaf friends and also (sorry for all the ‘alsos’) sign BSL so subsequently I frequently watch subtitled presentations across the board. I know this isn’t your point but I’ve found that when hearing people actually watch something that’s subtitled and I talk to them afterwards, they admit they either enhanced what they watched or in fact eventually forgot they were there. I’m working locally to lobby for better access in Cinemas as ours aren’t good here in Suffolk either, whereas our local theatre has some awesome accessible productions. Best of luck in getting more subtitled presentations at more suitable times at your local cinema. Best wishes, Dean.
samthornesite
January 10, 2017
I’m really pleased you spoke up. It was both brave and public-spirited to approach someone who was clearly already in a rather unapproachable frame of mind!
Kathleen
January 10, 2017
With you all the way on this I took my deaf son to see it and although he enjoyed it I had to keep signing an explanation during film ! I couldn’t find any s titled showings near me for when he would be at home ( he boards at school )
People are just selfish basically
Alex
January 10, 2017
Very spot on. Cinemas needs to do more to educate the hearing peers!
derekbrandon
January 10, 2017
Great article, very useful. The cinema industry welcomes feedback like this, it all helps when trying to make improvements in the field of cinema access.
I think that for English-language shows, most hearing people would PREFER NOT to see subtitles/captions on the cinema screen. That’s understandable – they don’t need them, complaints are expected. But I think that many hearing people DON’T MIND seeing subtitles on the screen.
At the end of December 2016, more than 1,000 people attended three English-language subtitled/captioned screenings of ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’. One of the shows at the 450+ seat London cinema was completely sold out (where the ticket price is almost £20 – three times the national average). To ensure that people didn’t attend one of the three subtitled shows accidentally the shows were clearly indicated as subtitled on the cinema’s website, as well as on the box office tills, and on notices throughout the foyer. Staff also went to the trouble of verbally informing all customers that the shows were subtitled. Also, the YourLocalCinema website had a direct link to the cinemas booking page for the shows. For these particular shows, which were very clearly publicised and promoted as subtitled, it’s very likely that most that attended did so on purpose – specifically for the subtitles. Of those that expected a regular, non-subtitled show, only a handful complained about the subtitles and requested a refund.
It appears that for many, unexpected subtitles are not too dreadful, they’re bearable.
But is on-screen subtitling of all shows is the solution to equal access? Would most hearing people complain? In the US and Australia there are ‘personal’ solutions – glasses & separate displays – that enable all shows (where the film has a subtitle track) to also be a subtitled show. The solutions are not perfect, I’m sure the tech could be improved, make it better, cheaper, but there’s no need for separate, segregated subtitled shows. All shows can be inclusive. Hearing and deaf people together, in harmony! What do people think of this?
Editor
January 10, 2017
What sometimes bothers me a bit Derek is that you are paid to support deaf cinema goers but often in your comments your first concern is that of hearing people at the cinema. That they might be offended or put off in some way.
You’re funded by the cinema industry and your concern seems to fall in line with theirs – of affecting the regular hearing audience.
I’d just like to feel that you are more of a campaigner for what deaf cinema fans want, we are woefully underserved by the cinema industry and I think it would help if you were less concerned about non-deaf viewers and more concerned about asking and campaigning for deaf viewers’ needs.
This is a personal viewpoint –
Charlie
derekbrandon
January 10, 2017
Hi Charlie. I’m only concerned that hearing people will be bothered because more than 99.9% of the cinema audience is hearing. Cinemas may not welcome a solution that bothers almost all their customers! We need a satisfactory solution for all parties. By the way, I’m not funded by the cinema industry anymore, that ended last year. (Maybe my constant complaining and campaigning for equal rights for my deaf son didn’t help when I was trying to secure funding…) So currently I have no income. I’d like to keep campaigning for equal access, inclusivity etc, whilst promoting accessible shows, helping the film industry make record box office takings, so I’m in discussion with the companies that produce the films, and the BFI, hoping to persuade them to fund my work.
Editor
January 10, 2017
Your comment actually backs up how I feel Derek.
The first thing you’ve said here is that 99.9% of the cinema audience is hearing – again putting the weight of your argument on non-deaf people. This is the argument cinemas use, yet they (and you) don’t seem to realise that the low deaf audience is because of the lack of subtitled screenings, the lack of suitable times and the lack of any kind of feeling that deaf customers are valued. Provide a better service and audiences would increase.
You say “cinemas may not welcome a solution that bothers almost all their customers!” But really, no-one is forcing hearing people to watch subtitled films. Hearing people have 99% more choice than deaf customers do about when they go to see a film. All cinemas need to do is be clear with hearing customers about when the subtitled screenings are, so they can choose whether to watch them or not.
I appreciate the work you’ve done with Your Local Cinema and there’s no doubt deaf people have benefited. But I would argue it’s also allowed cinemas should do much more to promote subtitled screenings themselves. It’s so hard to find information about subtitled screenings on their websites.
And there’s much more they can do besides.
Linda Richards
January 11, 2017
I’m with Charlie on this one. It’s clear from the many responses, that this is a huge issue for many of us.
I can tell you I have never been to a subtitled film at the cinema because of the lack of availability, the distance I have to travel (and therefore the cost of that), the planning that has to go into it and then the inane timings of the screenings. I have been envious if those who belong to or have set up cinema clubs and worked with cinemas to get access. I’m envious because these are also social gatherings for Deaf people to be able to come together and share the same experiences atthe same time as everyone else. I’m going to see what I can do to change that. Meantime, to reiterate…..
Subtitled screenings aren’t just ‘for the Deaf’. They’re for those with families who may have Deaf or hearing members. But access is all about it being ‘easy’, not ‘contrived’ or ‘arranged’. All I know about Frozen is how the title song irritated or pleased people in equal measure. But, apart from googling, I have no idea what the lyrics are.
There are some Deaf kids who go to mainstream where the other kids have seen the film, sing the songs, talk about it, get dressed up in the costumes, have the merchandise, maybe include it in their annual school play, etc., etc., and the Deaf members don’t know what it’s about? And we have that with Spider-Man, Batman, Star Wars, etc., and it’s okay that we’re second best or excluded? Never mind the new releases like The Silence which as a film title is intriguing to us Deaf people.
This is why Deaf people need Deaf campaigners, Deaf advocates, Deaf staff because there’s very few hearing people who will really look out for us.
It’s bad enough to endure those who make inane, selfish and ignorant comments about subtitles without us having to tussle with alleged supporters of our causes.
Kirsty
January 10, 2017
Exactly…and trying to get a kids film with subtitles is nigh on impossible which is even mor eimportant in animation where you can’t even follow lip patterns. Cinemas response….most kids don’t want to read at the cinema and it obstructs the picture. We tried countless times to find a subtitles showing of Finding Dory in the summer and were offered Sucide Squad instead….highly appropriate for a 9 and 5 year old. They also never do kids club movies with subtitles….ever….anywhere. So we always have to pay full price and decide to see it in the first week of release or never see it at the cinema…highly unfair system
derekbrandon
January 10, 2017
Actually there ARE lots of subtitled kids shows, weekly, nationwide. Listed here: http://yourlocalcinema.com/kids.html In fact Bryony was very much involved in persuading cinemas to do them! There were hundreds of subtitled Finding Dory shows. It’s known that children of all ages, including pre-school, and those with language-based learning disabilities, can benefit from on-screen same-language subtitles/captions. Subtitles can improve foundational reading and literacy skills, such as phonics, word recognition, vocabulary acquisition, listening comprehension, word recognition and fluency.
Linda Hutchinson
January 10, 2017
Well said and well done. As a hearing person I have no problem with sub-titles (or sur-titles in theatres) in fact I’m glad to think that it allows more people to share my enjoyment of the film/show. Hope this article gets widely shared to help raise awareness of this issue.
elaine collopy
January 10, 2017
Very well said ….
Tina Lannin
January 10, 2017
*** THE OFFICIAL ACCESSIBLE CINEMA CAMPAIGN GROUP ***
This campaign is supported by PC Werth & Action on Hearing Loss.
95% of UK cinemas ALREADY HAVE headphones with 2 channels for sound/loop and audio description. The cinema staff throw them in a drawer, they forget the batteries need checking, and they don’t tell the public that they have got these headphones.
We can change this. We can start a campaign to raise awareness. There are 10 million hard of hearing and deafened people who can use these headphones. There are 360,000 blind people who can use these headphones. But they don’t benefit from the enjoyment of going to a cinema – because these headphones are often in the back of a drawer and gathering dust.
Many people would like to see this change. With your help, we can do this, and change the cinema into an enjoyable experience for over 10 million people.
Please download the headphones survey, saved in the Facebook group’s Files section, and take this with you when you visit the cinema, and feed back to us by Twitter, on the group wall, or email captioncinemas@groups.facebook.com – emails sent to this address will appear as posts in the group. Volunteers are welcome to help with the campaign.
For those of you that have contacted their local cinema and received unsatisfactory answers, please forward this information to Action on Hearing Loss who are busy compiling evidence on this issue to raise with the cinemas at their next meeting. Evidence from us, as users ourselves, will show the demand. Email address is campaigns@hearingloss.org.uk Keep tweeting and emailing them, they will get the message eventually, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Please join the campaign and help to improve cinema access for deaf and hard of hearing people.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/captioncinemas/
Linda Richards
January 11, 2017
Loop systems are so hit and miss. They often don’t work either. Or are poor. Digital hearing aids have removed the volume control option we used to have with analogue hearing aids. Staff are not taught either how to look after loop systems or to test them. I don’t want an infra red system. They’re horrible. People get in the way of the signal or the units have to hang off my ears. Subtitles are safer. They’re what I have at home. Why not at the cinema?
Tina Lannin
January 18, 2017
That’s why the campaign was set up, because cinema staff are not trained to set up equipment properly and are not aware enough of our access needs.
Personally I prefer subtitles but understand costs and demand come into play.
jdrobig
January 10, 2017
Subtitles cinema is a lifeline for me as I am a avid film fan. Since we have to plan around the limited choices of subtitles films times and occasionally have to wait until it comes out on DVD or Netflix! Well done Bryony sometimes people have to be told. Its not like we as deaf people are disabled and wheelchair access is enough – we have hidden disability!
Linda Collins-Donleavy
January 10, 2017
So true but just something to consider my husband has kerataconus which makes it difficult for him to see in the dark among other issues – subtitles actually give him a headache and blur his vision . Highly unlikely that the individuals in your situation have a visual impairment – you made such a strong point about empathy – we need to think about others more and yes we need to consider all kinds of accessibility. Captions are one key to opening the gift of cinematic wonder and building the imaginations of children and adults alike
Queby
January 10, 2017
To the Official Accessible Campaign Group… all the headphones in the world won’t help people who are totally deaf. If wheelchair users were discriminated against the way the deaf are, there would rightly be an outcry!
Tina Lannin
January 18, 2017
I agree. I am totally deaf and need subtitles. I would love more subtitled screenings. However we have to start somewhere with access, and I don’t just bang my own drum, I help other deaf and hard of hearing people who have more hearing than I do and can use other systems to hear.
Sue
January 10, 2017
Well done and well written. I too would like to see the latest films with subtitles but they are so few and far between that I can no longer go because on the Isle of Wight there is only one cinema. I have also heard people say oh they are such a nuisance. They just don’t think of the consequences.
derekbrandon
January 10, 2017
Cineworld Isle of Wight – and all cinemas – can screen the latest popular films with subtitles. I would suggest that you ask them to do so. No harm in asking!
Alison Young
January 10, 2017
Well said Bryony!….
Could I just add something too in the hopes that the man who complained reads this too.
My late Mother in law went deaf when she was eight hears old in 1920 when tonsil removal was still a new procedure, she lived her life in total silence. As a young woman she enjoyed the silent cinema of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Do you see where I am going with this, she was on an even keel here apart from missing the music. Then as she grew okder and had her children she discovered television, a great delight but everything in silence and with a limited understanding of plots, sub plots, characters names etc. I tried to interest her and her also deaf husband to buy a television with sub titles and like a lot of older people, they were nervous of something new that they didn’t understand and couldn’t percieve how it could change things. I took my mother in law with me to babysit and that house did have a TV with subtitles ( as it was fairly new then)….. Can you imagine the beams of delight that radiated from my mother in law, as she discovered she could fully understand Mkdsomer Murders, the plots of Agatha Christie, could laugh at jokes that weren’t just visual, to understand what is going on in the world to understand the stories behind the news…. History and Geography came to life and opinion on debate shows gave her something to think about too. I lived in France until recently and sought out films shown in English, I didn’t mind the french subtitles, because I was enjoying listening and watching in my own language and adding to mu understanding of French too.
Ok, so you were annoyed by the distraction of subtitles, but just try following your favourite TV programme with the sound off….
Be very grateful for your hearing and that you can switch sound on and off. Many would love to switch it on.
Alison Young
Alasdair
January 10, 2017
I really wish that family will become deaf in later life and receive all the crap that us deafies get as punishment for their selfishness. I hate hearing people who behave like that. However I am happy to forgive if they repent of their selfish attitudes.
Christina Goebel
January 10, 2017
Bryony, wonderful piece! Share with the cinema you visited so they know how you appreciate their offerings. One beautiful letter is worth more than a bunch of complaints.
Derek: Where did you get the erroneous statistic that 99.9% of people don’t have hearing loss??? Not true. Action on Hearing Loss stats: “There are more than 11 million people in the UK with some form of hearing loss, or one in six of the population. More than 900,000 people in the UK are severely or profoundly deaf” (https://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/your-hearing/about-deafness-and-hearing-loss/statistics.aspx )
11 Million People, Derek! One-sixth of the UK’s population and cinema goers.
In America, “Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing” (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing ).
Many people only realize they have hearing loss when it gets out of control, but have difficulties with family and work communication sometimes years before the problem needs critical attention.
To the Official Accessible Campaign Group: Headphones are only part of the solution, as Queby commented. People with severe/profound hearing loss need captions. For others, each person has different hearing thresholds and it depends on that if they can use the headphones (assistive listening devices) or not to any effect.
Captions are a necessity for some people and headphones aren’t an option. Sign language would also be nice since that’s the first language of many.
Here in America, I enjoy the independence that personal captioning glasses offer, but the ideal scenario is to see it on the screen. That would be an equitable cinema experience for me.
Tina Lannin
January 18, 2017
Exactly – headphones are ONE solution. But they are an available option. Not something we have to push very hard for and it is already there. It’s another tool for the access box. The campaign is not for subtitling – that’s a separate issue and much harder to fight.
Cathy
January 10, 2017
Interesting thread! I have two children, one of them is not really bothered about subtitles, but the other is not at all keen on them, but puts up with them for me on TV.
This shows how the vast majority of hearing people will not be happy with subtitles at the cinema. The only way that deafies will have access at the cinema is through the special glasses.
Iam sure See Hear featured these glasses last year or the year before, that give deafies access to read the subtitles ans the hearies will not see the subtitles. So what has happened since then? Where are these glasses? And why are they not yet available? We are so slow in Britain it defies belief!
Linda Richards
January 11, 2017
I do not want to wear glasses. Why do I have to signal myself out as ‘different’?
Cathy
January 11, 2017
Linda, nobody is being singled out. These glasses are already available in America or so I believe. Are deafies in America complaining they are singled out? I dont think they are. But to me this appears to be the only solution to this agonising problem.
With these special glasses it means we can visit the cinema with everybody else and dont need special viewing times. So that is hardly being singled out is it?
I do not believe we can simply win this “subtitle war” with cinemas, simply because hearies may reject subtitled films, which would leave a big hole in box office takings. Iam not “backing” hearies as some may think, but trying to see the bigger picture.
Firstly, we cannot “force” hearies to accept subtitles, that they neither need nor want, so if the vast majority walk away from a film that means they have made a loss. If these losses are too great then films are pulled.
We cannot afford the industry to start failing because of the subtitle problem. That’s why I say the only solution is these glasses, singled out or not.
Tina Lannin
January 18, 2017
What’s wrong with options? Some people don’t mind wearing glasses. We should all have a choice of communication aids.
macoafi
January 11, 2017
US cinemas also have systems where the audience member has a mirror, and it lets them see the scrolling captions that are on the back wall of the cinema. It’s called “rear window captioning.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear_Window_Captioning_System I don’t know how common it is, just that the theatre nearest the home of a Deaf friend has it.
derekbrandon
January 12, 2017
The ‘Rear Window’ solution was tested in a London cinema more than a decade ago. Many people with hearing loss were involved and provided feedback. As with the other solutions tested a few years ago – the glasses and separate displays – some liked it, some didn’t. Maybe there’s no ideal solution, just adequate ones…
derekbrandon
January 10, 2017
Hi Christina. I’m not saying that 99% of people don’t have hearing loss! Most people over 55 have some hearing or sight loss. It’s estimated that around 15% of cinema goers are over 55. Many will have some hearing loss and benefit from subtitles. But currently, more than 99% of people that attend cinema – the cinema audience – attend regular shows, with no subtitles. It’s estimated that in 2015 there were less than a half million admissions to English-language subtitled shows in the UK & Ireland. That’s less than a 0.3% of the 1.72m total admissions. Not quite 99.9%, sorry… I believe that the number could be far higher, but currently, most people that would like to attend subtitled shows cannot do so, because the opportunities to attend are very limited. Far less than 1% of cinema shows are subtitled. Most cinemas provide only 1 or 2 accessible shows a week. Of 1 or 2 films. I’m sure that more people would attend if there was more choice of showtimes/days. As you say, the idea scenario is the current UK solution – subtitles directly on the screen. It’s what people are used to on TV, DVD, internet etc. But can we substantially increase the number of cinema shows with that solution? At least every film, every day, every night, in every cinema would be near-equal access (but segregated shows). Would increased access be easier to obtain if cinemas streamed the subtitles to ‘personal’ glasses or a separate display or phone? EVERY show could be subtitled, and inclusive, but the subtitles would not be directly on the cinema screen. And the current US/Australian ‘personal’ solutions are not ideal. It needs serious discussion.
derekbrandon
January 10, 2017
Hi Cathy. The glasses you mention were tested a few years ago in a London cinema by around 100 people with varying degrees of hearing loss, as well as cinema industry people. Feelings were mixed. Hundreds of US cinemas installed them but the manufacturer (Sony) has since decided not to offer them to the UK market.
Cathy
January 11, 2017
Hi Derek, so do you know what the reason was for Sony not offering these glasses to the UK market? I would certainly try them as I haven’t been to the cinema in years due to the subtitle problem. Do these glasses have to be bought personally or cinemas are supposed to provide them to you when you arrive to watch a film.
derekbrandon
January 12, 2017
Hi Cathy. The reason for not offering the glasses in the UK and Europe was a combination of high costs to produce, so high selling cost, plus high breakage rate. They are very expensive and quite fragile.
Editor
January 12, 2017
I heard a lot of people had headaches during testing in London as well.
derekbrandon
January 12, 2017
Hi Cathy. Cinemas in the US provide the glasses. Some cinemas request a deposit or ID which is returned when the glasses are handed back.
Linda Richards
January 13, 2017
I remember hearing about the headaches too!
Editor
January 13, 2017
What I also heard was that the industry people generally weren’t very receptive about criticisms of their products
Oh Dear
January 11, 2017
Will the hearing person be on here to read Bryony’s ‘open letter’? If not then what is the point of this ‘open letter’?
Editor
January 11, 2017
The point is that even if the specific person doesn’t read it, other hearing people with the same attitude might.
Cathy
January 11, 2017
Yes, it would spread the message far and wide, but the big hurdle is changing people’s feelings about subtitles. We can’t make people want them or like them. To this degree the “open letter” may not have the impact we all seem to be expecting.
Dean Wales
January 11, 2017
I’m hearing and I’ve shared this post on social media. Over 1,500 people have read my reposting of it on Facebook and LinkedIN! Yes I have a lot of D/deaf friends but many more hearing friends and associates who would’ve seen this. So if any of my hearing friends have the same attitude (I hope they don’t because of my advocacy) they’ll hopefully think differently off the back of articles like this.
Editor
January 11, 2017
Thanks for sharing!!
Oh Dear
January 11, 2017
It would be better if Bryony could do a poster of this and ask the local cinema if she can put it up somewhere. Hearing people can read and gain a better understanding. Hard of hearing to moderate deaf people may come to realise that subtitles version of film do exist. Obviously it would need to be shorter than the article, using bullet points. One never know the hearing person, mentioned by Bryony, may stumble on the poster.
Linda Richards
January 11, 2017
Here’s how I see this as being useful.
1): Registration in the general consciousness of this as an issue which excludes, marginalises or even discriminates against Deaf and hard of hearing people.
2): Anecdotal evidence of our negative experiences about ‘access’.
3): Clear evidence of support for the matter.
4): A link or print out I can share with the cinema.
5): An article in English which those who use British Sign Langauge can use to take to their local cinema.
6): A polite and eloquent article which the general media would probably pick up and report on. After all, this second class citizenship in a first world country can’t be happening in the 21st Century…. Surely not?
7): Sharing it with the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 Facebook group as they are collating responses about Deaf people’s access to the arts, public and leisure services in order to inform the Act and stipulate requirements.
8): Possible evidence for strengthening the ineffectual, but in the absence of anything else, only piece of loosely relevant legislation available to us called the Equality Act 2010.
9): Educational purposes aka Deaf Awareness such as having school groups, youth groups and others undertake exercises where children switch off the TV sound and discuss how they can follow their favourite programmes. How would it be for Deaf children? These school and other projects do find their way back to the family home and the word spreads further.
10): Galvanising awareness and support for the issue which is so simple to remedy, it’s reiducoius it’s even an issue.
11): Alerting the cinema chains, private cinemas, and film distributors (and Meryl Streep, why not?!) to this inequity.
12): Showing Deaf people there are others who feel the same and that they are not alone. That there is strength in numbers.
That the Deaf Community and their friends can know there are many who support them too. That this could be a campaign that, from what I have read here and on Facebook, really take off. I mean, really, really, take off and change people’s lives.
Will that do for starters? Oh, and, maybe, just maybe, word will get back to that ignoramus whom Bryony had the courage to try and educate. There are, however, none so Deaf as those who will not hear. For such people, they have our pity.
Linda Richards
January 11, 2017
It would be FANTASTIC if every ‘supporter’ of TLC were to shame and retweet this article. It needs to go viral. Is this possible? Can we know who is supporting us?
Editor
January 11, 2017
It has gone viral Linda, 11,000 views on this article yesterday! Thanks Charlie
Linda Richards
January 11, 2017
That’s marvellous.. I’ve since seen it’s been shared 268 times on Facebook.
TLC does hatch some brilliant eggs that capture exactly how so many people feel.
I wish there was an organisation that could capture this energy and feeling and, with the right people at the helm – Bryony, TLC, and others, create what could effectively be a campaign that has instaneous results.
It’s certainly made me think of what I can do with local cinemas and Deaf Clubs.
Lynnette Rehberg
January 11, 2017
Well said letter! Still a ways to go to fight for access and educate people.
Tommy Reynolds
January 12, 2017
Great job defending Captioning.
I hope the people who were mentioned as upset and angry plus those who run the Cinema get to read this open letter.
Alice Ewing
January 13, 2017
I have shared your excellent open letter, on the Australian-based “Action On Cinema Access” facebook group, where it has generated many shares and comments on those shares. You may wish to visit, and join us at the discussion on our page – we try to liaise and collaborate with our international peers too. You will find a lot of personal stories and experiences of CaptiView (individual closed caption units) – largely due to their failures, and the inability of cinemas to do proper service by providing access for deaf people (and others who rely or benefit from captions) in Australia.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/173833199376191/