Miss-Delectable
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http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060727/NEWS01/607270367/1001/news
Some local residents sat in the cinema Wednesday to experience more than a good movie.
Finally, Lynn Duckwall can go to the theater without missing a word.
"I never dreamed this would ever happen in my lifetime," the 53-year-old said in sign language, emerging from the new Pirates of the Caribbean flick. Duckwall is deaf.
While Capt. Jack Sparrow's quips appeared on her personal cup holder-held screen, blind audience members nearby pictured every sword swipe through their headsets.
Celebration Cinema now has MoPix, launching the area's first theater with capacity to serve the blind and deaf.
The southside Lansing movieplex joins four others across Michigan, including another owned by Loeks Theatres in Grand Rapids.
"The response has been overwhelming," said Roger Lubs, a vice president with the company. He said the technology is spreading fast across the United States and Canada.
Closed captioning for the deaf and even films with descriptions of action between dialogue for the visually impaired have been around for years. The ability to catch a new release from any seat in the theater, however, is rare in most places.
Patrons without disabilities can enjoy the show as usual.
"It means I'm not disturbing a friend," said J.J. Jackson, a blind movie fan who often relied on others for interpretation or didn't go at all.
He co-chaired the committee that helped bring MoPix to Lansing. Members raised more than half of the $12,500 cost; Celebration covered the rest.
The technology has been available in theater No. 7, in a testing phase, for the past three weeks.
Gary Wood, 64, saw three movies using MoPix' descriptive narration during that time frame.
The flying movements, even the look of the sky, in Superman Returns were explained in a way he never thought he would hear.
"It makes me feel like I'm a part of the movie," he said. "When I was younger, I couldn't fathom the idea that this could happen."
Some local residents sat in the cinema Wednesday to experience more than a good movie.
Finally, Lynn Duckwall can go to the theater without missing a word.
"I never dreamed this would ever happen in my lifetime," the 53-year-old said in sign language, emerging from the new Pirates of the Caribbean flick. Duckwall is deaf.
While Capt. Jack Sparrow's quips appeared on her personal cup holder-held screen, blind audience members nearby pictured every sword swipe through their headsets.
Celebration Cinema now has MoPix, launching the area's first theater with capacity to serve the blind and deaf.
The southside Lansing movieplex joins four others across Michigan, including another owned by Loeks Theatres in Grand Rapids.
"The response has been overwhelming," said Roger Lubs, a vice president with the company. He said the technology is spreading fast across the United States and Canada.
Closed captioning for the deaf and even films with descriptions of action between dialogue for the visually impaired have been around for years. The ability to catch a new release from any seat in the theater, however, is rare in most places.
Patrons without disabilities can enjoy the show as usual.
"It means I'm not disturbing a friend," said J.J. Jackson, a blind movie fan who often relied on others for interpretation or didn't go at all.
He co-chaired the committee that helped bring MoPix to Lansing. Members raised more than half of the $12,500 cost; Celebration covered the rest.
The technology has been available in theater No. 7, in a testing phase, for the past three weeks.
Gary Wood, 64, saw three movies using MoPix' descriptive narration during that time frame.
The flying movements, even the look of the sky, in Superman Returns were explained in a way he never thought he would hear.
"It makes me feel like I'm a part of the movie," he said. "When I was younger, I couldn't fathom the idea that this could happen."