Tripod Captioned Films collection
Scope and Contents
The Tripod Captioned Films collection contains materials from 1984 through 2004 with the bulk of the materials dated between 1992 and 2002.
Materials include correspondence, financial papers, legal papers, organizational documents, notes, clippings, printed materials, ephemera, and digital media.
The Tripod Collection has been arranged into eight series, one of which have been divided into subseries. This collection is housed in 9 archival document boxes, 15 paige boxes, and two additional archival boxes.
Materials in this collection are related to the management of Tripod Captioned Films, the distribution of films, production of films, and advertising including presence at conferences. Of special note are the letters of appreciation from Cindy Costner, a long-time supporter of the Tripod mission. These can be found in the folder titled “Appreciation Letters” (box 5, folder 9). Also of note is the folder containing materials related to the 60th Academy of Awards of which the film Language Says It All was nominated.
Dates
- Creation: 1984 - 2004
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1992 - 2002
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on materials in this collection, however, some series contain notes regarding conditions governing access that provide more information about original location or storage of some materials.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is open to researchers.
Historical Note
Tripod Captioned Films was started in 1993 by Barbara Montan, the mother of a deaf son, and Nancy Linke-Ellis. Tripod Captioned Films was an offshoot of the Tripod school, a co-enrollment school for deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing children in conjunction with the Montessori Method. Originally, films were captioned and premiered as a fundraiser for the Tripod school, the first film being The Big Chill in 1983. By 2001, Tripod Captioned Films brought 48 first run feature films to theaters.
Tripod Captioned Films aimed to include the deaf, hard of hearing, elderly, ESL (English as a second language), and adult literacy participants into the movie-going experience. Films were “bicycled” to theaters across the United States and in many cases Tripod Captioned Films partnered with local deaf groups to promote the film and share profits. Open captioned films included more than subtitles including song lyrics, visual icons for sound effects, and a full soundtrack. Films included box office hits Jurassic Park, Mission Impossible, Schindler’s List, and Mr. Holland’s Opus.
Tripod also produced their documentaries, one of which was Language Says It All. Produced in 1987, the film was nominated for best short documentary at the Academy Awards in 1988. The documentary explores the importance of communication for deaf children using sign language as expressed through the views of four families.
Extent
Approx. 22.75 Linear Feet
Language
English
Overview
Tripod Captioned Films was a non-profit community outreach program of the Tripod school in Burbank, CA that provided open-captioned first-run feature films to hard of hearing and deaf consumers throughout the United States in the 1990s and 2000s.
Arrangement
Series I: Administration, 1992-2004
Series II: Film Distribution, 1991-2003
Series III: Produced Films, 1984-1999
Series IV: Finances, 1984-2004
Series V: Advertising/Press, 1993-2001
Series VI: Conferences/Conventions, 1996-2002
Series VII: Realia, c. 1999
Series VIII: References, 1984-2000
Physical Location
RIT Archives, C. S. North, range 8 (shelves 346, 347, 349-353)
Other Finding Aids
In addition to this finding aid, an inventory is available below. For more information, please contact the RIT Archive Collections.
Tripod Captioned Films collection
Custodial History
The Tripod Captioned Films collection was donated to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf/Rochester Institute of Technology in 2011. The papers were accessioned under ID 2011:088 and were received from Megan Williams in 21 boxes (along with materials related to the Tripod collection).
Terms to Note
“Bicycling” – The process of shipping one open-captioned print around the country to serve the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
LSIA/BTN – Language Says It All/Back to Normal (working title) was a short documentary produced in 1987 about communication with deaf children that was nominated for an Academy Award. It was followed by a sequel, Once Upon a Time.
TCF – Tripod Captioned Films
TRIPOD – Toward Rehabilitation Involvement by Parents of the Deaf, the name of which originated in 1969. Tripod is a school that co-enrolled hearing, deaf, and hard of hearing students.
Subject
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (Organization)
- Mauver, Tim (Person)
- Paramount Pictures Corporation (Organization)
- Tripod Captioned Films (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Tripod Captioned Films Collection, 1984-2004
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Nicole Pease
- Date
- October 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the RIT Archives Repository
