Enjoying popcorn and candy, watching the coming attractions and getting involved in a great story are part of the fun of going to the movies. Many Minnesota theaters have technology available for those who have visual or hearing disabilities. VSA Minnesota has compiled a list of resources available to explain the latest technology and help Minnesotans find accessible theaters.
Rear Window® Captioning displays reversed caption on a LED text display which is mounted in the rear of a theater. Patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing use transparent acrylic panels attached to their seats to reflect the captions so they appear superimposed on the movie screen. The reflective panels are portable and adjustable, enabling the caption user to sit anywhere in the theater without bothering patrons in surrounding seats.
DVS Theatrical® presents concise descriptive narration of visual cues, including actions, settings, scene changes, facial expressions and silent movement, through an FM or infrared system, making movies more meaningful to people with vision loss. The moviegoer hears the narration on a headset without disturbing other audience members and at no extra cost.
The Media Access Group at WGBH in Boston developed Rear Window Captioning and DVS Theatrical. Films equipped with MoPix technology are listed at http://ncam.wgbh.org/mopix/nowshowing.html#mn. Moviegoers can call 617-300-3400 or TTY: 617-300-2489, or email access@wgbh.org for more details. Some cinemas use other variations of open-captioning, which is a text display of words and sounds heard during a performance, film, video, speech or dialogue. The display is “open” for anyone to see in a particular seating area.
The website www.captionfish.com lists cinemas with access features. To find a theater in a specific area, type in a zip code and the website provides current listings of nearby movies with open or closed captioning, an audio description track, or English subtitles in foreign films.
The following movie complexes in Minnesota offer captioning or description services:
At the Science Museum of Minnesota Omnitheater, Mystery of the Maya is showing through the end of 2013 with Closed Rear View Captioning (CC), Audio Description (AD) and Spanish translation available. The theater and museum are at 120 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul. Take a journey back in time with the explorers who unearthed this majestic ancient civilization in the jungles of Central America in the early 19th century. Filmed on location at sacred sites throughout the Maya regions, it features re-enactments of the archaeological expeditions that uncovered what we know about the Maya and showcases some of their most remarkable achievements in mathematics. 45 minutes.
Tickets are $8 adults, $7 senior/child, with a $3 online order service fee. Films are free for members. There is an additional charge to tour the museum. To request accommodations for exhibits, call at least 72 hours in advance:651-221-9406. Open Monday-Wed. 9:30-5:00, Thurs.-Sat. 9:30 a.m. -9 p.m., and Sun. noon- p.m. For films, call 651-221-9444 or 651-221-9411, option 2 for film times, reservations or questions; TTY 651-221-4585. For films and general questions, email info@smm.org or check the website at www.smm.org/accessibility; www.smm.org/hours; or www.smm.org/tickets.
AMC Showplace Inver Grove 16, 5567 Bishop Avenue, Inver Grove Heights. The former Kerasotes theater generally offers open captioned films generally Wed.-Thurs. FFI: 651-453-1916; 888-AMC 4FUN. www.amctheatres.com/InverGrove/
AMC Eden Prairie Mall 18 Theatres, 8251 Flying Cloud Drive Suite 4000, Eden Prairie. The theater is in the Eden Prairie Shopping Center, Hwy 212 & I-494. Park in upper level lot between Sears and Kohl’s. Accessible films are shown in Auditorium 7; patrons may need to sit in certain area for description headsets to work. FFI: 952-656-0010; 888-AMC-4FUN, e-mail: 0650@amctheatres.com, www.amcentertainment.com
AMC Rosedale 14 Theatres, 850 Rosedale Center, Roseville. Accessible films in Auditorium 14. FFI: 651-604-9347, e-mail: 0651@amctheatres.com, www.amcentertainment.com
Oakdale Ultrascreen Cinemas (Marcus Theatres), 5677 Hadley Ave. N., I-694 & Hwy 36, Oakdale. FFI: 651-770-4992; 651-770-4994 recorded information. This theater uses Digital Theatre Systems, Inc. to superimpose open-captions over the bottom of select movies on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Subscribe to Open Caption weekly e-mail at Web: www.marcustheatres.com/opencaption.cfm or www.marcustheatres.com/theater.cfm?theater_id=2506.
Regal Brooklyn Center 20, 6420 Camden Ave N., Brooklyn Center. The theater can present films with open captioning or descriptive video. FFI: 763-560-6300, www.fandango.com/55122_movietheatershowtimes
Regal Eagan 16, 2055 Cliff Road, Eagan. Accessible films in Auditorium 15. FFI: 651-452-8329, www.fandango.com/55122_movietheatershowtimes
Marcus Lakes Cinema, 4351 Stebner Rd., Hermantown, and Marcus Duluth Theatre, 300 Harbor Drive, Canal Park, Duluth. Both theaters have Rear Window Captioning and DVS when available. FFI: 218-729-0335; www.marcustheatres.com
