Submitted by: Pickford Film Center

Pickford Film Center is a mission-driven, community based artistic nonprofit working to make film and art more accessible for everyone in Whatcom County. Every Wednesday at least one screening of each film currently playing will be featured with open-cations (OCAP) at both PFC and the Limelight when provided by the film’s distributors.

In May 2015, both PFC and Limelight Cinema began providing different assistance devices for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices include Closed Captioned Receivers (CCR), Closed Caption Headset Receivers (CCHR), and Audio Descriptive Services. CCRs are gooseneck boxes that sit in the seats’ cupholder and are adjustable for the user, allowing them to see the film and a personal view of captions on screen. CCHRs are glasses that project a caption box into the view of the wearer. Audio Descriptive Services are headsets the patron can wear that allows them to listen to the scene of the film being described, assisting folks who are blind or with poor vision. In addition to these services, PFC will now offer Open Captioned Screenings every Wednesday, meaning captions of the film’s dialogue, lyrics and auditory descriptions will be projected in English, visible to everyone in the theater. The Pickford also provides ASL interpreters for special events, upon request. Please leave a message with the PFC office at least three days in advance of the event to request interpretation.

Not all films at Pickford Film Center or Limelight Cinema have open-captioning available, due to the studio distributors in which discrimination against the deaf and hard of hearing communities is still a pervasive reality. Of the 47 films we’ve shown in 2018, only 25 included CCAP, 21 included an Audio Description track, and a mere 11 films offered an OCAP version. The Pickford’s Assistant Operations Manager Ariana Dorshkind says “We are very unhappy with the proportion of accessibility options provided to us, and have voiced our displeasure to our distributor representatives in an effort to change the current climate.” While the Pickford is taking steps towards diverse inclusivity, we and the rest of the industry have a long way to go.

Rethinking the normative screening experience into one that allows all members of our community to enjoy a night out at the movies is one of the main goals of the Pickford. OCAP screenings are beneficial for a variety of communities, and more inclusive than other devices to assist deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Creating a screening where everyone is experiencing the movie together, and using the same resources prevents the further otherization of people. Deaf actor and activist Nyle DiMarco explains the importance of OCAP screenings for “people who have ADHD, people who are autistic, people who have learning disabilities and even people who want to learn a new language.”

PFC is dedicated to ensuring a more accessible and enjoyable experience. Ariel Brownstein, PFC’s Development and Membership Manager, notes “The Pickford has always held diversity and inclusivity in high regard when it comes both to programming and audience experience. But maybe the most important part of this dedication is the ability to notice what (and who) has fallen through the cracks and address those issues head on. We are working hard to determine how we can improve the film going experience for our current audience and how we can reach new audiences in marginalized communities to better understand how we can make the Pickford a home for all film lovers.” This is an exciting step forward, with many more to come.

For more information and resources for deaf and hard of hearing persons in and around Bellingham, please visit Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services or the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.