Audio
described cinema is wonderful, not just because it allows me to enjoy
movies but to discuss them with sighted friends afterwards. Through
cinema audio description, I have been able to follow up the recommendation
of a friend who gushed about the beauty of the visuals in Volver. Conversely,
I have been able to return the favour by plugging the striking images
in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
It
doesn’t matter that I couldn’t ‘see’ them –
the description was so vivid that I can still imagine Brad Pitt shooting
into the ice, causing a puff of smoke to rise, or Casey Affleck in a
rocking chair. When accompanying sighted friends, I can enjoy the car
chase in Casino Royale and the decapitation by helicopter blade in 28
Weeks Later, relying on my memories of being a sighted gorehound.
Stephen,
London
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As
the only deaf member of a family of six, I grew up feeling very isolated
when it came to a family outing to the cinema. I put up with until I
was fourteen years old and then decided that there was no point in me
being there. I just couldn't follow what was going on. It was more frustrating
than enjoyable.
A
few years went by and I resigned myself to the fact that my movie watching
would be limited to rentals, on DVD (all popular DVD films are subtitled).
Then last year a few cinemas in nearby towns installed subtitle equipment.
I can't explain what a difference this has made to me. I now HAVE a
social life! Almost every week there is something I fancy - with subtitles.
I'm
a bit too old to participate in a 'family outing' to the cinema now,
but I have some good friends who are happy to catch a film a week or
two after release date. They wait for the subtitled show to appear,
so I can join them. I am very grateful to the cinemas that have enabled
me to enjoy their films - thanks a bunch!
Daniel
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My
Grandad was a big film fan (Dad too) and I grew up with lots of books,
magazines etc on films, and cinema in general. But being deaf (thanks
to meningitis) I could never get the full 'cinema experience'. My Grandad
(also very deaf, thanks to his 'advancing years') used to say it was
better for people like us a hundred years ago, when silent films were
around, as they had caption cards on the screen! I missed out on many
films at the cinema, which I have since watched on DVD, with subtitles.
I really believe that if my Grandad was still alive today he would be
joining my Dad and I on our regular trips to the cinema. Because captioned
cinema has returned! I now understand why and how they were entranced
by the 'magic' of cinema. As the great Charlie Chaplin said: "Nothing
quite like it - the feeling of film"
Alex
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Audio
described cinema is great because it's made me want to go to the cinema
again. It lets me spin a web with Charlotte, jump from a crane with
Bond and ride the Hogwarts Express with Harry. It's like someone has
finally turned the light on
Catherine
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I
had taken my 9 year old daughter, who is blind, to see a film without
audio description and described it to her myself. This, as you can imagine,
is very draining and not exactly a perfect alternative. She was keen
to see the film again with audio description so she went to see it a
second time. She thoroughly enjoyed it and it was far more relaxing
for me. Life is difficult enough for a blind child and their family,
they have to make a big effort just to get out of the house and interact
with other people
Click
