New subtitle system to be rolled out

From: Washington Times - Washington,DC,USA - Apr 15, 2004

AGOURA HILLS, Calif., April 14 (UPI) -- A system that separates subtitles from the print of a film could become available this year.

The Cinema Subtitling System, developed by Digital Theater Systems, puts subtitles on movies' soundtrack discs. One disc can include many languages, meaning subtitles will not have to be added to prints for foreign distribution at a cost of thousands of dollars.

The system's Reverse Window feature allows theaters to project subtitles onto the back wall. Members of the audience who need subtitles because of hearing problems would sit in special seats fronted by individual screens. The screens would be clear on top for the movie and mirrored underneath to reflect the subtitles being projected in back of them.

A Digital Theater Systems spokesman said the system did well in trials during the past year. But he acknowledged that some deaf people objected to the system because they must sit in a special section.

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