How the Deaf and Blind Appreciate Movies Like Frozen

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Mr. Edgardo Bong Garcia, President of Deaf-Blind Support Philippines, with his family

Disney’s animated fantasy musical got us all singing “Let It Go”, out loud or in our heads, for days on end. Some of us may have probably seen the movie where it came from, “Frozen”, a thousand times. This record-breaking film is a must-see, not just for its magical visuals but also for the inspiring songs and music within the story. It would be a shame for anyone not to see it – including the visual and hearing impaired among us.

Fortunately, some of the students and faculty of the Philippine School for the Deaf and the Philippine School for the Blind got to enjoy the movie musical in all its glory. “Frozen” was one of three movies that SM is featuring on the second leg of its Movies for the Deaf and Blind program under its CSR arm, SM Cares. The Angelina Jolie-starrer “Maleficent” and the fantasy action film “Pan” are the other two films that the deaf and blind audiences can now enjoy in 20 SM cinemas nationwide.

In this kind of special movie, audio-description and closed captioning features are used. The audio-description involves a narrator who describes every key visual element in the movie that the blind is not able to see: the action, scene changes, the actors’ gestures, facial expressions, costumes, and even on-screen text. The narration is inserted in between pauses or in gaps within dialogues whenever possible so that the blind audience can follow and understand the unfolding story.

Closed captioning, on the other hand, is a higher level of “subtitles” as we know it. It transcribes the dialogue between the characters in the film and flashed directly below the scene. What makes it work better for the deaf audience is the fact that even the sound effects, ambient noise, and other sound that are important in the scenes are included in the caption.

“Frozen” being an animated film and a musical, one would think that it would be a stretch for either the deaf or the blind to fully appreciate it. But Mrs. Ligaya Coral, a 30-year teacher at the Philippine School for the Deaf proudly claims that the deaf students and their families actually loved the movie experience, adding that they can even perform the songs themselves through sign language.

“We are thankful that there are movies like these now. The kids can appreciate the movie without needing an interpreter for them to know what’s happening in the story,” Mrs. Coral said.

Ms. Liza Lyn Lopez, a blind teacher, especially loved “Love Is An Open Door”, a duet between Anna and Prince Hans. “This kind of project means a lot because we, the disabled, rarely get exposed to something like this,” she said, referring to the movie experience. 

Right now, a law had already been passed for using closed captioning in local productions. The MTRCB hopes to follow this up with audio-description soon. With partnerships between the private and public sector like SM, Deaf Blind Support Philippines, CALL Foundation of the Blind, and MTRCB, it would be possible to expect vernacular versions of audio-descriptive and close captioned movies as well.

Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival at Araneta

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Celebrate Christmas with your family and Disney favorites Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy, together with Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel, and sisters Anna and Elsa in the enchanting world of Disney on Ice presents Magical Ice Festival at Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.

For everyone, young and old, kids and kids at heart, Christmas is never complete without the colorful, magical show that makes Christmas dreams and fantasies come to life —Disney on Ice. And this holiday season, the awe-inspiring Disney On Ice returns for another spectacular performance on ice. 

Now on its 33rd show worldwide, Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival will once again capture the hearts of the Filipino fans, both parents and their children, who will watch the show at the Big Dome.

This year’s grand production will wow viewers as it features Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, and – for the first time – the Academy Award winning and number one animated feature film of all time, Frozen!

“We are taking a fresh new spin on how we’re presenting the Disney stories. We are weaving together the four worlds of royal sisters Anna and Elsa, Ariel, Belle and Rapunzel as they each embark on their own epic journey,” says producer Juliette Feld.

Disney on Ice presents Magical Ice Festival showcases a medley of splendid set elements, impressive light display and costume pieces, along with show-stopping performances by a cast of world-class skaters!

Sure to amaze and delight kids and young at heart, Disney On Ice will take you to an unforgettable magical journey as you get whisked away into the wintry world of Disney movie’s Frozen! 

“Everyone will be in awe as they watch Ariel slowly pulled upwards and then rapidly twirl above the ice. This is the first time that we’ve captured her transformation like this in a production. That’s what makes Magical Ice Festival different, we selected scenes we’ve never done before and then took our time on the details to make them truly special,” says director Patty Vincent. 

“In our more than 30 years of producing Disney On Ice shows, Feld Entertainment has been waiting for a film like Frozen,” says producer Nicole Feld.

“By pulling together moments from classic Disney stories to the newest feature film sensation Frozen and combining them with elements of comedy and music, we developed a truly unique way to re-tell each fairytale,” says producer Juliette Feld.

The show runs from December 25 to January 3. Tickets are now on sale. 

For more information, visit TicketNet website or call 911-5555.

Fil-Am composer wins Oscar for Frozen’s Let It Go

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Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez

Filipino-American composer Robert Lopez won Best Original Song during the 86th Academy Awards and made many Filipinos proud when “Let It Go,” the song he penned for the popular Disney movie “Frozen.”

The songwriting couple's triumph with "Let It Go" for Disney'sFrozen, made Lopez, at age 39, the 12th and youngest member of the EGOT family – the select group of artists who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. Prior to his Oscar, Lopez had bagged three Tony Awards, a Grammy for The Book of Mormon, and a Daytime Emmy for his work on the show The Wonder Pets. Other notable EGOT members are Audrey Hepburn, Whoopi Goldberg, and Scott Rudin.

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez via Yahoo! Philippines

According to reports. is the circle’s 12th and youngest member,  Lopez won a Tony in 2004 for best original score for “Avenue Q.” He also has two Daytime Emmy Awards, in 2008 and 2010, for outstanding achievement in music direction and composition for “The Wonder Pets.” In 2011, he won two Tonys for best book of a musical and best original score. A year later, he won a Grammy for best musical theater album for “The Book of Mormon.”

Earlier in the ceremony, “Frozen,” a story about a bond between two royal sisters in an icy Scandinavian kingdom, took home the award for Best Animated Feature Film.

In an interview with the media, Lopez credits his involvement in the movie “Frozen” to his wife.

“I think part of the reason they wanted us was because of her,” he said, referring to Kristen. “She has this great head for story. I think they wanted ‘Frozen’ to benefit from her story talent and our musical instincts.”

The musical soundtrack and hit anthem “Let It Go” by Idina Menzel have sold more than 1 million copies each and inspired thousands of YouTube videos by young girls singing the tune.

Lopez said “Let It Go” has become his “biggest surprise” and “biggest joy.”

“In our wildest dreams, somewhere in the past, you kind of dream about maybe getting an award. What you don’t dream about is having a song like this that touches so many people. That’s been the biggest surprise and the biggest joy. We have our reward every day on YouTube.”

“Filipino pride. I’m so excited. I’m just sending love to the Philippines,” he said.

“I know they’ve had a tough year and I just send out my feelings to them,” he added, referencing the catastrophic Typhoon Yolanda, which battered the country last November, killing thousands.