‘We are breaking down barriers’: Calls for expanded use of subtitles in cinemas and on television | News about Ant-Man & Art
There have been calls to expand the use of captions in theaters and on television as deaf performers “cross the line” in the arts.
Millions of people follow to see the actress of EastEnder Rose Ayling-Ellis last Saturday, with her somewhat silent performance, hailed by some as the greatest artist in show history.
She is The first deaf contestant in the history of BBC programming.
Rose Ayling-Ellis was the first deaf contestant of the Serious Dancing Game. Photo: BBC / Ray Burmiston
Deaf actor William Grint of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who performed at the British Sign Language contract, said: “We’re definitely breaking down barriers.
“Follow Rose on Serious and see how she affects the lives of the deaf… oh wow!”
Grint is also a pioneer for the deaf community as a member of the prestigious RSC.
He said signing Bard was a challenge: “Particularly with the Shakespearean play and the translation process, trying to use old English to link back to British Sign language.
“It was an incredible experience and process and it certainly broke down barriers for so many deaf actors around the country.”
Speaking between performances of A Comedy of Errors at the Barbican, he said he hoped more showing would “raise awareness”.
“I’ve known Rose all my life,” he added.
“I just hope that awareness will be widespread.”
Along with his character active at the RSC, Grint was also a junior for one of the hearing team leaders.
Movies like Coda and Sound of Metal are introducing mainstream audiences to the realities of living with severe hearing loss.
William Grint says deaf performers are ‘crossing barriers’
There are almost 12 million deaf people in the UK who rely on captions or signatures in theatres, cinemas or on TV – but it’s not just the deaf who rely on subtitles.
New research by the deaf charity Stagetext shows that 24% of the public now have TV subtitles on at home.
Many channels, including Sky News, are subtitled but some are better than others. In October, broadcast watchdog Ofcom had to field complaints about Channel 4 because it took weeks to fix technical problems prevent viewers from watching big shows like Bake Off.
TV critic Scott Bryan said the delay was a shame.
“I think for a lot of viewers it was quite a surprise because Channel 4 is considered an incredibly comprehensive broadcaster,” he said.
“I’ve received feedback from a lot of people who depend on subtitles for their broadcasting experience, to watch TV, who say they just feel frustrated, excluded, or ignored.”
Melanie Sharpe and Oliver Webster, from StageText, say there’s a ‘long way to go’
Subtitles are considered by many to be an essential part of a broadcaster’s job, but in cinemas it is often not considered as such.
Melanie Sharpe, CEO of StageText, said: “There is a long way to go.
“[The charity] have been here for 21 years and there is still a lot of work to be done as only about 1% of theatrical performances are filmed across the UK. “
Oliver Webster, who is deaf and works as Program Systems Manager for StageText, added: “What does that really mean, in fact, I can only watch a show or two running alongside the sub? subject.
“If I’m busy, that’s all, I don’t have a choice.”
