ADVOCACY

Support the struggle for Access to American Movies for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people of all ages. Arts accessibility must go beyond ramps alone in our great City!

THE AUDIENCE IS EVERYWHERE Really, Yes. In movie theatres from coast to coast, screening after screening has sold out. In cities large and small, from Rochester, New York to San Diego, California; from Peoria, Arizona to Novi, Michigan to Olathe, Kansas; from Vancouver, Washington to Washington, DC; and in the nation's biggest cities, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. WHAT IS OPEN CAPTIONING? Open captions are enhanced English Subtitles with full dialogue plus audio prompts such as doorbells, gunshots and off-screen dialogue. The best part is no equipment is needed for total screen enjoyment. InSight Cinema is the premiere source for open captioned films for Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences in the United States. Approximately 50 new first run feature films are presented in more than 300 cities.

WHY OPEN CPTIONED FILMS? Open captioned films make major motion pictures available quickly and on a wide scale. And, more importantly, new captioning technology has made viewing captioned prints more pleasurable, not only for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing audiences but their hearing friends and family as well.   History of Creative Access Advocacy in Philadelphia: The Creative Access / Neighborhood Film Video Project (NFVP) at International House collaboration began in 1993 when Creative Access's Director, Carol Finkle (hearing mother of two deaf children) approached NFVP Director Linda Blackaby explaining the need for captioning of current title American films for individuals with hearing loss. Thus the Movie Access Project was launched and Open Captioned (OC) films were screened monthly to the delight of those having historically been excluded from America's favorite past-time.

From regional advocacy, a national coalition was born. The nationwide campaign begun seven years ago with a single petition and meetings witn managers of one local theater in Philadelphia, United Artists. This single effort resulted in the formation of a national coalition of Deaf and Hard of Hearing organizations who over time confronted the MPAA and NATO with a strong and united front. It is the CMC (Coalition for Movie Catpioning). Efforts continue today with 'some' progress visible in cities across the country. However, only approximately ten movie chains screen and publicize OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENINGS on a regular basis and through normal distribution channels (e.g. GCC and United Artists in the Greater Philadelphia area...with no more special fees ($300 per film) required from organizations for the "privilege" of showing captioned films as was the case up until 1997).

WHAT DO WE WANT? DESIGNATED SCREENS IN EVERY MOVIE 'MARKET' IN AMERICA.
That means captioned movies 365 days a year in just 'one' of the 9 to 25 screens in a typical movie cineplex in major cities across the nation.

CLICK HERE TO READ AN OPEN LETTER TO THE AMERICAN TV INDUSTRY

CLICK HERE TO READ A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM
SHARON PINKENSON OF THE PHILADELPHIA FILM OFFICE.

Click Here to Read A Correspondence Sequence with CA making the case for outreach-specific actions on the part of theater companies related to casting of Deaf roles.

National Association of the Deaf
Palm Desert, CA
Date of workshop: July 3, 2006 - 8:30 - 10:00 A.M.
Movie Access in America: Arranged and presented with selected panel by
Carol Finkle, Founder and Executive Director, Creative Acccess, Philadelphia
READ THE CART TRANSCRIPT

PSAD Convention, Radisson Hotel
What? DEAF COMMUNITY TOWN MEETING and FREE LUNCH
When? Saturday, July 29 at Noon – 1:30
Where? in the HEMLOCK Room
(first, complete a Survey; next, share your opinions, ideas, complaints; last, tell us what you like, don't like andwhat you want more of in the future!)
Who? Hosted by Creative Access (Deaf led meeting )

• Are you frustrated with lack of accessibility to captioned movies and other arts and culture in PA?
• Are you tired of NOT being able to rent recent captioned movies?
• Do you wish for MORE choices for family fun >> ASL interpreted shows?
• Do you wish DEAF children and youth had more DEAF role models in the arts?
• Do you wonder WHERE are our Open Mic Nights for DEAF actors, comedians, ASL Storytellers?

If you are frustrated by any of the above, or have other concerns, please come to the Town Meeting and Free Lunch on SATURDAY - and tell us how you feel!
!!!!!!!!Door Prizes!!!!!!!
· Ten FREE DRINK coupons for Hotel Bars
· One Gift Certificate from www.ProFlowers.com
· Three - $10, $15 and $20 American Express™ Gift Cards to spend where ever American Express™ is accepted
COMPLETE THE SURVEY NOW ON-LINE!