Deaf Today: Lord of the Rings II

December 18, 2002

Lord of the Rings II

From: subtitles @ your local cinema - 18 Dec 2002

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
from the subtitles @ your local cinema team!

Subtitled Listings below, but first...

Lord of the Rings II:

Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers WILL be available in a subtitled and
described form, but probably a few weeks after the 'normal' release date,
and only in the new 'digital' format. This means that less than 20 UK
cinemas can screen it. Please ask your nearest accessible cinema to screen
the film as soon as it's available (locations on the website).

We are hoping that the film will also be available in an 'open captioned'
version - the subtitle format that every UK cinema can screen. But please
don't hold your breath! The first Lord of the Rings movie was only available
in the digital format. And because it only played in a handful of cinemas,
95% of it's intended audience missed it...

Watch the website for news of screenings:
http://www.yourlocalcinema.com

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Read any good movies lately?
Subtitled and audio described cinema enables people
with less than perfect hearing or vision to enjoy film,
presented in it's original, and best form - the cinema.

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Happy New Year! - Exciting News!

If you are one of the millions of UK movie fans with less than perfect
hearing or vision, then 2003 could well be a very happy year for you.

In 2003, the Film Council and the cinema industry plan to work together to
create a network of around 75 accessible cinemas (there are currently less
than 20). If all goes to plan, these cinemas will be equipped with digital
subtitle and audio description facilities.

Many films these days are ONLY released with 'digital' subtitles, which
require a suitably equipped cinema. And audio description is ONLY available
on the digital system.

Locations have yet to be decided, but equipping 75 cinemas with these
facilities will eventually benefit millions of people who are deaf, hard of
hearing, blind or partially sighted.

The Film Council have offered Â£350,000 to make this happen and have invited
the UK cinema industry to 'match' the amount. This would double the amount
available.

Another Â£60,000 has been offered to film distributors - to enable smaller
distributors to add subtitles and audio description to their films. This
should ensure a wider choice of accessible films. Again, it is hoped that
film distributors will 'match' the funds - doubling the amount available.

In the words of the Film Council:

"Film is an immensely powerful medium which entertains, inspires, challenges
and informs audiences. Films help to shape the way we think about and
understand the world, and how people think about us, and the FILM COUNCIL
wants to work with the film industry to ensure that as many people have
access to as broad a range of films as possible.

"At a time when cinema going in the UK is at a 30 year high, these proposals
are intended to help ensure that in the future the 15 per cent of people in
the UK who experience hearing or visual impairments are able to enjoy going
to the cinema as well as the rest of the population."

Read the BBC News article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/2549025.stm

Read 'The Times' newspaper article here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-89-510522,00.html

Read the official Film Council press release here:
http://www.filmcouncil.org.uk/news/?p=1039452967117&qs=&st=

Current accessible cinema locations and films here:
http://www.yourlocalcinema.com/dts.css.review.2002.html

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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subtitled and/or Audio Described Films
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

*D* means 'digital subtitled' version - Only fourteen UK cinemas can screen
it subtitled. Recent films available in this format include Powerpuff Girls,
Lilo & Stitch, Triple X, Red Dragon, Lord of the Rings I, Spiderman,
Goldmember, The Quiet American and Santa Clause 2.

If they have not done so already, please feel free to ask your nearest
digital subtitle equipped cinema to screen an accessible film.
More added as they become available.
Full list on the website: http://www.yourlocalcinema.com

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Santa Clause 2 (U) subtitled and audio described (*D*)

Moviehouse Cinema
York Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland
from Fri 13th to Thurs 19th Dec daily at 4.55pm
also Sat & Sun at 2.15pm

Odeon Uxbridge
Wed 18th December at 1.15pm
Thu 19th December at 6.00pm

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Triple X (12a) subtitled and audio described (*D*)
Glasgow Film Theatre 12 Rose Street , Glasgow
Sun 19 Jan at 6pm

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Star Wars: Episode II Attack Of The Clones (PG) subtitled
The Belmont Cinema, Aberdeen
11 Jan at 1.45pm

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Road to Perdition (15) subtitled and audio described
Glasgow Film Theatre 12 Rose Street , Glasgow
Tue 17 Dec at 8.15pm
Wed 18 Dec at 1pm

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The Grinch (PG) subtitled
Falkirk Town Hall, West Bridge Street, Falkirk
Mon 23 Dec 2002 at 3pm

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Subtitled Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets (PG)
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As this is an 'open subtitled' version, every cinema in the UK can screen
it, although there are limited copies of the film available.
If your local cinema is not on the list of accessible shows, please ask them
to schedule a screening and publicise it as best they can.

This film is also available in a 'digital' subtitled version (*D*)

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