[nfbwatlk] Fw: DVS Home Video Sales Effort Ends

[Alco Canfield]

I have only seen two video-described movies.  The ist was Ghosts, and the second was Blindsight.  In both instances, the descriptions were very tastefully done, and most necessary in the latter film as it was full of Chineese and Tibetan.

I had really hoped to get a copy of the 3-part documentary about FDR.  I procrastinated, so that's what I get.  They had it a long time ago.

Alco

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com>
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 7:05 PM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Fw: DVS Home Video Sales Effort Ends

That's the problem with described video: where do you put the 
description without interfering with something?

And that's part of the First Amendment concern: I gather that NCAM 
advocated changes upon occasion in scripts to make description easier 
and those authoring the scripts considered it an infringement on their 
First Amendment rights. Don't know the details, though, so don't ask! 
(grin)

Mike Freeman
... "It is human nature to think wisely and act foolishly." -- Anatole 
France


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lauren Merryfield
  To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
  Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 1:32 AM
  Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Fw: DVS Home Video Sales Effort Ends


  Hi,
  The Lion King was already gone.  They talked during the song at the 
end,
  though, which I would have preferred them not to do.
  Thanks
  Lauren
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
  To: "NFB of Washington Talk" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
  Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 7:52 PM
  Subject: [nfbwatlk] Fw: DVS Home Video Sales Effort Ends


  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: Cindy Van Winkle
  > To: wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
  > Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 1:58 PM
  > Subject: [Wcb-l] DVS Home Video Sales Effort Ends
  >
  >
  > You'll want to act fast if you're interested. Once gone, they're 
gone. I
  > just placed my order and 2 movies which were there earlier today 
were no
  > longer available.
  >
  > Announcement
  >
  > DVS Home VideoR Sales Effort Comes to a Close
  >
  > Deep Discounts Offered for One Week on Remaining Inventory
  >
  > Boston, MA. May 6.  DVS Home Video, a project begun by Boston public
  > broadcaster WGBH in the early 90's to make movies on video 
accessible to
  > the
  > nation's blind and visually impaired viewers, will end as of May 12.
  > The
  > Hollywood studios have ceased manufacturing VHS or tape versions of
  > films
  > for sale and rental. WGBH's work to make media accessible via
  > description
  > goes on, with efforts focused on television, feature films in 
theaters,
  > DVDs
  > and online video.
  >
  > The DVS Home Video effort, started over a decade ago with funding 
from
  > the
  > U.S. Department of Education, resulted in more than 300 videos made
  > accessible through narration of key visual elements inserted into
  > natural
  > pauses in dialogue.  From the very first DVS Video's debut, the 
reaction
  > of
  > the community was immediate and actually profound.  Films came alive 
in
  > a
  > whole new way, and the eagerness for new titles only grew.  Many of 
the
  > videos sold over the years were purchased by libraries and schools,
  > which
  > multiplied the number of individuals and families who took such
  > enjoyment in
  > described movies.
  >
  > Films are now being distributed for sale and rental on DVD, BluRay 
DVD
  > and
  > through video on demand (either rental or download to own) services 
via
  > the
  > Internet.  WGBH's Media Access Group, home to the Descriptive Video
  > Service,
  > has been working to transition the home video efforts to DVD and to
  > these
  > online movie delivery outlets.  Lack of available memory space on 
DVDs
  > has
  > been stated as the reason why more description tracks, created for
  > theatrical release in the over 300 movie theaters with WGBH's Motion
  > Picture
  > AccessR (MoPixR) systems, are not making the migration onto DVDs. 
WGBH
  > maintains a list of DVDs that have description tracks on them at the 
Web
  > page listed with other description-related links at the bottom of 
this
  > post.
  >
  > Advocacy is needed from the community of description fans to make 
this
  > transition happen.  Please see the link below for a list of 
Hollywood
  > studios' home video/home entertainment divisions.  Help show the
  > providers
  > of video on these formats that there is a market and that you would 
be
  > willing to purchase movies with a description track included as an
  > optional
  > feature.
  >
  > For the next week (until May 12), DVS Home Video titles remaining in
  > stock
  > will be sold at a deep discount. Videos that previously were 
available
  > for
  > $15.01 and above will be sold for $10.  Videos retailing for $15 and
  > below
  > will be now be available for $5.
  >
  > To access a list of available titles, please visit the Web site
  >
  > 
http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/mag/resources/dvs-home-video-catalogue.html