Writer & Director
Dorothy Arzner
"My philosophy is that to be a director you cannot be subject to anyone, even the head of the studio. I threatened to quit each time I didn't get my way, but no one ever let me walk out."
DISABILITY
RESOURCES.
As someone in the film, I have been privileged to have diligently researched the best practices and applications of accessibility. It is entirely possible to provide accommodations without high costs. The industry has far to go with inclusion, and many resources and tools are available for businesses at little to no cost. Minority actors have long awaited the opportunity to entertain and reach audiences with profoundly emotional stories, and small efforts from allies make a huge impact.
Research shows that more inclusive companies are twice as likely to have higher total shareholder returns than their peers, on average. Additionally, companies that have become more inclusive over time are four times more likely to have total shareholder returns that outperform those of their peer group. When it comes to profitability and value creation, these companies achieved 28% higher revenue,
RESOURCES
TALENT
Hiring Performers with Disabilities
RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYERS
Respectability: respectability.org
A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, RespectAbility understands we are a stronger community when we live up to our values – when we are welcoming, diverse, moral, and respect one another. With a mission of fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for people with disabilities, RespectAbility is a resource for employers looking to hire and retain employees with disabilities. RespectAbility offers best practices, free webinars, and substantial resources so people with disabilities can achieve the education, training, jobs, security, and good health everyone needs and deserves.
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN): askjan.org
JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace. JAN is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues
Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability askearn.org
Inclusion: EARN is a free resource that helps employers tap the benefits of disability diversity. They educate public- and private-sector organizations on ways to build inclusive workplace cultures and empower them to become leaders in the employment and advancement of people with disabilities.
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) dol.gov/odep
is the only non-regulatory federal agency that promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success and promotes the adoption and implementation of policy strategies that will impact the employment of people with disabilities.
ADA National Network: adata.org
The network provides information, guidance, and training on how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to support the mission of the ADA to “assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.”
Disability Employment Tracker nod.org/services/tracker.html
The Disability Employment Tracker™ is a free, confidential company assessment that measures disability and employment policies and practices.ses an opportunity to receive an objective score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, on their disability inclusion policies and practices.
BUSINESS PERKS
Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (AskEARN.org) – EARN is a free resource that helps employers tap the benefits of disability diversity.
The Workplace Initiative – The Workplace Initiative helps companies recruit, hire and retain the largest untapped labor pool in the country – people with disabilities. This site showcases facts and case studies to show how disability inclusion drives business value. The Disability Employment and Inclusion Guide includes information needed to start or enhance your disability employment and inclusion program.
LEAD CENTER – The LEAD Center is a collaborative of disability workforce and economic empowerment organizations dedicated to improving employment and economic advancement outcomes for all people with disabilities.
Hire Disability Solutions – Hire Disability Solutions was founded in response to the increasing demand for services for individuals with disabilities.
Workforce Solutions – The Workforce Solutions toolkit is developed using the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy as a source. This toolkit highlights additional employer benefits associated with hiring persons with disabilities.
HOW TO: ACCOMMODATIONS
CLOSED CAPTIONING
Closed captioning and subtitling are both processes of displaying the audio portion of a television program or video as text on the screen or other visual display, providing a critical link to news, entertainment and information for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
3Play Media provides closed captioning, transcription and audio description services to make video accessibility easy. They are based in Boston, MA and have been operating since 2007.
617-764-5189
The National Captioning Institute is a nonprofit corporation created in 1979 whose primary purposes are to deliver effective captioning services and encourage, develop and fund the continuing development of captioning, subtitling and other media access services for the benefit of people who require additional access to auditory and visual information.In 1979, NCI developed the decoder box, and a decade later, NCI partnered with ITT Corporation to invent the first caption-decoding microchip for television sets.
818-238-0068
WGBH’s Media Access Group provides captioning for television shows, feature films and online videos. Its MoPix® service is a patented Rear Window® Captioning System that enables theater patrons who are deaf and hard of hearing to watch closed-captioned movies along with the general audience during any regular showing of a captioned film.
617-300-3600
ASL / SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
The world of entertainment is a small one. Projects are produced for audiences worldwide, and communication is essential for success. Interpreting in the theatre, television or film industry requires knowledge of Sign Language and the industry. When hiring an interpreter through service, let them know it is for an entertainment industry event.
National
The Sign Language Company provides behind-the-camera interpreters to facilitate communication among the actor, director, and other cast members on the set, in pre-and post-production meetings, cast reads, and rehearsals, both in the studio and on location.
(888) 684-8884/(818) 728-4241
LIFESIGNS, Inc. was established in 1986 to provide emergency sign language interpreting services for health care, mental health and law enforcement agencies.
(888) 930-7776 Toll-Free Voice
RISE Interpreting is a family-owned small business based in Riverside, California. Their mission is to make effective communication accessible between Deaf and Hearing individuals through quality interpreting and community education.
(951) 565-4422
INTERPRETING ONE
Interpreting ONE provides American Sign Language interpreting, real-time captioning (remote CART), transcription, remote foreign language interpreting, and captions/subtitles for videos and other forms of media.
INTERPRETERS UNLIMITED
Interpreters Unlimited is the translation company to fulfill your foreign language and ASL needs.
American Language Services
American Language Services has certified, skilled, and experienced linguists available in over 200 languages.
AUDIO DESCRIPTION
Also known as Descriptive Audio or Video Description, narrates the relevant visual information in a video and is an accommodation for blind and low-vision viewers. These descriptions fit into natural pauses in the video’s audio track to provide context, to clarify speakers, and articulate visual elements that are critical to gain a comprehensive understanding of the video.
Deluxe Media Services’ in-house audio description department has described more than 130 feature films. Certified by the American Council for the blind, they have a database of more than 200 professional voice talents. They can provide audio descriptions in foreign languages.
818-565-3600 (Los Angeles location)
Descriptive Video Works specializes in the descriptive video for broadcast programming and feature films. They have completed audio descriptions for more than 20,000 television shows and feature films. Their audio description for U.S. networks and film studios give 22 million American viewers access to a wide variety of broadcast programming.
866-818-3897
WGBH’s Media Access Group has pioneered and delivered captioned and described media for more than 30 years to people in their homes, classrooms at work, and in the community. WGBH serves 35 million people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have low vision. For feature films, DVS® Theatrical® allows moviegoers who are blind to hear descriptions of the film’s key visual elements without distracting other patrons.
617-300-3600
ASL SIGNS FOR SET
American Sign Language is a complex and unique language that is adapted specifically to the filmmaking genre. After experiences with interpreters who had no understanding of filmmaking, to no fault of their own, I was tremendously frustrated. To solve this complex issue and language barrier, I decided to compile a list of essential production signs and classifiers for interpreters and the Deaf community joining my set. While most of these signs are not probably in your typical interpreting course, I hope you'll find them a convenient resource.
Call sheet and script
Director, producer, cinematographer
Camera Rolling, recording sound
Shot, take, scene
Composition and blocking
Types of Cameras
Frame Classifiers
Crane Classifiers
Image Classifiers
Camera Angle and Classifiers
Set / stage
Zoom in / Zoom out
Push in / push out
Rack focus
Overlay / Filter
Pan / Tilt / Tracking
Vertical / Horizontal
Pull focus / Rack focus
Shutter speed, ISO, F-stop, Aperture
Focal Length / Lens
C-stand
Steadicam/ Base
Rule of thirds
Permit
Standing in
Striking set
Crew / Cast
Crafty
BTS / Behind the scenes
TV / Movies
That's a wrap!
CONTACT
GET IN TOUCH
Want to work together? Want to drop me a line? Have a general question? Passionate about a certain story? Sounds great, let's get in touch and be creative!
Social Media:
( @ChrissyMarshall_ )