Audio described movie in Mudgee NSW

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Thursday, 29 August 2013 12:07pm

A community event is being held in Mudgee, NSW to raise awareness of audio description. A screening of the Baz Luhrmann film Australia will be screened at Mudgee Town Hall with open audio description – an additional audio track providing narration of visual elements for the benefit of viewers who are blind or vision impaired.

The event has been organised by local resident Mary Lovett, who in April received a Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to blind and vision impaired people. She is the founder and past president of Mudgee Vision Impaired Persons Friendship Group and the chairman of the Central West NSW branch of Blind Citizens Australia.

Although audio description is available in 115 cinemas nationally and on a large proportion of DVDs sold in Australia, many blind and vision impaired people are unaware of the service. Lovett hopes that this community screening, and others like it that will be held in the future, help to make blind and vision impaired people more aware of their right to accessible media.

The blind and vision impaired community is also anticipating audio description’s return to Australian television after it was trialled on ABC1 last year. A campaign is underway to encourage the ABC to implement a permanent audio description service, similar to those which are offered overseas in countries including the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand.

Unlike usual movie screenings, the screening of Australia in Mudgee will provide open audio description, meaning that everyone will be able to hear it and no headphones are required.

Event details

When: 1pm, Sunday 22 September
Where: Mudgee Town Hall Auditorium
Cost: free
Ticket reservation: call Eileen Csuba on 02 6372 1115
A hearing loop will also be available in the auditorium.


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