I received an email this morning from a fellow Deafie [Kate Locke], who like me, is bemoaning the continuing lack of subtitles on DVDs [this wondrous new technology]. She found the follow this ancient post, Subtitles, I have, well had until this morning, long forgotten about. It was posted on an equally ancient blog that I no longer maintain, because ye all can find me. Here, here, and HERE! That post expressed my exasperation with the tardiness of studios, et al, who harness the DVD and related technology to make money, but continually overlook the provision of a simple access.

Things like subtitles and captions.

The DVD Characterful & Joymonger, by one of my favourite comedians, Adam Hills, which I reviewed on DVD REVIEW: Characterful & Joymonger. If you missed it the first time because you don’t peruse Deaf Read Extras, you can read it here. My review explains why I was so impressed with the efforts of Adam and his producers to make his latest DVD [and live performances] accessible.

Captions and subtitles are like all the important services like health,  education, and welfare, the provision of which depends on the availability of money. Often from someone else.

I plan to plan write a follow up or two, but Kate’s emailed, jogged my memory of another exchange I had with one DVD publishing company, that I was planning to blog about but forgot about. But, the first rant: published WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2005 4:18 PM

Subtitles

Went to my local video store to see what new releases it had, and to my joy, the Aussie film “Somersault” was there on the shelf…a quick look at the back turned to dismay [polite term for PISSED OFF]. Why? Because there were no subtitles, and like many Deaf and Hearing Impaired people, I have come to rely on subtitles to watch a movie, and there are many – Hopscotch Films and Madman Films are particularly guilty of this practice. Many of their films come out with all these useless extra features and no subtitles…… so how are us Deafies and Hearing Impaired supposed to access the blasted culture in order to enjoy its fruits that our hearing brethren do? Why do we have to wait so long to watch something on DVD with great anticipation, to find it all turns to naught….

Now, the post that Kate found. Published SUNDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2005 09:41 AM

Since venting my spleen on the lack of subtitles in DVDs, I wrote to Madman Films and Hopscotch Films. I was surprised to get a reply to be quite frank. But it was nice of them to acknowledge my concerns. Originally I wrote:

To Hopscotch:

“………………..I am writing to express my disappointment in yet another DVD released by your company that DOES NOT INCLUDE subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired.I don’t go the cinema, primarily, because of this lack of access, and so have come to rely on the DVD format to deliver what the cinema won’t. Which is why I have to wait longer than the average Hearing person does, to enjoy movies.SOMERSAULT, released on DVD by your company, has no subtitles. I was quite pissed off because I enjoy my Australian productions, and was looking forward to seeing this one, so it’s another one I will have to forgo…….”

and the one to Madman Films similar:

“……………I am writing to express my disappointment in the fact that so many films released on DVD by your company that DO NOT INCLUDE subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired.I don’t go the cinema, primarily, because of this lack of access, and so have come to rely on the DVD format to deliver what the cinema won’t. Which is why I have to wait longer than the average Hearing person does, to enjoy movies.I get quite pissed off because I enjoy my movies, especially Australian and non-Hollywood productions you release, but each time your company releases a new DVD, it becomes a foregone conclusion that it will be another one I will have to miss……………”

Hopscotch was the first to reply,

“…………..Our DVD production is outsourced to a company called 21st Century Pictures, so I am forwarding this to them for a response. As we have also recently begun our own DVD production arm, I will forward this to the managing director there, as we want to create products that can be enjoyed by everyone.But thank you for making us aware of this problem. You are the first one to have brought it to our attention so we can now take action…….”

and later I got a reply, from 21st Century Pictures, to the effect:

“……………………Thanks for your email regarding SOMERSAULT.My name is Martin Gallery, I’m the Marketing Manager for 21st Century Pictures, the DVD distributor of SOMERSAULT. Hopscotch passed your email on to me.I understand your frustration and disappointment in finding that Somersault wasn’t supplied with captions. A few years ago all of our releases were equipped with captions for the hearing impaired, but since the Federal Government cut the funding grant to The Caption Centre, the costs have absolutely skyrocketed.

For a small, independent company like ours, it often becomes prohibitive. For example, to caption an average length feature film for both VHS and DVD formats, it would cost around $4000. When you consider we release four titles each month, it just becomes too much to spend.

Over the past few months I have been exploring a more cost effective way of supplying captions on DVDs and Videos, but this could be a few months off.

In the meantime I would suggest contacting the Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson (you can contact her through www.facs.gov.au) , and suggest she try and put the funds grant back in place. If this was to happen, we’d be first in line to supply all releases with captions……………..”

Later I did get a reply form Madman:

“…………………..Thank you very much for your feedback regarding our products.In response to your query, we always try to source subtitles for our indie releases whenever possible. However due to the lower budgets of many of these titles it is not always possible to create captions ourselves. I can see how this would be frustrating but at the same time given our limited budgets I hope you can understand where we are coming from as well.We hope that you will still continue to buy our products in future and we will continue to always try and include subtitles on any and all products whenever possible. ……………….”

However, this did bug me big time, when Hopscotch Films Wrote:

“Please be advised that the DVD version of Somersault that is available for purchase (not yet released in stores) will have this function….”

To which I replied:

“….Thank you for this information…… but it begs the question, if there is a version of this film [and any film distributed by your company] available with captions/ subtitles, why aren’t they released in the first place? Whether a DVD is available for purchase or rental, the same accessibility criteria should apply. Thank you anyway, but I will not be buying the film. I will just have to miss out.

Cheers…”

So, there is some food for thought, not just for the companies involved but also any film makers out there who may be reading this blog!

Further Reading:

DVD REVIEW: Characterful & Joymonger.