This news is pretty epic and one of those things that make so much sense that I can’t believe it hasn’t been done before. Lionsgate announced today that they are working with the app Actiview and & Nyle DiMarco to bring their movie WONDER to the hearing impaired. The Actiview app can completely sync with the movie as it plays and it will show Nyle DiMarco signing the movie. The technology is amazing and opens the doors to the hearing impaired being able to enjoy so many movies through sign language instead of closed caption. Read more about the initiative and technology below.

Lionsgate Joins Actiview & Nyle DiMarco to Make Its Critically Acclaimed Film WONDER the First US Film to Have American Sign Language Interpretation

Lionsgate has teamed up with Actiview, a mobile application company that provides film accessibility solutions for blind, deaf, and foreign language speaking audiences, and Celebrity Deaf Advocate Nyle DiMarco to make the worldwide box office hit WONDER the first US film to have an American Sign Language interpretation available for viewing along with the film.

The Actiview app is designed as a “second-screen” experience, either through headphones or on the user’s phone screen, that allows users to playback audio descriptions, captions, multi-language dubs, and even sign language interpretations of films and shows while they watch on a TV, laptop, or in a theater.

“Lionsgate is committed to making our movies increasingly available and accessible,” said Brian Day, Lionsgate Senior Vice President Business and Legal Affairs. “We’re delighted to be working with Nyle and Actiview to make our incredibly moving and heartfelt movie WONDER the first film to ever have American Sign Language available alongside it.”

After winning America’s Next Top Model in 2015 and then becoming a champion on Dancing with the Stars, actor and model Nyle DiMarco has become a major advocate for the deaf community. His goal in teaming up with Actiview and Lionsgate is to ensure that everyone has equal access to entertainment.

“I am so excited about working with Lionsgate and Actiview to make the inspiring film WONDER accessible to everyone and offer them an ASL viewing option,” said DiMarco. “It allows me to take a huge step forward in my campaign to make increasing accessibility a priority in the TV and film industry.”

How it works:

Users can watch Wonder on any available platform and the app will automatically synchronize with their TV. The app “listens” to the movie (similarly to Shazam listening to songs) and figures out where in the movie the viewer is, matching the playback from their device.

Any user will be able to download the app (iOS Only) at http://activiewapp.com/download or by searching “Actiview” in the App Store. They then select the movie they’re watching and the accessibility service they need (Sign Language, Audio Description, etc.).

Wonder follows the inspiring story of the Pullman family, whose youngest child, Auggie, is a boy born with facial differences. When Auggie enters mainstream elementary school for the first time, his extraordinary journey unites his family, his school, and his community, and proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.

Wonder is available now on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD, and Digital.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content leader whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world. In addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, video games, esports and other new entertainment technologies. Lionsgate’s content initiatives are backed by a nearly 17,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global sales and distribution infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company’s worldwide consumer base.