13 Year Old Chattanooga Girl Wants Closed Captions at the Movies
Comments Below: 18
Imagine going to the movie theater... but not being able to laugh at the jokes or hear the plot. That's how it is for one Chattanooga girl. Demetria Beasley is deaf, but says she wants to go to the movies too... Now she and her family have started a grass roots campaign to get closed captioning in at the movies.
WNOO talk radio host Sam Terry says, "We're talking about getting closed captioning in movie theaters. Good Afternoon. You're on Community Awareness." Thirteen year old Demetria Beasley and her family are on air today pointing out of the lack of closed captions at the movies. Through an interpreter Demetria says, "It's hard to lip read people when you're watching a movie." Demetria is completely deaf, but has always enjoyed going to the movies with her family. Her mother and sister would sign the movie for her...but now she's getting older... Demetria's sister Shea'Diamond explains, "She doesn't want to interrupt the movie for anyone else. So she just don't get it." Now Demetria and her family are doing something about it. The Tennessee School for the Deaf student is writing her congressmen, and even the president, and collecting signatures trying to have closed captioning more available at the movies. Demetria says, "I have to wait until after the movie to ask my mom or other people to sign for me, tell me what was that funny part, what was this part about? You know, I want to laugh when that action is going on." But Carmike Theaters say they've tried it and there's just not a market. Carmike's Chattanooga Manager Todd Coffman says, "The turn out was very good at the beginning but then it kind of slowed down at the end." Last year the theaters Northgate location started regularly showing movies with closed captions. Coffman says the program only lasted for six months because the crowd who asked it stopped supporting it, "It's something that they're gonna keep going if we ever decide to do it again." Coffman says traditional movie goes simply don't want closed captioning scrolling across the screen... Demetria mother Lisa says her daughter should get to laugh at the movie too, "When we go to the movies I want her to be able to enjoy it as much as we do."
There is no law mandating closed captions run on the movie screen. Coffman says closed captions can be shown under special arraignments, but the theater typically needs advance notice. If you'd like more information, or to sign the petition email Lisa Beasley at gentlehands55@yahoo.com. 
hello
Submitted by Demetria (not verified) on February 14, 2010 - 10:01pm.
hello this is demetria and here to thank you for your thoughts, concerns, and sugguests. i honestly want to help to improve the deaf community and NAD so deaf people can be happy just as hearing people are. i got to tell you this, i live in two worlds. deaf world and hearing world. i love both of them. i do really enjoy them. my teachers, friends, and family are so proud of me because i finally said something about that. i didnt mean to do that to insult hearing people. i only did that to help realze you all about that. deaf people are having diffcult times to understand the people in the movies. so please help us to improve the deaf community and NAD. i know that some hearing people think deaf people cant do anything or learn just like hearing people do. thats not true. i mean, look at me typing. i know how to type, read, write and more just as hearing people do! well if you all have any questions about that, just email my mom! her email is above the comments. again, i hope you all can help us to improve things for deaf people to epual same to hearing people!
Demetria Beasley
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hello
Submitted by Demetria (not verified) on February 14, 2010 - 9:47pm.
hello this is demetria and i just want to thank you guys to type your thoughts, concerns, and sugguests. i just want to improve deaf community and NAD. my school is so proud of me just because i just finally said something about that. so, i didnt mean to do that to insult hearing people. i only did that to help realize you all that deaf people are having diffcult time to understand the people in the movies. i know that some hearing people think deaf people cant learn, read, write and anything that hearing people can do. thats not true. i mean, look at me typing. i know how to type, write, read, and more that they can do! well, if you have any questions about it, just email my mom, shealisha beasley. her email is above the comments. i hope you all can help to improve deaf community!
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Australia faces the same issue
Submitted by Jimmy James (not verified) on February 13, 2010 - 7:14am.
Different country but the same issue abounds. There were protests held throught the country calling for the cinema chains to be forced to offer greater access.
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/contributors/memo-cinema-chains-the-deaf-enjoy-movies-too-20100129-n354.html
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closed caption
Submitted by Jesse Cruz (not verified) on February 10, 2010 - 10:37am.
I feel sorry for the young lady and her inability to hear. With that said, why would someone go to the movies, knowing before hand, that you could not hear them or what was said? My right to go to the movie, and not be distracted by the words on the screen, should be considered also! Knowing ahead of time, that you will not beable to hear the movie, and go anyway, seem like another case of,," I don't care if that bothers you or anyone else, I deserve and want to make it distracting to you and who cares"!! If you take a poll and ask 100+ people, if the closed caption is distracting, I'm sure that over 95% would not want to watch a movie with closed caption! Going to the movie is everyones right, enjoying it, is also everyones right. Make it good for me and to "Heck" with everyone else, is not right! This is my view, and are mine alone. It's also my right!
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Closed Captioned Movies
Submitted by Linda (not verified) on February 14, 2010 - 12:00am.
I believe your comments are a little misguided, I don't believe this young lady was asking for the movie that she wants to attend to be captioned every time it is shown. She is not intending to say to Heck with everyone else. My take is that while a particular movie is being shown she would like to enjoy the movie at the same time instead of having to wait until it comes out on DVD. Why can't there be a separate theatre reserved to show a closed captioned version of which ever movie is being requested for CC. This is not a difficult thing to do. It is being done all over the country even in Knoxville.
As for your comment as to why would she go to a movie knowing she cannot hear it, she goes everywhere not being able to hear, to a restaurant, to the grocery store, to the Dollar store to the mall, etc. Should she not go to any of those places because she can't hear? She is a vibrant, intelligent, independent young lady who is trying to make her world a better place, and for that I would shout from the roof tops "GO FOR IT", many of us should have the courage to stand up and make a difference for not only ourselves but for everyone who through no fault of their own happens to be "different".
And as for your right, you are completely right you have those rights, but for just 1 hour turn down the volume on your tv, or go into a movie theatre and try to watch the movie with sound proof headhpones on, or for that matter, go about your every day life, in other words walk a mile in her shoes; and maybe it will give you a different perspective on this young lady's life. I applaud her efforts and will do whatever I can to assist in making this happen.
Last but not least, do not feel "sorry" for her, I suspect she will go further in her life that most of us will ever dream of. I venture to say she does not want you to feel "sorry" for her; she would prefer you join in her effort to open up the world of movies for the thousands of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in surrounding Chattanooga area.
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reply to jesse cruz's post (which made me highly upset to read)
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on February 12, 2010 - 5:09pm.
to jesse cruz, how dare you say this about demetria! she is basically my sister-in-law because her sister shea'diamond, who is also in the video, is my girlfriend. just as you stated, going to the movies is EVERYONE'S right and enjoying it is also EVERYONE'S right. so do not put demetria down just because you are a self-centered movie watching jerk. just because demetria wants to enjoy the movie too, does NOT mean that she wants to make it worse for undeaf movie viewers. so basically YOU are the individual that is saying "Make it good for me and to 'Heck' with everyone else!" now am i right or am i right?
(Loren Viera)
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Oh boo hoo!! That is a very
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on February 11, 2010 - 1:07pm.
Oh boo hoo!! That is a very selfish thing of you. You can hear the dialogue while we cant and we cant follow the movie. If it is distracting for you, then stay home and rent movies without the captioning.
I am glad for this 13 year old for speaking up. As a deaf person, I plan to join her to fight for our rights for full access to movies in the theaters like hearing people have automatically.
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closed captioning
Submitted by lisa beasley (not verified) on February 10, 2010 - 4:20pm.
dear jesse, i want to say thank you for your in put on this matter, and i want to say first of all were not looking for any ones sympathy. And you are so right you gave your opinion and no one should take your views away from it. But if i may take a moment and explain? I asked for close captioning to be in the movie theaters and the reason for that is because when it is closed captioning the words will not appear on the screen at all they will be only viewed by that person and no one else. Now granted that you may not know the difference between closed captioning and open captioning,so until you understand the difference it will be hard for to say what will bother you when in the show. Also im not asking for it to be in every room just in one room and yes you will have the choice to go into that room or not. again your decision. and as far asking the community I have did just that, on WNOO radio this past monday, because I do want to know how the hearing world will accept this and of right now if I take that same one hundred people and ask them how they feel im still at 100% do to the fact again it will be your choice to go into that room. So may i ask you just because a person is hearing impaired they should not have the right to go to the movies and understand what is being said. if that is the case maybe we should look at all the other accessabilities that we have for people with disabilities that is, im sure every where you go no matter if its to the grocery store the bank, the MOVIES!!!!! and ETC.. so Jessee thank you for your imput and have a blessed day.
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I think this is only right
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on February 12, 2010 - 2:39am.
I think this is only right because you are right with having accessiblility elsewhere for people with disabilities. Would we take away a handicap parking space because we do not feel it is right for that person to be able to park so close, no most Americans would not. I have a step parent that is handicap and has trouble walking, due to a bad back, I see everyday that he is struggling just to stand up. Closed capitioning would be great for a person who can not hear and no it wouldn't disrupt the original viewing. I would back your petition.
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Try contacting Regal
Submitted by B McBroom (not verified) on February 10, 2010 - 9:11am.
Try contacting Regal Theaters rather than Carmike.
Here is a website of caption films at Regal
http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/opencaptionedshowtimes.aspx#TN
Contact the Regal Entertainment Group corporate offices at 7132 Regal Lane Knoxville, Tennessee 37918 Phone: 1-865-922-1123 Fax: 1-865-922-3188
Customer Relations: 1-877-TELLREGAL or 1-877-835-5734 Investor Hotline: 1-866-REGALEG or 1-866-734-2534 For press inquiries, call 1-865-925-9539
Apparently Carmike doesn't do much rear-window showings according to their website. Click under events, then rear-window showings. Only one city, one!, is listed
http://www.carmike.com/
Best of luck in bringing captions back to your area!
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closed captioning
Submitted by lisa beasley (not verified) on February 9, 2010 - 10:37pm.
Hey Mary, Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I first want to say that on this mission i am not out to disrespect any one, nor to try and take away from anyone else with a disability. I feel that everyone with any type of disability should have the rights just as any one else does. rather if their blind, in a wheel chair, or hearing impaired we all deserve to be treated as an equal. I do not blame the manager at the movie theater if he did not know the differeence, I my self did not know until i did more research on it. I use to think it was all the same my self. And if your not living or communicating in the deaf world their may be a possibilty that you will not know. My daughter mission is to try and at least educate on this issue and get into to the theaters where she will not have to call in advance or anything to that nature. she should have the right to just go to the movies and have the services available for her. just like anyone else.
Renee also thank you for clarifying more on that issue as well. Also again thank you for all that you have done to help me and my family get this matter out to the public.
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Re: Captioning
Submitted by Mary Dyer (not verified) on February 9, 2010 - 5:50pm.
What idiots! Before I became deaf I didn't know thedifference between open- and closed-captioning. While I prefer open captioning, with the words projected directly on the screen, but with more of an amber color and no closed black box around it, where everyone could see it, closed-captioning is that: closed, where only the person with the hand-held device can see the words projected from the back. The threatre manager must be a total idiot if he, as the manager, didn't even know the diffrerence. With closed-captioning, no one would have to show support other than the deaf or hard-of-hearing person asking for the device at the beginning of the movie they wanted to see. The only way it could annoy a hearing person is if they turned around 180 degrees and stared at the back of the theatre. Is that manager asking for the mobility access stuff to be replaced with steps because maybe not enough people in wheelchairs show up?
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Clarification...
Submitted by Reneé LaSalle on February 9, 2010 - 7:22pm.
Hey Mary - thanks for reading the article. I wanted to clarify a few points...
The Carmike manager is fully aware of Rear Window Captioning systems. We discussed the matter off camera during the interview. He said they're wonderful, but extremely expensive and currently only available in Carmike theaters in cities with larger populations.
Regarding open- vs. closed-captioning, it was an editorial decision on my part to solely use the term closed captioning so I didn't have to go through the additional step of explaining "open-captioned." Unfortunately we're subject to certain time constraints when writing for television and I chose to hear more from Demetria and her family, than use the time to explain the term. Granted, I could have added the information to the written version, but I didn't.
The Carmike theater I visited is in full compliance with the ADA, and there was no implication the manager intended to replace wheelchair ramps with steps. He simply meant it costs money to obtain and show the "open-captioned" movies. Since he's running a for-profit business & does not have access to the hand held closed captioning systems he cannot afford to show "open-captioned" movies if enough viewers won't pay to watch them.
I'm glad you took the time to read and comment on the article and I hope my reply adequately addresses your concerns.
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By the way, WDEF, your video player is CC Capable too
Submitted by Bill (not verified) on February 9, 2010 - 1:29pm.
By the way, WDEF, your video player is CC Capable too
http://www.longtailvideo.com/support/tutorials/Making-Video-Accessible
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Difference between open captioned and closed captioned movies
Submitted by Mary Watkins (not verified) on February 9, 2010 - 9:02am.
There are two kinds of captioning in movie theaters, open captioning which projects the text on the screen and is visible to the entire audience, and closed captioning, which displays the text only to those movie patrons who wish to see it. The term closed captioning is used in this article, but what the theater representative refers to is open captioning.
A closed captioning system, called Rear Window Captioning, is installed in over 350 theaters in the US and Canada, including a few Carmike locations. Over 100 films are captioned each year. All screenings of captioned movies in theaters equipped with this closed captioning system are accessible, there is no need for special screenings. More information can be found at http://www.mopix.org
Mary Watkins/Media Access Group at WGBH
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Difference between open captioned and closed captioned movies
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on February 9, 2010 - 8:53am.
I'd like to clarify that what the local theaters offered was open captioning, which means the words were on the movie screen visible to the entire audience. Closed captioning is just that, closed. Only those who need it see it. The system called Rear Window Captioning, developed by public broadcaster WGBH and now available in over 350 theaters in the US and Canada, displays captions on a reflective device which fits into a patron's cupholder. Every showing of a captioned movie in an equipped auditorium is thus accessible. It does not impact the general audience, as no one but the patron using the system sees the captions.
Carmike actually has Rear Window Captioning, and its companion system for people who are blind, DVS Theatrical in a few theaters. More information on the system, and a list of movies currently accessible via these systems, can be found at www.mopix.org
Mary Watkins/Media Access Group at WGBH
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closed captioning
Submitted by lisa beasley (not verified) on February 9, 2010 - 5:21pm.
Mary first off i would like to personally thank you for your infprmation. I am the mother of demetria beasley. And i do not know what all out there and any info is greatly appreciated. All I know is that I strongly want to get the right equipment that will be neede for her to enjoy the movie at any given time and not when she have to call in advance. So i will ook into this websight that you have given me and pass it on with some more letters to see how we should go about getting it into all theaters. again let me say thank you and you have a blessed day.
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You guys need to check out the recent event in Kentucky regarding movie theaters offering closed captions. See link below for details. http://www.wtvq.com/news/2605-movie-help-for-the-deaf