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 The California Alliance For Consumer Protection
37 Derow Court, Sacramento, Ca. 95833
(916) 923-2215 fax (916) 923-2216
www.consumeradvocacy.com * ssorleahcim@comcast.net
“Competition Is The Highest Form Of Consumer Protection”
FILMS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED
PROBLEM: People who have hearing disabilities often do not attend movies or concerts because they cannot hear the movie or concert. The impact of this problem is felt in several ways:
1) Movie theatres and studios are losing potential customers and revenue;
2) The deaf are not able to participate as equals with respect to viewing film.
PROPOSED SOLUTION:
Require movies, films and videos to do the following:
1) Include subtitles for the hearing impaired;
2) Require that those subtitles don’t hinder viewer enjoyment of the production;
3) Require that the subtitles be visible to only those who use special equipment to view the sub titles (like glasses or Teleprompters);
4) Require film companies to release a sub titled version of the film and require theatres to show that version of the film 1/10th of the time the production is scheduled to be shown;
5) Provide enhanced tax credits for theatres that make these movies available to the hearing impaired;
6) Require events that include film or video to have that video sub titled;
7) Award tax credits for the companies that produce and use this technology.
POSSIBLE SUPPORT:
1) People with hearing disabilities
2) Movie Theatres
3) Consumers
4) People who make equipment for the hearing impaired
5) People who make teleprompters and related software
6) Movie Companies
POSSIBLE OPPOSITION:
1) Film makers
2) Movie theatres
3) Movie Companies
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:
1) This will improve the services available to the hearing impaired;
2) Movies theatres and studios will attract more customers in the long run;
3) DVD’s of the movies are released with subtitle options.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION:
1) This technology does not exist, and if it does, it is very expensive;
2) This policy will negatively affect how movies and videos are created, distributed and viewed.
SECTION AFFECTED: As Per Legislative Council.
LANGUAGE ATTACHED: No
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