---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 19 Oct 2001 14:35:40 -0400
From: Mary Watkins <[log in to unmask]>
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Accessible Movie Update - October 19 - 25

If you received this message via a friend or a listserv and would like to learn about new closed captioned and described films directly from the Media Access Group at WGBH (The Caption Center, Descriptive Video Service and the CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media), please send a message with "add mopix" in the subject line to [log in to unmask]  If you would like to be removed from the list, please send a message with the the words "delete mopix" in the subject line.  Thank you.

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Motion Picture Access (MoPix) News:

Big News for Movie Fans in N. California  
The Loews Theatre Metreon in downtown San Francisco will soon have the first Rear Window Captioning and DVS Theatrical installation in Northern California.  We've heard for years from consumers in the area, and are so pleased to share this good news.  More on the date of installation, likely in December, when we have confirmation of installation.

An Industry Leader Honored
The World Institute on Disability (WID) has honored Sony Pictures with the WID Media Access Award.  Sony Pictures was presented the award for its leadership in making first-run movies accessible in theaters for the nation's deaf, hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired audiences.  In accepting the award, Sony's president of Worldwide Distribution and Marketing said, "Moviegoing is, at its core, a communal experience and it is important to Sony that we make our films accessible to all audiences."  (WID is a nonprofit, international public-policy center dedicated to carrying out cutting edge research on disability issues and overcoming obstacles to independent living.  For more information on WID, visit www.wid.org.)   

NAD's New Position Statement on Movie Captioning
The National Association of the Deaf has released a new statement on captioning which includes an updated position on captioning for movie theaters.  Visit www.nad.org for more information.

New Film Added to Line-up
SPY GAME, starring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt from Universal Pictures, will be available with both closed captions and descriptions (November release)

Access Status of Two Holiday Releases
We have received many inquiries as to whether HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE will be closed captioned and described for its November debut in MoPix-equipped theaters.  We've contacted the studio distributing the film to request it be made accessible, and expect to hear a decision very soon.  If you would like to contact the studio directly, the address and phone number (voice only) appear below:

Warner Bros.
Feature Film Distribution
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522
818 954-6000 voice

Similar inquiries have come in about the first installment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING.  Here is the movie studio to contact to request this film be made accessible: 

New Line Cinema Corporation
116 N Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310-854-5811 voice

More News... NEW THEATERS, NEW CHAINS!
A.  Mann's Hollywood & Highland (now under construction) will install Rear Window Captioning and DVS Theatrical systems in two of the complex's theaters.  This theatre is in Los Angeles, next to the new Kodak Academy Theatre (site of future Academy Awards ceremonies).  

B.  Famous Players Theatres, Canada's largest theatre chain, will install five systems in Ontario before the end of the year.

C.  Gulf States Theatres, which currently has the systems installed in their Palace Theatre 20 Elmwood in Harahan, LA is in the midst of installing another system in their new theater complex, the Clearview 12 in Metairie, LA.


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

RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS, starring Drew Barrymore and directed by Penny Marshall, from Sony Pictures (Rated PG13) 

and currently playing with closed captions only (no descriptions for 
this film are available):
 
THE LAST CASTLE, starring Robert Redford and James Gandolfini, from DreamWorks Pictures (rated R) 

Information about theaters equipped with the closed captioning (for moviegoers who are deaf and hard of hearing) and audio description (for moviegoers who are blind or have low vision) systems, debut dates, showtimes and directions to the theaters appear below.

Coming soon 
(dates subject to change by the studios, additional titles to be announced as soon as they are confirmed...)

- MONSTERS, INC. from Buena Vista Pictures will debut with closed captions and descriptions on November 2
- SPY GAME from Universal Pictures will begin playing with closed captions and descriptions on November 30
- ALI from Sony Pictures will debut with closed captions and descriptions on December 7
- ROAD TO PERDITION from DreamWorks Pictures (closed captions and descriptions) scheduled for a January 11 debut
- PANIC ROOM from Sony Pictures (cc and descriptions) scheduled for a 
February 1 debut
- TIME MACHINE from DreamWorks Pictures (cc and descriptions)
- SPIDER MAN from Sony Pictures (cc and descriptions)
- MEN IN BLACK II from Sony Pictures (cc and descriptions)
- STUART LITTLE 2 from Sony Pictures (cc and descriptions)

IMAX Films - find a complete list of described and or closed captioned large format films, as well as locations of accessible theaters, at www.mopix.org.

Currently Playing:
 ***Please read movies, dates and times carefully.***

Atlanta
Parkway Pointe 15 General Cinema - Fri. Oct. 19 - Thurs. Oct. 25
RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS   1:30  4:00  6:50  9:40 PM 

The General Cinema Parkway Pointe is located at 3101 Cobb Parkway in Cumberland, GA, about 1/2 mile south of the Galleria and Cumberland Mall, next to Borders Books.

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Baltimore Area
General Cinema Owings Mills  
THE LAST CASTLE (cc only) - *Fri. Oct. 19 and Sat. Oct. 20 Only*
Friday, 7:00  10:00 PM
Saturday  1:00  4:00  7:00  10:00 PM

The Owings Mills 17 is located just off of Rt. 795 northwest of Baltimore on the ring road surrounding the Owings Mills Mall.

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Boston
1.  General Cinema Fenway Theatre - Fri. Oct. 10 - Thurs. Oct. 25 
RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS  1:00  4:00  7:00  10:00 PM
 
The Fenway Theatre is located at 201 Brookline Avenue, about 2 blocks away
from Fenway Park, in the Landmark Center, formerly the old Sears building.
It is accessible by an easy walk from either the Fenway stop or the
Kenmore Square stop on the Green Line of the T.  There is a parking lot
for more than 1000 cars in the Landmark Center building.  Bring your
parking ticket to the box office for validation -- only $2. 

2.  General Cinema Framingham 16 
- no film this week -

The Framingham 16 is located 20 miles west of downtown Boston, at 22 Flutie Pass, between the Natick Mall and Shoppers World.

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Chicago - Lombard 
1.  General Cinema Yorktown - Fri. Oct. 19 - Thurs. Oct. 25 
RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS  12:25  3:20  6:15  9:10 PM

General Cinema Yorktown 18 is located 25 minutes west of downtown Chicago on Butterfield Road, just east of the intersection with Highland Avenue adjacent to the Yorktown Shopping Center and across the street from the Embassy Suites Hotel.

2.  General Cinema City North - Fri. Oct. 19 - Thurs. Oct. 25
THE LAST CASTLE (cc only)  1:00  4:00  6:50  9:45 

General Cinema City North 14 is located on the north side of Chicago at 2600 N. Western Avenue, between Fullerton and Diversey at the Kennedy Expressway.

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Los Angeles
1.  General Cinema Sherman Oaks - *Fri. Oct 19 - Mon. Oct. 22*
RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS  1:15*  4:30  7:35  10:35 PM 
(*no 1:15 show on Saturday)

The General Cinema Sherman Oaks is located in Sherman Oaks, California, near
the intersection of the 405 and the 101, at 4500 Van Nuys Blvd.

2.  Loews Cineplex/Universal City Cinemas at CityWalk
Theater 5
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City   818 508-0711
- no film this week -

3. & 4. -- Coming Soon!
Two equipped theatres at the new Mann's Hollywood & Highland Cinema Complex

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Milwaukee/Wauwatosa, WI
General Cinema Mayfair Mall - Fri. Oct. 19 - Thurs. Oct. 25
RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS  1:25  4:20  7:15  10:15 PM 

Located on the east side of Mayfair Mall, about 6 miles west of downtown Milwaukee.

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New Orleans 
1. Palace Theatre 20 Elmwood (part of the Gulf States Theatres chain)
Theater #1
1200 Elmwood Park Blvd.
Harahan, Louisiana  504 733-2029
Fri. Oct 19 - Thurs. Oct. 25  
The LAST CASTLE (cc only)  11:15 AM  1:55  4:40  7:30  10:20 PM

The Palace Theatre 20 is located off Clearview Parkway behind the Big K-Mart in Harahan, 15 minutes from downtown New Orleans.

Coming Soon!
2. A new Rear Window Captioning and DVS Theatrical installation at the Clearview 12 in Metairie, LA (also owned by Gulf States Theatres) 

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New York City/NJ Area
1.  General Cinema Bay Plaza (Bronx) - *Mon. Oct. 22 - Thurs. Oct 25*
THE LAST CASTLE (cc only)  1:00  4:00  7:00  10:00 PM

The General Cinema Bay Plaza is located right off of Rt. 95 in the north Bronx (near the Westchester border) at the Bay Plaza Shopping Center.  (Take the Bay Plaza/Co-op City Exit off Rt. 95.)  The theatre is located behind the Bay Plaza shopping center, around the corner from Applebee's restaurant.

2.  General Cinema Clifton Commons, Clifton, NJ  
Fri. Oct. 19 - Thurs. Oct. 26
RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS  12:15  3:15  6:15  9:15 PM (+12:15 am Fri & Sat)

General Cinema Clifton Commons is located west of the Meadowlands on eastbound Rt. 3 in Clifton, near the large Barnes & Noble and Sports Authority stores.

**********************************
Phildelphia Area
General Cinema Plymouth Meeting - Fri. Oct. 19 - Thurs. Oct. 25
THE LAST CASTLE (cc only)  2:15  5:00  8:30 PM

The General Cinema Plymouth Meeting is located at Plymouth Meeting Mall, northwest of downtown Philadelphia, adjacent to the large IKEA furniture store.  There is a public bus which runs from Broad Street in downtown all the way to Plymouth Meeting Mall.

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Seattle
1. General Cinema Pacific Place - Fri. Oct. 19 - Thurs. Oct. 25
RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS  12:30  3:45  7:00  10:15 PM

General Cinema Pacific Place is located in downtown Seattle at the corner of Sixth and Pine Streets. 

2.  Cinerama 
-No film this week-

Cinerama is located in downtown Seattle at the corner of 4th and Lenora Streets, near the Westin Hotel.

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Springfield, Virginia/ D.C. Area
General Cinema Springfield Mall 
- no film this week -

Springfield Mall is located on Franconia Road just east of Rt. 95, about 12 miles from Washington, D.C.  The equipped auditorium is located near the mall entrance with the large #2 sign outside.

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Closed captioning of all films provided by The Caption Center at WGBH.  Descriptions provided by WGBH's Descriptive Video Service.  Rear Window Captioning and DVS Theatrical were developed by WGBH, Boston's public broadcaster, to make feature films accessible to deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind or visually impaired movie fans the date films open in theaters nationwide and during regular showtimes.

For more information on the WGBH's Motion Picture Access (MoPix) efforts, please visit www.mopix.org, e-mail [log in to unmask] or call 617 300-3400 v, -2489 TTY.

Thanks to General Cinemas, Gulf States, Loews, Mann's and Famous Players Theatres, IMAX and OMNIMAX theatres, the Hollywood studios and to all the movie fans out there.  

-- 
Mary Watkins
Outreach Director
Media Access at WGBH
(The Caption Center, Descriptive Video ServiceŽ,
CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media)
[log in to unmask]
access.wgbh.org
125 Western Avenue
Boston, MA  02134
617 300-3700 v/fax
617 300-2489 TTY


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