Others, like disability sector advocate Gary Kerridge, went further, labelling CaptiView a "dud" and declaring that the government program had "failed the deaf". The audio description feature of the devices was hailed as a game-changer for blind audience members, but Mr Miers said he believed the deaf were short-changed. In 2009, Australia's big four cinemas - Village, Hoyts, Reading and Event - agreed to roll out the CaptiView system with the backing of Commonwealth funding. "I have always challenged them to prove these statements, but they have not provided any evidence whatsoever." "The ongoing view from the industry is that, 'patrons will be turned off by seeing captions', and, 'patrons will cease attending movies if OC is required'," Deaf Australia chief executive Kyle Miers said.
Hoyts has not responded to requests for comment.Ībout 3.6 million Australians were affected by hearing loss in 2017, and that number was projected to reach 7.8 million by 2060, according to the Health Care Industry Association.ĭeaf Australia and other lobby groups have been trying for decades to increase the uptake for open-caption screenings, with little success.
#Open caption vs closed captioned movies trial
"We continue to monitor other worldwide technology developments and existing trial profitability with interest." "Our position remains that we worked consultatively with government, industry and representative organisations in good faith," the email said. In an email to a deaf advocacy group, seen by the ABC, the company said it was pushing ahead with plans to increase closed captioning in cinemas. One of its larger rivals, Hoyts, has no plans to introduce open captions at its 50 cinemas nationwide. Village's stance appears to be the exception in the industry. "Ultimately, the response was really positive, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they keep going in the next few months," Ms McKenzie said.
Village apologised, met with Ms McKenzie and disability advocates and pledged to do more to support the deaf community. In April, Ms McKenzie was in a group of 40 people who walked out of Avengers: Endgame when captions did not appear, despite Village Cinemas in Sunshine listing the session as an open-caption screening.
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