Descriptive Video ‘Sees’ the Action of the Characters

“Mister Rogers . . . puts on a green cardigan sweater. He sits down on a bench and changes his shoes. He takes off brown leather shoes and puts on blue canvas sneakers.” That’s the kind of descriptive, detailed narration that blind and visually-impaired children will be able hear for the first time when they tune into “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” this week through Friday, courtesy of Descriptive Video Service.

The service, which includes descriptions of people, their actions, facial expressions and gestures, plus costumes and settings, is accessible through the Second Audio Program (S.A.P.) feature on stereo TVs and VCRs.

Information: (800) 333-1203.

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Bridge the Gap: Parents just don’t understand--but maybe grandparents and grandkids can. Youth and seniors who want to cross the generational divide can try “Building Cultural Bridges,” 20 weeks of classes in creative writing, movement, storytelling, theater and more. Presented by the City of Pasadena Arts Division, the purpose of the project is to encourage communication and understanding between young and old through oral history, stories and myths and legends of the Northwest area.

Classes begin at Robinson Park in Pasadena on Feb. 28.

For information, call Tarabu Betserai at (818) 568-1220.

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Points of View: Six youths from the Pico-Aliso Housing Projects in Boyle Heights have created a dramatic document of life in their community through an exhibition of photographs and video entitled “We Live Here!/Nosotros Vivimos Aqui!,” at Santa Monica’s Midnight Special Bookstore March 1-31, with an opening reception on March 3 at 7 p.m. sponsored by the Liberty Hill Foundation.

The photographic images, both dark and tender--a young father cuddles his baby, a victim of gang violence is remembered--are the culmination of an eight month project coordinated by media artist Pamela Cohen in conjunction with community-based organizations Proyecto Pastoral and Comite Pro Paz. Grace Campos, Joe Diaz, Becky Garcia, Larry Nguyen, Erica Parra and Johnny Saldana interviewed community members and took the more than 50 photographs in the show after being trained in black-and-white photography, video and interviewing techniques.

Information: (213) 461-7305.