How many times have you walked into a movie theater, bought your tickets and refreshments, and then sat in your seat and worried about whether you will be able to enjoy the show? Sure, movie trailers and friends have hyped the storyline and acting, but what about your personal ability to take in all the elements of what's going on and actually be entertained. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may rely on sound amplification or closed captioning, while people who are blind or low vision appreciate the availability of an audio track that contains narration that describes scene elements like people, expressions, places, action and more. This soundtrack is called audio description and requires a lot of talent and specific technology to get the content from production to the audience.
For the deaf and hard of hearing, digital media accessibility is accomplished with devices that either amplify sound or translate and package digital characters that represent spoken words and sound descriptions along with the produced media content. This packaging of sound into words is called captioning. Captioning may also include translating spoken words into subtitles in many different languages. For those who are blind or low vision, the provision of accessibility is more extensive as it first requires the interpretation of what can be seen into a script. The script must be narrated into a recording and then edited to fit timing and then skillfully mixed with the production to match available silences if possible. While most theatrical captioning does also contain description of sounds that require production interpretation, the editing and mixing of prioritized and succinct descriptions of sometimes multiple simultaneous visual elements require an advanced skillset of editorial and production decision-making. Like sound captioning, audio description content must be included in the final package that will be presented at your local movie theater.
The theater should provide devices that can receive this special audio description track and seamlessly make it comfortably available to individuals who wish to enjoy a professionally produced description of what is visually happening on the big screen. Devices that amplify sound or display captioning should also be made available. It has been discovered that many theaters have problems keeping their staff trained to distinguish the difference in the different types of accessibility equipment, let alone how to test and use them. In many cases it has been incumbent on the theater patron to thoroughly explain to the theater staff what they need and hope that they are handed a correct and functional device. Sometimes the patron will not know their device is not functioning until the actual movie starts, which means they will be inconvenienced with trekking to the nearest helpful staff, missing portions of the show, and hoping the replacement device is correct and functioning.
Is it possible that movie theater management allows these missteps to happen more often because they consider these accessibility devices and their associated systems to be a minor amenity for people with disabilities? From a financial perspective, it should be that every ticket and concession stand sale counts. From a social perspective, it should be that every person counts. From a business perspective, consider that it has been noted that many people in the audience, disabled or not, have enjoyed the benefits of audio description or captioning. Many people have perceived a more informed experience when they have access to this extended content. Shouldn't everyone, regardless of their abilities, enjoy a more informed experience when consuming digital media?