Introducing the ‘pictureless feature film’

Ben Phillips loves cinema. For him, it’s about the smell of the popcorn and the ripple of laughter through the audience.

“But,” he says, “for me and others who are blind or have low vision, the experience [of the film itself] has always been an afterthought. Until now.”

That is how he introduces Touch, which is described as “Australia’s first pictureless feature-length movie”.

Presented by Mastercard, partnered with Westpac, Touch uses only sound to create a box-office experience said to be “fully inclusive to blind and low-sighted customers”.

Phillips is a consultant on the project, which will premiere at the Westpac Open Air outdoor cinema in Sydney on 13 February.

The film was directed by award-winning director Tony Krawitz, whose credits include Into the Night and The Tall Man, and a crew including sound editor Wayne Pashley (Elvis, Mad Max: Fury Road and The Lego Movie) and composer Jonathan Dreyfus (A Night of Horror).

Mastercard’s Executive Vice President, Head of Marketing and Communications, Asia Pacific, Julie Nestor, said, “Developing a film that’s audio-led for people who are blind or low-vision is just one example of how we can create a more inclusive experience for segments of our community.”

Majella Knobel, Westpac’s head of access and inclusion, said, “In addition to the film itself, an important part of this project was making sure the needs of many individuals were considered as part of the end- to-end cinema experience – from accessible amenities to accommodating guide dogs.

The film follows a young man, Ben (Alexander England), who gets trapped in the consciousness of his father, Frank (David Field), after an experiment goes wrong. To escape, Ben must go on an epic adventure through his dad’s memory, learning more about a man he thought he knew.

Krawitz said, “The film has been designed for people to enjoy, and to enable people to experience what it’s like not to have your vision to orient you. To make the audience use their ears as if they’re detectives, gripped by what’s going to happen next.”

The launch of the film coincides with the rollout by Westpac of Mastercard’s accessible cards, which features tactile notches to help people who are blind or vision-impaired differentiate between their credit, debit, and prepaid cards.

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to Blind Citizens Australia, whose CEO Deb Deshayes said, “It’s crucial to have entertainment that not only considers people who are blind or vision impaired, but also involves them in the whole development process.

“To have a film like Touch is an important step towards building a more inclusive future that will allow 500,000+ Australians to enjoy content like everyone else. For people who are blind or vision impaired, movies like this and the use of audio description make a huge difference to how we engage with media and socialise with our peers.”

Ben Phillips added, “For those like myself who are blind, our appreciation of film often relies heavily upon the audio experience, so when a film’s sound evokes emotion, it can paint a colourful picture in our imagination.

“Working on Touch has allowed me to collaborate creatively on such an inclusive film, unlock opportunities in production, and showcase to Australia how content can be experienced, without the limitations of ability or disability.”

Further reading: Mumbrella, Media Week