US CC: MoPix Update from WGBH- Feb 10

From: WGBH - Feb 10, 2006

If you received this message via a friend or a listserv and would like to learn about closed captioned and described films directly from the Media Access Group at WGBH, please subscribe at http://ncam.wgbh.org/mailinglist.html To make sure you continue to receive MoPix News e-mails optimally and in your inbox (not sent to bulk or junkmail folders), please add mary_watkins@wgbh.org to your address book or safe sender list.

MoPix Update from WGBH- Feb 10

A CURIOUS MONKEY, A PINK PANTHER AND HARRISON FORD - ACCESSIBLE FILMS OUT THIS WEEK
(brief movie plots provided by movies.com)

Curious George, cc dvs, Universal Pictures, rated G
The Man in the Yellow Hat accidentally transplants a curious young monkey, George (Will Ferrell), from the jungle to the big city. Once there, George sets off on all sorts of misadventures. An animated film based on the classic books by H.A. and Margret Rey.

(Special "Excited Kids and Parents" Alert: Universal Home Entertainment, Imagine Entertainment and WGBH have announced that 30 episodes of a new animated preschoool TV series based on the classic Curious George books are being produced now for air on PBS this Fall. The series will be narrated by William H. Macy and will air with both closed captions and descriptive narration provided by The Media Access Group at WGBH.)

The Pink Panther, cc dvs, MGM/Columbia Pictures, rated PG
A famous soccer celeb is murdered and his ring is stolen, a ring set with the Pink Panther diamond. Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline) assigns the case to Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Steve Martin), a man with a penchant for bumbling his way to success, and Gendarme Gilbert Ponton (Jean Reno), a stuffy Frenchman. Along for the ride: international pop superstar Xania (Beyoncé Knowles).

Firewall, cc only, Warner Bros. Pictures, rated PG-13
The wife (Virginia Madsen) and family of a man (Harrison Ford) working as the head of security for a multinational bank are kidnapped. To get them back, he has to circumvent his own security system to steal $37 million from the bank as ransom, after which he has to catch the kidnapper (Paul Bettany) to clear his name from embezzlement accusations.

GREAT NEWS ON TWO UPCOMING FILMS

Warner Bros. Pictures has just confirmed that two highly anticipated upcoming film releases will have descriptive narration as well as closed captioning: V for Vendetta (debuts 3/17), starring Natalie Portman, and Poseidon (debuts 5/12) starring Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss and Emmy Rossum. Thanks Warner Bros!

FROM THE MOPIX "IN" MAILBOX

Here in Texas, we always seem to be behind on technology for the visually impaired. But not when it comes to Mopix locations! We are so excited by AMC's decision to retrofit so many of their Texas, especially the Dallas area, locations.  Our 10 year old son is blind, and descriptive T.V. shows have been a wonderful thing for him. Descriptive movies were a little harder to come by, but now we have a theatre just 35 miles from us. He can go to the movies with his friends and not feel left out. 
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
 
M.A., Valley View, Texas

Thanks for writing, as you know we love hearing from MoPix fans.

MOPIX SYSTEM DEBUTS THIS WEEK

AMC First Colony 24 (Houston area)
Auditorium 20
3301 Town Center Blvd. South
Sugar Land, TX
281 277-5858 (voice)
System debuts this week with Firewall (cc only)

UPDATE ON COMING SOON MOPIX-EQUIPPED LOCATIONS

AMC Randhurst 16, Mount Prospect, IL (system to debut this month)
AMC South Barrington 30, S. Barrington, IL (system to debut this month)
AMC Northbrook 14, Northbrook, IL (system to debut this month)
AMC Chesterfield 14, Chesterfield, MO (two MoPix-equipped auditoriums to debut in March)
AMC North Park 15, Dallas, TX (two MoPix-equipped auditoriums to debut in April)
AMC Grapevine Mills 30, Grapevine, TX
AMC Irving Mall 14, Irving, TX
AMC The Grand, Dallas, TX
AMC Stonebriar, Frisco, TX
AMC Deerbrook 24, Humble, TX
AMC Huebner Oaks 24, San Antonio, TX
AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston, TX
AMC Katy Mills 20, Katy, TX
New! The Capitol Theater, Montpelier, VT (DVS Theatrical system only, the first in the state!)
Loews Kips Bay Theaters, New York City (MoPix to debut soon)
Loews Lincoln Square 12, New York City (MoPix to debut soon)
Loews Magic Johnson Theatre-Harlem, New York City (MoPix to debut soon)
Loews Rotterdam Square Mall 6, Schenectady, NY (MoPix to debut soon)
Loews Stoney Brook 15, Stoney Brook, NY (MoPix to debut soon)
Loews Town Square 9, Vestal, NY (MoPix to debut soon)
Loews Webster Twelve 12, Webster, NY (MoPix to debut soon)
Loews Palisades Center, West Nyack, NY (MoPix to debut soon)
Muvico Baywalk 20, St. Petersburg, FL (two auditoriums will be equipped at this location)
New! National Amusements Connecticut Post 14 Cinema de Lux, Milford, CT (MoPix to debut in March)

Link to the full list of MoPix-equipped theater locations at www.mopix.org.

THEATER CHAIN WEB SITE ADDRESSES

As several theater chains are now listing accessible films and showtimes on their Web sites, we want to take this opportunity to provide you with those site addresses. Helpful hint, some chains require you to know which theater in your area is equipped prior to finding the info on their sites. For a full list of MoPix locations, searchable by state, first go to www.mopix.org and link to "View Theaters".

Note: AMC Theatres and Loews Theatres (in the US) have merged. You can now find information for movies, access features and showtimes for all AMC and formerly Loews Theatres at this site...

AMC Theatres: http://www.moviewatcher.com/jsp/amg.jsp

Other theater chains with MoPix equipment list accessible information on these sites:

CEC Theatres: http://www.cectheatres.com (link to state, and then theater)

Clearview Cinemas: http://clearviewcinemas.com/tripod.shtml

Consolidated Theatres: http://www.consolidatedmovies.com, link to RWC/DVS on left side of home page

Crown Theatres: http://www.crowntheatres.com

Empire Theatres (Canada): http://www.empiretheatres.com (link to province, then to theater)

Loews Cineplex/Famous Players theatres (Canada):
http://www.famousplayers.com/theatres/rwc_dvs.asp

National Amusements Showcase Cinemas and Cinema de Lux locations: http://www.nationalamusements.com
(link to state, and then theater)

Additional chains with MoPix systems are not yet listing MoPix-accessible film information on their sites at this time: Carmike Theatres, Celebration Cinemas (A Jack Loeks Company), Douglas Theaters, Malco Theatres, Mann Theatres and Megaplex Theaters

NOW PLAYING
(list of currently available films now sorted alphabetically)

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

Big Mamma's House 2 from Twentieth Century Fox Films
(comedy - rated PG-13)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe from Buena Vista Pictures
(fantasy, adventure, family - rated PG)

Curious George from Universal Pictures
(children's, animated - rated G)

King Kong from Universal Pictures
(fantasy, drama - rated PG-13)

Munich from Universal Pictures
(drama, historical - rated R)

Nanny McPhee from Universal Pictures
(comedy, family - rated PG)

The Pink Panther from MGM/Columbia
(comedy, crime - rated PG)

The Producers from Universal Pictures
(musical, comedy, remake - rated PG-13)

Roving Mars, a large format film from Buena Vista Pictures
(space, documentary - unrated)

Underworld: Evolution from Sony Pictures
(horror, action, sequel - rated R)

Walk the Line from Twentieth Century Fox Films
(biography, musical, drama - rated PG-13)

Now playing with captions only (DVS is not available for these films):

Firewall from Warner Bros. Pictures
(action, thriller, drama - rated PG-13)

Good Night, and Good Luck from Warner Bros Pictures
(drama - rated PG-13)

Hoodwinked from The Weinstein Company
(animated - rated )

Syriana from Warner Bros. Pictures
(spy, drama - rated R)

When a Stranger Calls from Sony Pictures
(thriller, horror - rated PG-13))

MOPIX COMING SOON

* The Date Movie from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Feb 17) (cc dvs)
* Eight Below starring Bruce Greenwood and Jason Biggs from Buena Vista Pictures (Feb 17) (cc only)
* Freedomland starring Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore and Edie Falco (The Soprannos) from Sony Pictures (Feb 17) (cc only)
* Ultraviolet starring Milla Jovovich from Sony Pictures (Feb 24) (cc only)
* Aquamarine from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Mar 3) (cc dvs)
* 16 Blocks from Warner Bros. Pictures (Mar 3) (cc only)
* The Hills Have Eyes from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Mar 10 ) (cc dvs)
* The Shaggy Dog from Buena Vista Pictures (Mar 10) (cc only)
* V for Vendetta starring Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving from Warner Bros. Pictures (Mar 17) (cc with DVS just confirmed!)
* New title! The Sentinel from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Mar 21) (cc dvs)
* The Inside Man starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster and directed by Spike Lee from Universal Pictures (Mar 24) (cc dvs)
* Ice Age 2: The Meltdown from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Mar 31) (cc dvs)
* Slither from Universal Pictures (Mar 31) (cc dvs)
* Benchwarmers starring Rob Schneider, David Spade and Jon Lovitz from Sony Pictures (Apr 7) (cc only)
* Lucky You starring Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Debra Messing and Robert Duvall from Warner Bros. Pictures (Apr 7) (cc only)
* American Dreamz starring Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid and Richard Dreyfuss from Universal Pictures (Apr 21) (cc dvs)
* RV starring Robin Williams from Sony Pictures (Apr 28) (cc only)
* New title! Just My Luck from Twentieth Century Fox Films (May 12) (cc dvs)
* Poseidon from Warner Bros. Pictures (May 12) (cc with dvs confirmed!)
* The Lake House from Warner Bros. Pictures (May 16) (cc only)
* The Da Vinci Code starring Tom Hanks from Columbia Pictures ((May 19) (cc with dvs confirmed)
* Over the Hedge from DreamWorks Pictures (May 19) (cc with dvs tba)
* Little Man starring Shawn Wayans from Sony Pictures (May 26) (cc only)
* New title! X3 from Twentieth Century Fox Films (May 26) (cc dvs)
* The Break-Up starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston from Universal Pictures (Jun 2) (cc dvs)
* New title! Omen666 from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Jun 6) (cc dvs)
* Cars, an animated film from Buena Vista Pictures and Pixar Entertainment (Finding Nemo, The Incredibles) with the voices of Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt and Richard Petty (Jun 9) (cc dvs)
* The Fast and the Furious 3 from Universal Pictures (Jun 16) (cc dvs)
* Click starring Adam Sandler and Christopher Walken from Sony Pictures (Jun 23) (cc only)
* Garfield 2: A Tale of Two Kitties from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Jun 23) (cc dvs)
* New title! Devil Wears Prada from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Jun 30) (cc dvs)
* Superman Returns from Warner Bros. Pictures (Jun 30) (cc with dvs tba)
* Miami Vice starring Jamie Foxx (Ray) and Colin Farrell from Universal Pictures (Jul'06) (cc dvs)
* You, Me and Dupree starring Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson and Michael Douglas from Universal Pictures (Jul '06) (cc dvs)
* Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest starring Johnny Depp from Buena Vista Pictures (Jul 7) (cc dvs)
* New title! SuperX Girlfriend from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Jul 14) (cc dvs)
* Lady in the Water from Warner Bros. Pictures (Jul 21) (cc with dvs tba)
* Monster House from Sony Pictures (Jul 21) (cc only)
* New title! Flicka from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Jul 28) (cc dvs)
* Accepted starring Justin Long (Dodgeball) from Universal Pictures (Aug 11) (cc dvs)
* Zoom starring Tim Allen, Courtney Cox Arquette and Chevy Chase from Sony Pictures (Aug 11) (cc only)
* The Messengers from Sony Pictures (Aug 18) (cc with dvs tba)
* New title! Yankee Irving from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Aug 25) (cc dvs)
* Children of Men starring Clive Owen from Universal Pictures (Sept 29) (cc dvs)
* Open Season an animated film with the voices of Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher and Debra Messing from Sony Pictures (Sept 29) (cc only)
* Invincible starring Mark Wahlberg and Elizabeth Banks from Buena Vista Pictures (Oct 6) (cc with dvs tba)
* Marie Antoinette starring Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman, written and directed by Sofia Coppola from Sony Pictures (Oct 13) (cc with dvs tba)
* Grudge 2 from Sony Pictures (Oct 20) (cc with dvs tba)
* The Santa Clause 3 from Buena Vista Pictures (Nov 3) (cc with dvs tba)
* New title! Dallas from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Nov 10) (cc dvs)
* Casino Royale, the latest James Bond film, from Sony Pictures (Nov 17) (cc with dvs tba)
* Happy Feet from Warner Bros. Pictures (Nov 17) (cc with dvs tba)
* Deja Vu starring Denzel Washington from Buena Vista Pictures (Nov 22) (cc with dvs tba)
* Eragon from Twentieth Century Fox Films (Dec 15) (cc dvs)
* Meet the Robinsons from Buena Vista Pictures (Dec 20) (cc with dvs tba)
* The Good Shepherd starring Matt Damon, Robert DeNiro and Angelina Jolie from Universal Pictures (Dec 22) (cc dvs)
* All the Kings Men starring Sean Penn, Jude Law and Kate Winslet from Columbia Pictures (tba 2006 debut) (cc with dvs tba)
* Bandidas starring Selma Hayek and Penelope Cruz from Twentieth Century Fox Films (tba 2006 debut) (cc dvs)
* New title! Hellion from Universal Pictures (tba 2006 debut) (cc dvs)
* Idlewild starring Andre 3000 from Universal Pictures (tba 2006 debut) (cc dvs)
* New title! Silence from Universal Pictures (tba 2006 debut) (cc dvs)
* Ghost Rider from Sony Pictures (Feb 16 '07) (cc with dvs tba)
* Shrek 3 from DreamWorks Pictures (May 18 '07) (cc with dvs tba)
* Transformers from DreamWorks Pictures (Jul 4 '07) (cc with dvs tba)

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CREDITS

Closed captioning and description of films provided by the Media Access Group at WGBH, a nonprofit division of Boston public broadcaster WGBH. The Rear Window Captioning and DVS Theatrical systems were developed by WGBH to make feature films accessible the date films open in theaters nationwide— and during regular showtimes— to movie fans who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind or visually impaired.

For more information on the WGBH's Motion Picture Access (MoPix) efforts, including how to encourage a theater in your area to install the access systems, please visit www.mopix.org, e-mail access@wgbh.org or call 617 300-3700 v, 617 300-2489 TTY.

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Media Access Group at WGBH
mary_watkins@wgbh.org
http://access.wgbh.org
125 Western Avenue
Boston, MA  02134
617 300-3700 v/fax, 617 300-2489 TTY

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