US CC: MoPix Update from WGBH- May 12

From: WGBH - May 12, 2006

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MoPix Update from WGBH- May 12

WHAT DO LINDSAY LOHAN AND A SINKING SHIP HAVE IN COMMON? MOPIX OF COURSE

Just My Luck, rated PG-13, a romantic comedy starring Lindsay Lohan from Twentieth Century Fox Films
(cc dvs)
Ashley leads a charmed life. She's beautiful, successful and has always had the strangest stroke of good luck. All that changes when she kisses a handsome stranger at a costume party. After the lip lock, Ashley swaps her good fortune for his horrible bad luck, which throws a real wrench in the perfect-life thing she had going on.

Poseidon, rated PG-13, an action-adventure film starring Andre Braugher, Josh Lucas and Kurt Russell from Warner Bros. Pictures
(cc dvs)
Captain Bradford delivers a holiday toast to the passengers on board his luxury cruise ship, the Poseidon. But on the horizon is a giant wave, and it's approaching fast. Unable to avoid it, Bradford watches helplessly as the wall of water slams into the vessel. The Poseidon is turned upside-down and quickly begins sinking. A few hundred survivors are left trapped in the ship's ballroom. They must fight through the remains of the ship and find a way to the water's surface before the Poseidon heads to the bottom of the ocean.

INDEPENDENT FILMS COME TO SELECT AMC THEATRES

AMC Theaters, known to many in MoPixland as a firm supporter of access to movies and theaters for people with disabilities, this week announced a new initiative called AMC Select (http://amctheatres.com/amctheatres/user-controller/select). This program calls for the chain to dedicate one screen in over 70 multiplexes in 39 cities to show independent films, films with smaller budgets and subject matter that is often very appealing to the same folks who enjoy and depend on MoPix systems. We await word on which AMC Select locations are also MoPix-equipped locations, and in the meantime, have begun the conversations with studios/distributors of these films to ask that access features be created for their upcoming releases. As you know, closed captions and descriptions are very often created for "wide releases" films with relatively large budgets that are expected by the studios to appeal to a large audience. Independent films have traditionally not been made accessible via these access features. Note to advocates out there, likely more letter writing will be called for, so we'll soon be updating our list of studios and contact information on the mopix.org Web site. Stay tuned!

UPDATE ON COMING SOON MOPIX-EQUIPPED LOCATIONS

AMC 12 at Downtown Disney, Anaheim, CA (system to debut in May/June)
AMC Covina 30, Covina, CA (May/June debut)
AMC Ontario Mills 30, Ontario, CA (summer debut)
AMC Palm Promenade 24, San Diego, CA (summer debut)
2nd MoPix system to be added at AMC Mission Valley 20, San Diego, CA (summer debut)
AMC Saratoga 14, San Jose, CA (summer debut)
AMC Rolling Hills 20, Torrance, CA (summer debut)
AMC Flatiron Crossing 14, Broomfield, CO (summer debut)
New! National Amusements Showcase Cinemas Southington, Southington, CT (July debut)
AMC West Oaks 14, Ocoee, FL (summer debut)
AMC Westshore Plaza, Tampa, FL (summer debut)
AMC North Dekalb 16, Decatur, GA (summer debut)
AMC Barrett Commons 24, Kennesaw, GA (May/June debut)
AMC Southlake Pavilion 24, Morrow, GA (summer debut)
AMC Studio 30, Olathe, KS (summer debut)
AMC Newport on the Levee 2, Newport, KY (summer debut)
Celebration Cinema Lansing, A Jack Loeks Theatre, Lansing, MI (summer debut)
AMC Livonia 20, Livonia, MI (summer debut)
AMC Forum 30, Sterling Heights, MI (summer debut)
AMC Creve Coeur 12, Creve Coeur, MO (May/June debut)
Clearview South Orange Performing Arts Theatre, South Orange, NJ (theater debut scheduled for Aug/Sept)
2nd MoPix system to be added at AMC Bay Plaza 13, Bronx, NY (May/June debut)
2nd MoPix system to be added at AMC Empire 25, New York, NY (May/June debut)
AMC Kips Bay Theaters, New York City (MoPix to debut soon)
AMC Lincoln Square 12, New York City (MoPix to debut soon)
AMC Magic Johnson Theatre-Harlem, New York City (MoPix to debut soon)
AMC Rotterdam Square Mall 6, Schenectady, NY (MoPix to debut soon)
AMC Stoney Brook 15, Stoney Brook, NY (MoPix to debut soon)
AMC Town Square 9, Vestal, NY (MoPix to debut soon)
Consolidated Beaver Creek 12 Cinemas, Apex, NC (west of Raleigh) (May debut)
AMC Carolina Pavilion 22, Charlotte, NC (May/June debut)
Consolidated White Oak 14 Cinemas, Garner, NC (south of Raleigh) (MoPix to debut shortly)
AMC Southroads 20, Tulsa, OK (summer debut)
Consolidated Providence 14 Cinemas, Mt. Juliet, TN (east of Nashville) (summer debut)
AMC North Park 15, Dallas, TX (two MoPix-equipped auditoriums to debut shortly)
AMC Deerbrook 24, Humble, TX
AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston, TX
AMC Katy Mills 20, Katy, TX
Megaplex 20 at the District, South Jordan, UT (full MoPix system to debut next week, a first for Utah!)
AMC Hampton 24, Hampton, VA (summer debut)
AMC River Park Square 20, Spokane, WA (summer debut)

Link to the full list of over 250 MoPix-equipped theater locations at www.mopix.org.

STEVEN SPIELBERG'S MUNICH - DESCRIBED ON DVD
The Oscar®-nominated film Munich was released on Tuesday, and all versions of the DVD include the description track created for the movie's theatrical release. Another milestone for access, thanks for Universal Studios Home Entertainment, a major industry player and a phenomonal access partner. Next up, The Inside Man on DVD with description.

UPDATE - VIDEO DESCRIPTION RESTORATION ACT TAKES ON NEW CONGRESSIONAL CO-SPONSORS
Many users of description in movie theaters have expressed to us their interest in seeing more video description available on broadcast and cable television programs. The American Council of the Blind has important information regarding two bills in Congress that would effect the availability of video description. Take a look at the most up-to-date information on this page of ACB's site if you'd like to learn more:

http://www.acb.org/washington/wc060329.html

THEATER CHAIN WEB SITE ADDRESSES

As several theater chains are now listing accessible films and showtimes on their Web sites, we want to take this opportunity to provide you with those site addresses. Helpful hint, some chains require you to know which theater in your area is equipped prior to finding the info on their sites. For a full list of MoPix locations, searchable by state, first go to www.mopix.org and link to "View Theaters".

You can also search for captioned movies near you at fomdi.com

AMC Theatres: http://www.moviewatcher.com/jsp/amg.jsp
AMC, which merged with Loews, is listing some Loews locations' accessible film information on the AMC and movietickets.com sites, but some MoPix-equipped locations are not yet appearing on those sites. We have contacted AMC and will share information as it becomes available. For now, you may want to consult www.mopix.org for theater names and voice phone numbers to check availability of films directly with the on-site theater personnel.

Other theater chains with MoPix equipment list accessible information on these sites:

CEC Theatres: http://www.cectheatres.com (link to state, and then theater)

Clearview Cinemas: http://clearviewcinemas.com/tripod.shtml

Consolidated Theatres: http://www.consolidatedmovies.com, link to RWC/DVS on left side of home page

Crown Theatres: http://www.crowntheatres.com

Empire Theatres (Canada): http://www.empiretheatres.com (link to province, then to theater)

Jack Loeks Celebration Cinema Studio 28/Michigan: http://www.celebrationcinema.com/htdocs/index.php?pid=78 (select Studio 28 from list of locations)

Loews Cineplex/Famous Players theatres (Canada):
http://www.famousplayers.com/theatres/rwc_dvs.asp

National Amusements Showcase Cinemas and Cinema de Lux locations: http://www.nationalamusements.com
(link to state, and then theater)

Additional chains with MoPix systems are not yet listing MoPix-accessible film information on their sites at this time: Carmike Theatres, Douglas Theaters, Malco Theatres, Mann Theatres and Megaplex Theaters

NOW PLAYING

Available with closed captions using the Rear Window Captioning system, and audio descriptions utilizing the DVS Theatrical System:

American Dreamz from Universal Pictures
(comedy, satire - rated PG-13)

The Hills Have Eyes from Twentieth Century Fox Films
(horror, thriller - rated R)

Ice Age 2: The Meltdown from Twentieth Century Fox Films
(animated, family, adventure - rated PG)

The Inside Man from Universal Pictures
(action, thriller - rated PG-13)

Just My Luck from Twentieth Century Fox Films
(romantic comedy - rated PG-13

Poseidon from Warner Bros. Pictures
(action, adventury - rated PG-13)

Roving Mars, a large format film from Buena Vista Pictures
(space, documentary - unrated)

RV from Sony Pictures
(comedy - rated PG)

The Sentinel from Twentieth Century Fox Films
(political, thriller, drama - rated PG-13)

United 93 from Universal Pictures
(docudrama -rated R)

Now playing with captions only (DVS is not available for these films):

ATL from Warner Bros. Pictures
(comedy, drama - rated PG-13)

Benchwarmers from Sony Pictures
(comedy - rated PG-13)

Scary Movie 4 from The Weinstein Company
(comedy, horror - rated PG-13)

Silent Hill from Sony Pictures
(horror - rated R)

MOPIX MOVIES TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS

The Da Vinci Code, a mystery-thriller starring Tom Hanks from Columbia Pictures (May 19)
(cc dvs)
In Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to the Louvre — a museum employee has been murdered. Near his body is a strange cipher. To solve the riddle, Langdon joins with the victim's daughter, French cryptologist Sophie Neveu, and learns of a centuries-old conspiracy surrounding the Priory of Sion, a secret society dating back to the days of Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli and Leonardo Da Vinci. The brainy duo must race through Paris, London and elsewhere to solve the puzzle and the ancient conspiracy before the answer is lost forever.

X-Men: The Last Stand, an action-adventure film starring Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry from Twentieth Century Fox Films (May 26) (cc dvs)
A "cure" for the mutant X gene has been discovered, which threatens the very existence of mutants like Magneto and Professor X. The two leaders have opposing viewpoints on the situation: Magneto insists on a violent revolution to stop humans from exterminating their kind, while X prefers tolerance and working with the government on a compromise. But the balance is shifted by the shocking return of Dr. Jean Grey, who appeared to die in a great flood. Now she's more powerful than ever as Dark Phoenix, and if Wolverine can't persuade her not to join Magneto's crew, a war could be at hand.

The Break-Up starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn from Universal Pictures (Jun 2)
(cc dvs)
After their latest squabble, art dealer Brooke decides to break up with her boyfriend, Gary, who hosts bus tours of Chicago. But breaking up and moving out is hard to do, especially when the former couple's friends, family and even complete strangers offer their advice on how to deal with the situation. Eventually Brooke begins to think that maybe she doesn't want to leave Gary after all.

The Omen starring Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles and Mia Farrow from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Jun 6)
(cc dvs)
This remake of 1976's The Omen focuses on an American government official who begins to have the suspicion that his son, Damien, may be the Antichrist.

Cars, an animated film with the voices of Paul Newman, Owen Wilson and Bonnie Hunt from Buena Vista Pictures and Pixar Entertainment (Jun 9)
(cc dvs)
Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie race car, embarks on a trip down Route 66, headed to California and the big Piston Cup Championship race. Along the way, he meets Sally, a snazzy 2002 Porche, Doc Hudson, a 1951 Hudson Hornet, and Mater, a rusty tow truck. Together they help Lightning realize there's more to life than first place.

The Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift starring Lucas Black and Bow Wow from Universal Pictures (Jun 16)
(cc dvs)
Street racer Sean Boswell is sent to live with his estranged father, a military officer stationed in Tokyo. Sean doesn't exactly fit in, until an American buddy, Twinkie, introduces him to the underground world of drift racing. In his first race, Sean unknowingly takes on the Drift King, a local champ with ties to the Yakuza, Japan's organized crime ring.

The Lake House from Warner Bros. Pictures (Jun 16) (cc only)
A lonely doctor (Sandra Bullock) and a frustrated architect (Keanu Reeves) begin exchanging love letters only to discover they are living two years apart.

Click from Sony Pictures (Jun 23) (cc only)
A workaholic architect (Adam Sandler) is faced with a dilemma: go on a vacation with his wife (Kate Beckinsale) and kids or work overtime to land a high-profile design job. Saving him from making this choice is an eccentric Bed, Bath & Beyond product developer (Christopher Walken), who gives him a universal remote that allows him to rewind, fast-forward, slow down and pause his own life.

Garfield 2: A Tale of Two Kitties, an animated film from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Jun 23) (cc dvs)
Garfield (Bill Murray) follows his owner, Jon (Breckin Meyer), to England, where he's mistaken for a lookalike regal cat who has inherited a castle. Garfield loves the royal treatment afforded by his loyal subjects, but when the evil Lord Dargis learns of the deception, he sets out to expose the furry impostor and turn the castle into a tourist resort.

The Devil Wears Prada from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Jun 30) (cc dvs)
Andrea Sachs, a small-town woman (Anne Hathaway), gets a job working in New York City for Runway fashion magazine, where she has to cope with a high-powered, dictatorial editor, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).

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CREDITS

Closed captioning and description of films provided by the Media Access
Group at WGBH, a nonprofit division of Boston public broadcaster WGBH.  The
Rear Window Captioning and DVS Theatrical systems were developed by WGBH to
make feature films accessible the date films open in theaters nationwide—
and during regular showtimes— to movie fans who are deaf, hard-of-hearing,
blind or visually impaired.

For more information on the WGBH's Motion Picture Access (MoPix) efforts,
including how to encourage a theater in your area to install the access
systems, please visit <www.mopix.org>, e-mail access@wgbh.org or call 617
300-3700 v, 617 300-2489 TTY.

- -
Media Access Group at WGBH
mary_watkins@wgbh.org
<http://access.wgbh.org>
125 Western Avenue
Boston, MA  02134
617 300-3700 v/fax, 617 300-2489 TTY