Hi, my name is o0_MoonCat_0o!

o0_MoonCat_0o

Hello folks :)

OK so I'm not blind. But I have a good friend who I talk to all the time in Australia who is, we try to play text games online together and well yeah. Anyway I really wanted to watch films with him at the same time so Audio described. I'm astonished at how little this is supported.

In particular, I really, really, really want to watch Lord of the Rings with him, audio described. It's my favourite and I've gone on so many times to him about it. Yes I can find a full audio reading of the book, but I wanted the film as the book is a bit more than just us having a fun evening together.

Can't find it anywhere. If anyone has any ideas about where this kind of thing could be found, I'd be so happy. Honestly I can't believe how under supported this is. I mean Lord of the Rings is like the biggest film ever! they haven't even just had someone do the audio description and stick on the dvd? seriously.

Anyway. If anyone can help then yeah. Perhaps I should say but look I don't care how strictly legal the source is, I just don't care. As far as I can see they simply haven't bothered to produce an audio described version, which is utterly insane in my mind. I mean I could just watch it with him and do like a live audio description myself but I dunno it might be a bit weird.

Anyway hello everyone! please excuse my massive long hello post! if you could help at all then please do. And once more, just because it's necessary, it's absolutely shocking to me how little audio described films are supported. It should be hands down simply expected in every film, let alone massive multi billion pound blockbusters.

ok, I shush now :)

Rachel_Scope

Hi @o0_MoonCat_0o. I had a quick look and was shocked to find only this website mentioned an AD version from 2002 and only one cinema was able to show it! https://www.cinema.com/news/item/5819/lord-of-the-rings-released-for-sensory-impaired.phtml

I'm very surprised they haven't done a wide release as they're such popular films. Hopefully someone else might have some ideas 😊

o0_MoonCat_0o

so

Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001), has just been released with digital subtitles and audio description, but only ONE London cinema has the facilities to screen it.

The lottery funded Film Council board will be making a decision soon on whether or not to equip many London cinemas with these facilities.

erm equip a cinema? you mean like have an audio file? fairly sure a cinema has the capabilities of playing an audio file already. Honestly this whole thing really has me shaking my head sadly.

o0_MoonCat_0o

erm ok fine yeah, they're talking about the cinema providing headsets and things. Fine. Just the whole thing makes me a bit salty. I mean you could just make an app that plays the audio file and then it's the client's responsibility to sort out the headphone and synchronisation situation.

o0_MoonCat_0o

Right sorry to go on, I really will shush after this, but just in case anyone has encountered a similar thing, there actually is an app out there that does just what I was saying. Unfortunately for me it doesn't have lor of the Rings, but there's a bunch of films it supports:

Spectrum Access Audio Described Titles (acb.org)

Jimm_Scope

There's no need to shush @o0_MoonCat_0o, thank you for sharing that source!

I am more into video games than films, but there is a similar issue there with lack of support. It's something you only realise if you're either blind or trying to find content accessible to blind people. It just doesn't occur otherwise. There are some efforts to make the industry more accessible but it's a long, slow process because many studios don't want to pay the extra costs. Though, there was one interesting game I saw that is played entirely through sound, as you play a blind character. I'm still yet to play but I do need to get around to it.

o0_MoonCat_0o

I play text based games with my friend - they're called MUDS (Multi User Dungeon), don't know if you've heard of them. But basically is a multiplayer text based game with fantasy, sci fi settings, and things. It's perfect for him and we get to mess around a bit :)