The Debate Is On.
TV Shows Watched: Deli Boys: S2E1 (Disney Plus) with the legal minimum definition of audio description, Spider-Noir: S1E3 (Amazon) with audio description, Nemesis: S1E1 (Netflix) with audio description, The Miniature Wife: S1E3 (Peacock) with audio description, Can You Keep A Secret?: S1E? (Paramount) with audio description, Virgin River: S7E? (Netflix) with audio description, Running Point: S2E4 (Netflix) with audio description
Deli Boys- I had a lot of thoughts, none about the series, which I like. First- we now have a robot doing AD. Second- The creators of Deli Boys should be concerned about the future of their series iif Disney considers this low hanging fruit and ripe for AI. I’m guessing the six episode second season, which is down four episodes from season 1, will be its last. Disney probably wasn’t sure about keeping it going, and now it’s getting burned off, like the second season of English Teacher was. Third- I wonder if there was a conversation on authentic representation in AD, so instead of finding a narrator who matched the ethnicity of the cast, they just decided AI has no ethnicity. Fourth: Why are companies afraid to be credited? You scared, bro? There are companies out there fucking with AI right now, and they still have the balls to credit themselves, and their human writers. No one was credited at the end. Not a company. no one. Fifth: I’ve been saying this. Voices like this, which is actually on the better side, have been coming for human performers. They’ve been coming for humans who monotone their way through things, because why pay a human to flat narrate when they can get AI to do it, and they can even do it without audio ducking. People who want human description, but also see AD as purely functional, and want it as dry as possible are a contradiction nowadays, and don’t help the discourse. As a people, we do not have strong enough standing to demand anything, we can only push for things, and hope wish fulfillment takes over. Most companies would rather not fuck with us. Why do you think disability legislation has stalled or been rolled back under the current administration? If you have followed the attacks on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, or the extensions granted so government websites don’t have to be accessible to us, and the general tone coming from a people who despise DEI, this is not our time. This is the time when those who want to push us back, shut us up, and kick us out are winning. So, telling Disney that if they don’t use human AD, you’ll stop buying their products, is weak. They know you can’t do that everywhere. And everyone is doing it. Are you just going to stop watching TV? No. You might not watch shows with AI description, but you are just hurting yourself, as what happens when they put AI on something you really care about? Deeply invested in Law and Order SVU? What happens when that goes to AI, or Grey’s Anatomy? Or any other show you’ve invested decades into.What AD performers can and should do is be the one thing AI is not. Human. Emote, Interpret, express, and yes, it might mean be a little more performative. But show the AI why you should be the top choice. Fight to survive, or get another job. Flat narration is not the way of the future, and no matter how much people despise AI, there aren’t really any advancements we’ve made, and decided not to do because.. someone had a conscience. Does it feel like we live in a time dictated by people with strong moral fiber? They aren’t just going to ditch AI, so we have to focus on doing the things it cannot do, it is currently unable to replicate. Be better. Be human, and fuck anyone who tells you otherwise, because they won’t help you when AI is everywhere in ten years except a few major projects, and the thousands of AD performers have been whittled down the the few that give the most human experience.
Spider-Noir- I incorrectly credited this yesterday, this is MEdia Access Group, and I believe it is Brianna Leon. I’m enjoying this quite a bit, and the twist at the end was super fun to see how Ben made it happen.
Nemesis- Diffuse is doing the AD here, with Vito de Phillipo doing the AD, because when I hear his voice, I immediately rush to cast him in an all black cast crime drama. Nemesis is what black television can and should be when talent like Mario Van Peebles is behind the camera, and not Tyler Perry trying to keep his 27th active production going at the same time. This is some good stuff, but it deserves better AD. A cop and a heist crew are about to clash in a big way.If you like heist movies, Nemesis is up your alley.
The Miniature Wife- Excellent idea, we saw in Downsizing, but not as well executed. Elizabeth Banks is good. Here, she’s trying to live her life as she realizes her husband isn’t close at all to making her large again. She gets a surprising guest at the end.The AD here is.. meh. I think it’s also Vito/Diffuse.
Can You Keep A Secret- So the blind character isn’t actually blind, but visually impaired, and let people think that meant blind. I don’t have strong thoughts on that, as she gets her comeuppance in the same episode. The AD here is fine, better than the last British show I watched (Legends).
Virgin River- Same old. Doc still doesn’t have a license yet, Mel gets pulled out to be trapped by a survivalist who refuses to let his wife go to a hospital to ahve her appendix removed, so the hospital comes to her, but no one ever arrests him for the numerous times he holds someone at gunpoint and threatens their lives. Everyone just forgives him.
Running Point- Kate Hudson has to fix a rift between her new coach and her star player, and then she realizes how to fix her friendship. Nefertiti and DVW do nice AD here given the format. If we’re throwing down a line when I say “be human”, I think Nefertiti does a nice job of being on the human side, without making extreme. However, the closer to the line you are… AI is moving quickly. I’d say Vito is below the line, and could easily be replaced on his shows by AI that is at least matching what he does, if not surpassing it. Again, be human. This is that.
