Extending the Audience: Delivering Closed Captions and Descriptions for First-Run Theatrical Films

Metadata

Publisher: SMPTE — White Plains, NY, USA
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: SMPTE J
Volume: 108, No. 4, pp. 209–212
Abstract: Approximately 34 million Americans with hearing or vision loss are unable to enjoy first-run films in theaters because they are not captioned or described. The WGBH Educational Foundation has developed innovative technologies that make it possible for exhibitors to provide captions and descriptions for those who need or desire them, without altering the movie going experience for the general audience. WGBH—working with Digital Theater Systems, General Cinema Theatres, Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Sony Pictures—has successfully demonstrated how closed captions and descriptive narration can be delivered during a film's regularly scheduled presentations in a theater. This paper provides a summary of WGBH's Motion Picture Access Project, describes the Rear Window Captioning System and DVS Theatrical, and outlines equipment and production requirements for providing theatrical closed captioning and descriptive narration.
Publication Date: 1999-04-01
DOI: 10.5594/J15724
ISSN: Print: 0036-1682
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/J15724
Author(s): Judith NavoyWGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, MA 02134
bio
Judith Navoy is project manager for the WGBH Educational Foundation's Motion Picture Access Project. Navoy has worked in WGBH's Media Access Division since 1990. She was project director for the ATV Captioning Project, which developed a draft closed-captioning specification for advanced (digital) television. Navoy is the author of the Media Access Toolkit , a manual designed to educate, public television professionals about technologies and services available to make television accessible to non-English speaking viewers and audiences with hearing or vision loss. Navoy has conducted extensive research with disabled consumers regarding desired features in access technologies and presents regularly at industry and consumer conferences.
Gerry FieldWGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, MA 02134
bio
Gerry Field is technology projects manager for WGBH's Descriptive Video Service and has implemented DVS delivery in the broadcast, cable, theatrical, and home entertainment markets since 1991. He also serves as manager for the DTV Access Project, which will create test materials to support closed captioning and video description in digital television systems. Field is a member of SMPTE and is active in SMPTE, ATSC, and CEMA standards committees.
Brad BotkinWGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, MA 02134
bio
Brad Botkin is director of systems development for The Caption Center at WGBH, a position he has held since 1990. His responsibilities include software development, systems integration, new systems initiatives, and strategy for The Caption Center and the CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media, as well as full design and operations support for network, database, data storage, and retrieval. Botkin is chairman of the SMPTE Multimedia Working Group on Captioning and Subtitling, working with members from all areas of film, video, and multimedia production, directing efforts to create industry standards for data interchange.
Copyright: © 1999 Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Inc.

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Judith Navoy, Gerry Field, and Brad Botkin; Extending the Audience: Delivering Closed Captions and Descriptions for First-Run Theatrical Films, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 108, Issue: 4, April 1999); SMPTE, 1999. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/J15724

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Judith Navoy, Gerry Field, and Brad Botkin; Extending the Audience: Delivering Closed Captions and Descriptions for First-Run Theatrical Films, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 108, Issue: 4, April 1999); SMPTE, 1999. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/J15724

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<span class="citation">Judith Navoy, Gerry Field, and Brad Botkin; <cite>Extending the Audience: Delivering Closed Captions and Descriptions for First-Run Theatrical Films</cite>, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 108, Issue: 4, April 1999); SMPTE, 1999. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/J15724" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/J15724</a></span>

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Judith Navoy, Gerry Field, and Brad Botkin; <cite id="bib-10-5594-j15724">Extending the Audience: Delivering Closed Captions and Descriptions for First-Run Theatrical Films</cite>, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 108, Issue: 4, April 1999); SMPTE, 1999
<span class="doi">10.5594/J15724</span>
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