Reflections Through a DeafLens

Greetings:

Over a period of time I've developed respect for Bill Creswell's effort toward captioning one video at a time on the Internet. Having worked for the National Captioning Institute I've watched the captioning process and have a healthy appreciation for the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. It's not an easy job. It's tedious and time consuming. I just had to find out a bit about Bill…

Jane: I think it would be interesting for people to read about you and understand the work you are doing…would you let me interview you?

Bill: If you would like to interview me that would be fine. I don't consider myself that interesting, but…

Jane: Well, we can take it one step at a time…How did you start captioning?

Bill: I worked for a theatre that installed MoPix in 2005, mostly on the initiative of Disability Advocates. We had open caption equipment, but the work wasn't well received, hearing people complained, and apparently nothing was heard from the deaf community in support. So I heard,  this happened before I started working there.

Anyway, I first started learning about the deaf in my recent history, because of a complaint by a deaf person on The Deaf Edge.

I started reading the blog and started thinking it was kind of crazy, that for all the MoPix movies, there were very few trailers (mostly by ITFC - I found them on a UK site and particularly not of the movies we were showing.

Other bloggers, like ProudGeek and Banjo talked about some captioning stuff on their blogs, so I tried it out.

Until this point, my blog was receiving 3 to 4 visits a week. I wasn't really doing much with it. After I published a few, Jared Evans of DeafRead offered to post my Caption stuff on DeafRead.

I got such a positive reaction, that I started to caption other movie trailers that we weren't playing, and then I started to try to caption the trailers for all subtitled movies.

I got the most visits, when I started captioning some of the stuff that Marlee Matlin did on Dancing with the Stars.

Anyway, now I have captioned about 250-300 videos, including captioning the 80th birthday of a woman's mother, that she had never understood what was said. (That took a very long time.)

Jane: Where are you located?

Bill: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Jane: Are you deaf? A signer?

Bill: Nope, I'm hearing. In fact. I wasn't aware that I knew of any deaf people before 2007. Grand Rapids used to be pretty well known for its oral deaf education, so I may have. I never realized this friendly guy at the gym was deaf, because his lip-reading of me seemed to work better than most people who hear me. I just assumed some hearing loss.

Jane: A signer?

Bill: I wish I had taken three sign classes at Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and one at the Y. I'm really only proficient at saying "stupid" or "my sign is horrible." I try to sign the words I know when I sing in the choir; because it seems to enhance my experience-some people raise their hands- seem more logical to express language with my hands to extend my praise.

I'd like to be conversant in sign, but I think I need a different way to learn, definitely some videos to replay. I am also a little "conversationally challenged," in that with deaf or hearing, conversation does not flow easily for me.

Jane: How long does it normally take you to caption a teaser or clip?

Bill: A three minute trailer takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on word density. The Marlee Matlin clip took two hours.

Jane: Do you also caption full length videos from the Internet?

Bill: I haven't.

Jane: What's the longest length of video you've captioned?

Bill: The longest so far was the private birthday party. The party itself was over an hour, but most of it was unintelligible conversation. The main interview to be captioned was about 20 minutes.

Jane: Do you add sound effects, e.g., dog barking, clicking of key unlocking a door, car honking?

Bill: Yes, that's the difference between "Captioning" and "subtitling," according to the sites that I had researched (openandclosed.org.wgbh.) Captions are also sometimes called subtitling for the deaf and hard of hearing usually in DVD production.

If there are a lot of captions in the surrounding, or they are too distracting and abundantly evident, sometimes I will leave them off.

Jane: Do you contact companies to ask for permission to caption their clips?

Bill: So far the only time I have done that is in the case of Sweet Nothing in My Ear. When the film was announced, there was no trailer, so I requested a "Screener" and made a fan made trailer, and when the official clip came out. I needed to download it and publish the trailer myself, so I contacted them, since I had the information already, they seemed grateful.

So far, I believe because I normally don't host the videos, it's not a legal thing. I have to avoid using YouTube for movie trailers, because they are a little too aggressive at pulling down possible copyright violations on movie trailers and other videos.

I've also seen other YouTube videos that have been up for years, pulled down after I put the captions on over stream, probably due to the really good search engine placement. (Search "Captioned Trailer" with any movie, and my stuff comes up.)

Jane: Are you a good speller? Is it easy for you to caption?

Yeah, spelling is good, although my typing isn't as fast as I'd like. Sometimes I have to listen to sections of audio over and over to hear them, because I don't have a transcript. I don't think hearing people even realize how many words they miss out on when there are no subtitles. (I watch TV with CC on when I can.)

My church is going to get captioning soon too. I'm happy about that.

Jane: Thanks Bill, for all that you do. I'm so glad to meet you and to know a bit about you and your work. Many people have thanked you and I'm delighted to add to the chorus.

Take care and thanks again,

Jane

Greetings,

Marlee Matlin receives her Walk of Fame Hollywood star. Marathon Pundit Blog captures the moment with a video shot by none other than our Deaf Read's Tayler Mayer. Great job Tayler. Many thanks for taking time to shoot and post the clip.

Does anyone else have a video of Marlee with the Star? Did she leave her hand and footprints? I'm sure many of us would like to see that also.

Stay tuned,

Jane

Greetings,

As many of us know, Marlee Matlin is currently on a book tour with I'll Scream Later and hitting major cities throughout the country. The book is published by Simon & Schuster.  Bill Creswell provided captions for Robin Robert's interview with Marlee on  ABC's Good Morning America.

Zimbio carries a series of articles on Marlee's discussion of abuse in her life.  In sharing, Marlee is inspiring many people to talk openly and seek help with abusive relationships and drug addiction.

Deaf Abused Women Network (DAWN) and Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services (ADWAS) are two of several organizations that provide services to abused deaf people and children. If you or someone you know are experiencing abuse, contact the above mentioned agencies for help in locating services in your area.

On May 6th, Marlee will be honored with her own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We're proud of you Marlee.

Sincere appreciation to Bill Creswell for his continuing efforts toward "captioning the internet one video at a time." 

Stay tuned,

Jane

Greetings,

Every year Gallaudet Alumni Office hosts a Charter Day program to celebrate the signing of the University's charter by Abraham Lincoln. For this year, the 145th year celebration of the charter was especially significant as it marked the Bicentennial Celebration (1809-2009) of Lincoln's signature. Even U.S. Congress took note of this special celebration.

As part of the day's event, the 40th year of the Gallaudet University Charter Day's luncheon was held to honor individuals for their dedication and commitment toward advocacy and service. Dr. Betty G. Miller, a prominent artist and a mover and shaker in the original De'VIA arts movement was one of the very few people chosen internationally to be recognized at the luncheon. Dr. Miller was awarded the LCCF Alice Cogswell Award for her valuable service on behalf of deaf people. Bettigee, as she calls herself is a warm and generous soul, a renaissance woman, a true visionary and artist. A woman of courage and conviction.

In the 70's Betty was a professor at the art department at Gallaudet. She left her secure position to join colleagues in pioneering a new venture, the forming of the legendary Spectrum: Focus on Deaf Artists arts group based in Austin, Texas. Clarence Russell, Dorothy Miles, Charlie McKinney, Chuck Baird, Sandi Inches, Sarah E. Val, Liz Baird and many other artists formed a group to support fellow deaf artists in all forms of art which included painting, theatre, dance, music and poetry. I spent a week one summer with the group and they confirmed my deepest conviction that while deaf identity, ASL and arts was being suppressed in the education system for deaf and hard of hearing people, it would not be possible to silence deaf artists.

I see her now in my mind, during the late 60's standing, laughing and signing in a theatre with fellow production actors and crew members, directing a production of the Hughes Memorial Theatre, a Washington, D.C. local deaf theatre group. Patrick Graybill, Freda Norman (my sister), Barbara Kannapell, Frank DelRosso, Jan DeLap and many others were involved among them was Gil Eastman, former chair of the Gallaudet University Theatre Arts department and co-host of Deaf Mosaic. This was a special time that lies buried and forgotten in the Gallaudet University Archives.

Betty has throughout her life expressed her thoughts and views "ahead of time." With her early art exhibitions, some of her work depicted deaf people as puppets with strings manipulated by the education system of the deaf.  The general reaction to her work then was shock and in some cases, shame. Some deaf people agreed that these things should be kept quiet and not aired as dirty laundry for the world to see. She dared to paint her vision of oppression of deaf people, and in doing so, she named the illness and tore off the mask of complacency and acceptance.

Betty and her partner Nancy Creighton can be viewed at Facebook and on their website. Every year Betty and Nancy put out a calendar featuring Betty's work. For the coming year, Nancy tells me, it's going to be a new edition.  Make sure you reserve your 2010 copy. They also make great gifts.

If you have a quiet and reflective moment on some rainy afternoon, do a search on her father, Ralph Miller. He was an also an artist. This is a case of how both artists influenced each other.

All these people are connected through generations and it is deeply moving to see Betty honored among the greats. In 2007 she received an honorary degree from Gallaudet. She is, without, question, a living legend.

Take care and stay tuned,

Jane

To cite: Norman, Jane. (2009, April 13). Betty G. Miller, A Living Legend, Reflections from a Deaf Lens. Retrieved (date retrieved), from http://www.deaflens.com/blog/?p=88

Greetings,

Howie Seago is a powerful actor and those of you who live on the west coast are in for a treat. He's currently with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and will be performing with the company until November 2009.  Read this LINK  and this one, to learn more about Howie. Many of us are familiar with his work with Mosdeux in "The Deaf Man" and A Permanent Grave. Howie is a former actor with the National Theatre of the Deaf. You can catch him in Mark Wood's latest release, Legend of a Mountain Man. Enjoy.

Stay tuned,

Jane

Greetings,

Marlee Matlin will be featured in the upcoming April 1st issue of People magazine. In addition to an interview, the magazine will carry the first installation of the serialization of her new book, "I'll Scream Later."

The book is scheduled for release on April 14th, Simon and Schuster are publishing it. In the book, never before revealed facts about Marlee's life are disclosed.

Marlee and her interpreter, Jack Jason will be hitting the road for a book tour. For further information, check Marlee's website.

Marlee is the Honorary Chair of Gallaudet University's WORLDEAF Cinema Festival.

Congratulations Marlee and wishing you all the best for a successful book tour.

Stay tuned,

Jane

Dear Friends,

A quick note: if you love libraries and history, you'll enjoy this BLOG especially now since it's Deaf History month.

There is much to share and many of us love libraries even if its just to sit and people watch. I've fond memories of browsing in libraries and bookstores. It's difficult not to walk out without a book or two.  Have you read EDGAR SAWTELLE? It's a moving story of a boy who communicates through sign language. When you have the chance, check it out.

Stay tuned,

Jane

Greetings colleagues,

It's been a while since I've posted. It's not that I've forgotten or lost interest. I've been caught up in an exciting project and have been working non-stop with a great team in  coordinating the WORLDEAF Cinema Festival.  Meanwhile I thought you'd enjoy this wonderful jewel of a website: The Bioscope. The site is devoted to early and silent cinema and is just chock full of fascinating information. Check it out and enjoy!

Stay tuned,

Jane

Greetings,

Hideto Noritomi, a deaf painter from Japan is a professional artist. He is also the father of a deaf son and in his interview with a prominent Japan newspaper, he talks about how he incorporates the concept of sign language into his art. Some years ago, when I was invited to the Japan Deaf Arts and Film Festival, I had the pleasure of meeting him, he is just as he appears. When I saw this article, I knew I had to share it with you. To me, he symbolizes courage and vision.

Jane

Washington, DC. (November 24, 2008) Move over, Oscars, the WORLDEAF Cinema Awards are here.

Deaf cinema has made a profound impact on the lives of people around the world.  In recognition of excellence in deaf filmmaking, Gallaudet University will hold its first WORLDEAF Cinema Festival, November 4-7, 2009, in Washington, DC.  The four-day festival includes professional and student film competitions, with cash awards and a Hollywood-style awards show.  Other events will celebrate past and present accomplishments as well as promote interaction among industry representatives, filmmakers, and audience participants.

"The WORLDEAF Cinema Festival provides a way to celebrate the men and women, both deaf and hearing, who have captured in film the essence of the deaf experience, and I am thrilled to be a part of it," states Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin, the festival's honorary chair. Ms. Matlin will also receive the first WORLDEAF Cinema Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award.

The festival will spotlight the international dimension of deaf cinema and the diversity of the world's deaf and hard of hearing communities.  The festival will also promote interaction between industry representatives and the festival registrants through keynote speakers, panel discussions, film screenings and community forums.  Dr. Robert Davila, President of Gallaudet University, states, "Gallaudet University is honored to serve as host to the WORLDEAF Cinema Festival and to share in the excitement and acclaim it will bring to this medium.  This festival will highlight the depth and breadth of the achievements that have been made in the industry, and the profound impact they have made on the lives of deaf and hard of hearing people throughout the world."

The four-day event will kick off on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, with a keynote speech by internationally renowned scholar Dr. Carol Padden, associate dean, University of California, San Diego.  During the following days, Thursday through Saturday, festival attendees can view classic and new productions in deaf cinema, browse industry-related exhibits, and learn about vlogging.  On Saturday, November 7, the festival will close with a red carpet, star-studded WORLDEAF Cinema Awards ceremony.  This glittering event will pay homage to cinematic innovators, past and present, with WORLDEAF Awards for Excellence, as well as outstanding achievement.

Conference organizers are soliciting new work from both professional and student filmmakers (entries must have been created after 2005).  Juried cash awards will be presented for outstanding feature, documentary, and short films. In keeping with the ground-breaking nature of the WORLDEAF Cinema Festival, submissions are also invited from creators of vlogs.

"We are excited to be able to stimulate new work by offering substantial cash awards," says Dr. Jane Norman, festival producer and director, and professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Gallaudet University. "The festival will also promote opportunities in deaf cinema because registrants will be able to network and pursue distribution opportunities in the mainstream film industry."

Projection launch date of the WORLDEAF Cinema Festival website: December 20, 2008

10/24/08