[blindkid] DV in Theaters and on DVD specifically the Hobbit..Help!

Sun Mar 31 19:31:52 UTC 2013

Unfortunately yes, it is common to release films that were in the theater WITH DVS without including it on DVD. In my experience most current films are sent to at least select theaters with Audio Description. Far fewer are released on DVD with that option. Other countries like Canada or the UK release many more on DVD, but be careful as many of those disks won't play on typical US players.

Also be aware that some DVD's are released with multiple versions, some having DVS and some not.

There is no absolute way to be certain of what you're getting unless you read the back of the package and confirm the description is included, and even then, you will generally find only the feature itself is described. (Not coming attractions, or bonus items.)

Here is the best source I have found for DVS information:

http://www.acb.org/adp/dvds.html

The good news is that WAY more films have been released the past few years with DVS than in all previous years combined.

Good luck!

Richard

On Mar 31, 2013, at 1:07 PM, lindashalm at aol.com wrote:

> 
> I just bought the Hobbit DVD for an Easter family gift.  Couldn't find a DVS emblem on the cover, but took a chance that it would be, since the original film was described in theaters.   Now I can't make it describe, so I'm  guessing I made a mistake in expecting consistancy.  Have they really made DVD's that don't describe 
> even when the original film did???? or am I doing something wrong here at home?   all advice welcome.
> 
> I liked VHS better because you didn't have to set anything up to make it describe.  It just worked that way.
> 
> 
> Happy Easter anyway
> 
> 
> Linda NJ
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org>r
> To: 'Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)' <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thu, Dec 27, 2012 2:34 pm
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] DV in Theaters and on DVD
> 
> 
> I did find that there was a little glitch in the drop down menu in that I
> needed to tab out and then back into the drop down list to confirm that I
> did in fact select the descriptive option.
> 
> I will take more of a look about the rest of the designations you spoke of.
> I also wrote to them to see if there was an opportunity of cross posting
> their site on mine. I also hope to open a discussion with them to drive home
> the importance of including the descriptive options on their site. Will keep
> you posted.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Richard
> Holloway
> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 2:05 PM
> To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] DV in Theaters and on DVD
> 
> I can tell you that the Hobbit film was very good, but I only took my
> 18-year-old (typically sighted) because I cannot see my 10-year-old (or for
> goodness sake, my 6-year-old!!!) sitting through any 3-hour-long film, LOL,
> so I cannot speak to the quality of the Audio Description. 
> 
> If you're familiar with Lord of the Rings Films, you will probably assume
> they made an amazing production of the story. I do find it hard to believe
> that they will be making three films to complete the telling of that one
> short book!...
> 
> Glad to hear the site is so accessible. I was particularly concerned as to
> how the drop-down was setup. Sometimes those can be a disaster, and if it
> doesn't work, there are many caption-only films that will appear. That's
> super news. 
> 
> Is it easy to tell once you use the drop down which movies have which
> options? There are little badges to the left of film individual listings
> saying Sony, or Sony.DA, or there are other Caption-Only listings-- I forgot
> the designations. 
> 
> If you hover over the little badges, the abbreviations are explained-- I
> presume these descriptions are alt tags and get read by JAWS?
> 
> Hope you enjoy the films!
> 
> Richard
> 
> 
> 
> On Dec 27, 2012, at 1:39 PM, Albert J Rizzi wrote:
> 
>> For what it is worth, I found this site to be very usable. There is a 
>> drop down box to in fact select descriptive vedio as an option at the 
>> top of the page. I cannot wait to see the guilt trip and the hobbit.
> Thanks Richard.
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>> Richard Holloway
>> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 1:19 PM
>> To: (for parents of blind children) Blind Kid Mailing List
>> Subject: [blindkid] DV in Theaters and on DVD
>> 
>> If any of you are like our family, we have extra time to pass for the 
>> next week or so with the Winter School Break.
>> 
>> I was just discussing described movie options with another parent. If 
>> you're not aware, there is a lot of change going on. Many new options. 
>> You may have had trouble getting to things on broadcast or cable TV. 
>> That still seems the hardest, but I think it is actually slowly improving.
>> 
>> DVD's are more reliable and easier to access. We found 10 new family 
>> friendly titles to add to our collection for Christmas. Some are new 
>> releases and some are re-releases which have DVS  now (while earlier 
>> releases did not have that feature). New releases include "Brave", 
>> "Diary of a Whimpy Kid-- Dog Days", and Ice Age Continental Drift". In 
>> the re-release category, I was delighter to see that the newer release 
>> of "Finding Nemo" is now described. Likewise, there is a new 4-pack of 
>> the Shrek movies from Dreamworks with all 4 Movies listed as 
>> Described. Here is the strange thing about the Shreks-- the outer 
>> package is NOT labeled for DVS content, but the
>> 4 discs inside each show to have Audio Description on the back of each
> case.
>> Previous single copies of the discs seemed to be npn-described except 
>> for the fourth film-- "Shrek Forever After". (For the sake of complete 
>> disclosure we have not watched all these yet, but they are all 
>> properly labeled, except for the outer box of the Shrek set. I cannot 
>> guarantee you'll get what I got, but I suspect if you get "Shrek The 
>> Whole Story", you'll end up with all for Shrek Movies Described.
>> 
>> Also, if you like to go to the movies at theaters, check out 
>> captionfish.com for local DV movies. Regal Cinemas (including UA or 
>> United Artists, which Regal apparently owns) has added a LOT of 
>> theaters with DV running on many, if not all screenings of most (if not
> all) films.
>> 
>> A couple of months ago, I was aware of two local (Regal) Cinemas 
>> running most films with DV. Now I count 5 in the area. I was just 
>> discussing this with another parent in the northeast in the New Jersey /
> Pennsylvania area.
>> There must me 20 or more theaters with literally a hundred or more 
>> screens showing every film with DV available within about a 50 mile 
>> radius. Quite a change! (I just saw it on captionfish.) All you have 
>> to do is ask for the headset and they'll provide it for free. If you 
>> want to be certain they're all setup call ahead, but we now go to our 
>> local theater regularly (a Regal) and get our headset so my daughter 
>> can enjoy a film along with her entire family. It is never an issue. I 
>> think the new Hobbit Film (available in DV) may be too long for her to 
>> sit through, but "Monster's Inc." looks like a strong candidate here in
> the next day or so!
>> 
>> Here is the captionfish link:
>> 
>> http://www.captionfish.com/
>> 
>> Remember to select your area then look under the filter for 
>> "descriptive video".  I do not know how accessible the site is and it 
>> may require sighted assistance. Please be aware that the site seems to 
>> be primarily targeted for hearing impaired listings and they have 
>> added descriptive video as well. I would hate to cause a problem with 
>> excessive complaints and have the DV listing go away, if you follow-- 
>> just my two cents worth. If anyone has time to check and finds the 
>> site accessible, I'd love to know how well it may work with JAWS, etc. 
>> Right now my kids are far too animated to spent much time checking, LOL...
>> 
>> Happy Holidays!
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>> 
>> 
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> 
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