[nobe-l] MoPix and WGBH websites RE: How AMC Stole Christmas

Tue Dec 29 14:45:43 UTC 2015

Well thank you. When I tried to click on theaters nad showtimes it
still took em to Cation Fish however for the deaf. I am not deaf!
Maybe osme magical button will be pressed and things will work right
nad sensible.

On 12/28/15, Alvin via NOBE-L <nobe-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi list,
>
>
>
> I just wanted to share this bit of info with you all in regards to the
> descriptive video services.
>
> I'm not sure about these services in other parts of the world, but these
> websites should get you started in the U.S.
>
> Read below for more.
>
>
>
> This first website should let you know which theaters have the descriptive
> video services available in your area.
>
>
>
> MoPix® Motion Picture Access
>
>
>
> web address is:
>
> http://ncam.wgbh.org/mopix/
>
>
>
> this next web address has some general info on the company that supposedly
> started the descriptive video service. (WGBH)
>
>
>
> WGBH ACCESS SERVICES
>
>
>
> web address is:
>
> http://www.wgbh.org/about/disabilityservices.cfm
>
>
>
> WGBH's Media Access Group makes media accessible to all.
>
> For more than 40 years, the Media Access Group at WGBH has been providing
> accessible media services to the 36 million Americans who are deaf, hard of
> hearing, blind, or visually impaired.
>
> We invented captioning and video descriptions for television, and today we
> apply those services to movies, the web, museums, theme parks, and more. Our
> partner, the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible
> Media (NCAM), continues to work on new media access breakthroughs that build
> on WGBH’s history.
>
>
>
> God bless and I pray you all have a very blessed and prosperous 2016.
>
>
>
> Alvin
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NOBE-L [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielle Shives
> via NOBE-L
> Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 9:42 AM
> To: National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List
> Cc: Danielle Shives
> Subject: Re: [nobe-l] How AMC Stole Christmas
>
>
>
> Danielle,
>
> Many theaters now offer audio description, especially the bigger chains, but
> not all of them do. I wouldn't know if your local theater has it or not. If
> they have a website, it might say so on there. Otherwise you can call the
> theater and ask.
>
>
>
> --- nobe-l at nfbnet.org wrote:
>
>
>
> From: Danielle Ledet via NOBE-L <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
>
> To: National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List
> <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
>
> Cc: Danielle Ledet <singingmywayin at gmail.com>
>
> Subject: Re: [nobe-l] How AMC Stole Christmas
>
> Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2015 04:22:37 -0600
>
>
>
> So how do I know which theaters offer audio description? Do they all
>
> do it? We have a theater here and all I know is it's called the Grand
>
> 10, and don't know if this is an option. I might actually enjoy Star
>
> Wars and more action films if this were the case. My children used to
>
> sit beside me and tell me what was happening but that isn't available
>
> to me anymore.
>
>
>
> On 12/27/15, Arthur Jacobs via NOBE-L <nobe-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>> Regal developed its own DV equipment and the corporate accessibility
>> office
>
>> handles it. Btw, all show times should be described, if that movie
>> features
>
>> DV. This availability is based on the production company that made it. All
>
>> movies from the production companies Regal/AMC is working with for DV.
>
>>
>
>> Arthur Jacobs
>
>>
>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>
>>
>
>>> On Dec 27, 2015, at 4:29 PM, Greg Aikens via NOBE-L <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
>
>>> wrote:
>
>>>
>
>>> So glad this worked out for you.
>
>>>
>
>>> I just wanted to chime in and say that I have also had this happen to me
>>> a
>
>>> frustratingly large number of times. What I have started doing before the
>
>>> movie is asking 2 and 3 times if they are sure it is set for description
>
>>> and not hearing amplification. Sometimes they get a little annoyed but
>
>>> then I explain how often it is not correct and how I and a friend have to
>
>>> miss the first 15 minutes of a movie getting it right. I have been
>
>>> pleasantly surprised that the last several times I have gone the headset
>
>>> has been set up correctly. However, last night when I went to see Star
>
>>> Wars with my family, I asked 2 times just to make sure and it still did
>
>>> not work. Very frustrating.
>
>>>
>
>>> I have not heard that there is something visual that indicates whether
>>> the
>
>>> headset is set for hearing or vision. I wonder if that is a Regal thing
>>> or
>
>>> all the headsets are like that.
>
>>>
>
>>> I just wish there was a way to test if the headsets are set on the
>>> correct
>
>>> channel before the movie starts, like a repeating message that says, “You
>
>>> are in theater 6 and listening to the described audio track. Your show
>
>>> will start shortly.” That would be so helpful in detecting errors before
>
>>> the show begins.
>
>>>
>
>>> I wonder who we could share feedback with about the system? It doesn’t
>
>>> seem like something a local branch of a theater could change.
>
>>>
>
>>> Best,
>
>>> Greg
>
>>>
>
>>>> On Dec 27, 2015, at 3:37 PM, Sharon Dudley via NOBE-L
>>>> <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
>
>>>> wrote:
>
>>>>
>
>>>> We took the advice of some of the people who responded to this, and
>
>>>> called
>
>>>> ahead to the local Cinemark. We got a manager who not only assured us
>
>>>> that
>
>>>> she understood the request, but who agreed to sit beside us when the
>
>>>> movie
>
>>>> came on and make sure it was working correctly. We got to see the movie
>
>>>> because people were willing to listen, and because employees had been
>
>>>> trained in providing these services.
>
>>>>
>
>>>> Thank you everyone for your help. I am happy I live in an age when this
>
>>>> technology is available, and happier to live in an age when there are
>
>>>> resources like this list to help us when other steps fail.
>
>>>>
>
>>>> On Sat, Dec 26, 2015 at 3:33 PM, Brian J. Quintana via NOBE-L <
>
>>>> nobe-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>>>>
>
>>>>> Hi,
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> I definitely can sympathize with your frustration about this matter.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> I go to the movies at least once a week. When I first started going,
>>>>> the
>
>>>>> same issues happened time and time again. Either the device didn't work
>
>>>>> at
>
>>>>> all, or it was set up for the hearing impaired.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Each time, we would return the device, and they would always give me
>
>>>>> guest
>
>>>>> passes, so I almost never had to pay for the movie.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Finally, I spoke to the manager directly, explained how this type of
>
>>>>> problem should not happen every time, and I asked her what we could do
>
>>>>> to
>
>>>>> remedy the situation. I proposed calling ahead of time, tell her which
>
>>>>> movie I planned on attending, and make sure they tested out the device
>
>>>>> before I arrived, letting me know before I arrive whether it worked, or
>
>>>>> did
>
>>>>> not.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> As of now, this practice has worked almost flawlessly. She knows me,
>>>>> and
>
>>>>> it seems she has made sure her employees know to set up for the
>>>>> visually
>
>>>>> impaired when I call or e-mail ahead of time.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> By the way, this is a Cinemark chain, and I too have had the same
>
>>>>> problems
>
>>>>> at AMC, but when I do go to a different theatre than my regular one, I
>
>>>>> still call ahead and make them get it ready before I arrive.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> I recommend you call ahead from now on, or, make the employee come find
>
>>>>> you in the auditorium at the start of the movie to check that the
>>>>> device
>
>>>>> works. This way, if it does not, the employee, not you, or your husband
>
>>>>> has
>
>>>>> to leave to get it fixed.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Oh, and also, I try to remember to bring my own headphones. Those the
>
>>>>> theatre provide are bulky and have a 20-foot chord that gets in the way
>
>>>>> of
>
>>>>> my nachos, candy, and drink.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Brian
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon Dudley via NOBE-L" <
>
>>>>> nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
>
>>>>> To: "National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List" <
>
>>>>> nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
>
>>>>> Cc: "Sharon Dudley" <sharon.a.dudley at gmail.com>
>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, December 25, 2015 12:54 PM
>
>>>>> Subject: [nobe-l] How AMC Stole Christmas
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> I’ve been in tears over this several times today. My husband and I are
>
>>>>> fans
>
>>>>>> of science fiction and fantasy, and for years, we’ve shared this hobby
>
>>>>>> together. I was a kid when Star Wars came out for the first time, and
>
>>>>>> I’ve
>
>>>>>> always loved the movies.
>
>>>>>>
>
>>>>>> For a Christmas surprise, he got us tickets to see the new Star Wars
>
>>>>>> movie
>
>>>>>> at a time when they offered audio description. There were only two
>>>>>> such
>
>>>>>> shows during the day, and the morning showing on Christmas day seemed
>
>>>>>> to
>
>>>>>> be
>
>>>>>> the best chance that we could avoid overcrowded theaters and make sure
>
>>>>>> we
>
>>>>>> got the right headset for audio description.
>
>>>>>>
>
>>>>>> The introduction of audio description in movie theaters was such a
>
>>>>>> wonderful advancement, and made me so happy when our local theaters
>
>>>>>> added
>
>>>>>> it to their list of services. I have had terrible anxiety about going
>
>>>>>> to
>
>>>>>> movie theaters ever since I went to see the LAST Star Wars movie:
>
>>>>>> Revenge
>
>>>>>> of the Sith. My daughter was quietly describing the action on the
>
>>>>>> screen,
>
>>>>>> and the woman next to her kept tapping her and shushing her. Then my
>
>>>>>> husband, sitting on my other side, took over describing, and the woman
>
>>>>>> glared at us, even though it was impossible for her to hear him
>
>>>>>> describing.
>
>>>>>> After the movie, she yelled at us, and at me in particular, and called
>
>>>>>> me
>
>>>>>> a
>
>>>>>> bitch for ruining her movie experience, even after we explained that I
>
>>>>>> was
>
>>>>>> totally blind. She said that if I needed someone to talk to me during
>
>>>>>> the
>
>>>>>> movie, I should just stay home. That experience has stayed with me for
>
>>>>>> a
>
>>>>>> decade and colored my expectations of going out to the movies.
>
>>>>>>
>
>>>>>> When we got to AMC, we went straight to a manager, who flagged down a
>
>>>>>> girl
>
>>>>>> working there to give us the headset. We specifically asked if it was
>
>>>>>> audio
>
>>>>>> description, as opposed to enhanced audio for the hearing impaired.
>>>>>> She
>
>>>>>> assured us it was, but that it wouldn’t start working until the movie
>
>>>>>> started. So we got into the theater and waited.
>
>>>>>>
>
>>>>>> I don’t think I need to describe the anticipation we felt, but when
>>>>>> the
>
>>>>>> long-awaited words “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…” came
>
>>>>>> onto
>
>>>>>> the screen, the headphones were silent. And with the opening crawl of
>
>>>>>> words, there was no reading from the headphones. When my husband
>
>>>>>> started
>
>>>>>> to
>
>>>>>> describe things on the screen, I heard sound in the headphones, but it
>
>>>>>> was
>
>>>>>> only amplified sounds of the events on the screen. No description. No
>
>>>>>> narration.
>
>>>>>>
>
>>>>>> We left the theater and angrily complained to management. Yes, we got
>
>>>>>> our
>
>>>>>> money back after it took 20 minutes to explain the situation and for
>
>>>>>> them
>
>>>>>> to realize what they’d done and get the right headset, and then they
>
>>>>>> offered to let us back in with the right equipment. What good is that?
>
>>>>>> We’ve missed the whole first part of the movie! There was no other
>
>>>>>> showing
>
>>>>>> with audio description for 7 more hours. We weren’t going to come back
>
>>>>>> at
>
>>>>>> 6pm when our daughter is coming over for dinner with our 2-month old
>
>>>>>> grandson!
>
>>>>>>
>
>>>>>> This was not the first time this has happened to us. The many many
>
>>>>>> times
>
>>>>>> we’ve tried to go out to a movie, there has not been one single
>
>>>>>> instance
>
>>>>>> where they gave us the right equipment the first time. And I can only
>
>>>>>> think
>
>>>>>> of two times where we caught their mistake in time to enjoy the movie.
>
>>>>>> I
>
>>>>>> have complained to management each and every time, in at least 3
>
>>>>>> different
>
>>>>>> theaters in our community. Every time, they have promised to train
>
>>>>>> their
>
>>>>>> employees better in the future. And every time, we get the same
>
>>>>>> ignorance
>
>>>>>> of disability accommodations.
>
>>>>>>
>
>>>>>> I wonder if anyone else with disabilities has experienced such
>
>>>>>> difficulties
>
>>>>>> at AMC theaters in particular, or movie theaters in general. What do
>
>>>>>> you
>
>>>>>> do
>
>>>>>> and how do you explain to them what you need BEFORE it’s too late to
>
>>>>>> enjoy
>
>>>>>> the movie? This was such a nice surprise from my husband, and it
>>>>>> turned
>
>>>>>> into such a heartbreak on Christmas. We’re going to try again in a
>
>>>>>> couple
>
>>>>>> days, but how does everyone else get past this barrier?
>
>>>>>>
>
>>>>>> Sharon Dudley, NBCT
>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>
>>>>>> NOBE-L mailing list
>
>>>>>> NOBE-L at nfbnet.org
>
>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nobe-l_nfbnet.org
>
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>>>>>> NOBE-L:
>
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>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>
>>>>> NOBE-L mailing list
>
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>>>>>
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>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nobe-l_nfbnet.org/sharon.a.dudley%40gmail.com
>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>
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>
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>
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>>
>
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>
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>>
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>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Danielle
>
>
>
> Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com
>
>
>
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>
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> ____________________________________________________________
>
> Ally Bank, Member FDIC
>
> http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3165/56815c79da3245c7812afmp10duc
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-- 
Danielle

Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com