I’ve been doing this long enough now that now whenever a decision is made to release a film without audio description, I feel like it is because they feel like we can watch it without audio description. Because, if the implication was anything other than that, they should and could create a cheaper version for us that filters to give us just the audio described content, so we are paying the appropriate price for the amount of content described. As an example, let’s say you were paying 10 dollars for StreamingPlus, and that made up service actually had 10% of … Continue reading The Audio Description Essentials- Day 7

Really, something I haven’t jumped into quite as much individually is casting in audio description. Is someone’s voice right for the project? No narrator is appropriate for all situations. that just isn’t a thing. At some point, that voice is out of its comfort zone, and it starts to sound off putting, or it clashes with the project it is narrating. Some of the best talents do have a broad range, because they can change up their vocal performance. That allows them to sound serious enough for an Oscar bait drama, or light enough for a comedy, and even engaging … Continue reading The Audio Description Essentials- Day 6

Welcome back to this deviation. I’m taking a look at specific programs and discussing their needs, because not every project is the same. This goes beyond the basics, which are things like “who is in the room?”, “who entered/exited the room?” “Who is talking, and to who?”, which are often things we take for granted, but addresses the nuance of how every project is different, though they may share a likeness when they share a genre. I’m hoping to elevate the conversation on audio description, so people don’t just want/expect the bare minimum, and certainly do not recognize it as … Continue reading The Audio Description Essentials: Day 5

The fourth in my new way of breaking down the individuality and special needs of different shows. This goes beyond simple entrances and exits, and dives a bit more into the nuance and specificity of each program. The Small Screen Diaries are on hiatus, which was more concerned with mentioning everything I had watched with audio description, and this is designed more to directly address specific programming needs, and whether or not those shows are meeting them. Occasionally, a show may not have audio description at all. Time Bandits (Apple Plus) S1E1 and S1E2 Kevin is an 11 year old … Continue reading The Audio Description Essentials: Day 4

Welcome back, to another column of the Audio Description Essentials, which is less interested in every single show I watch each day, and more uses the opportunity to highlight certain programs, and what we should and should not expect from audio description. Certainly, there is a very basic level of audio description, like the trust we put in the team to deliver things like the correct and accurate name of characters on screen. Example: Don’t tell me Sarah is doing something if the character is actually Jennifer. That’s just like unnecessary misinformation. but, when we talk about any sense of … Continue reading The Audio Description Essentials: Day 3

Education is key, and I hold myself accountable for a show like Percy Jackson and the Olympians being nominated for excellence in audio description, so we’re going to continue to intentionally break down the audio description here. House Of The Dragon (MAX) S2E6 Queen Reinera and Jace last discussed finding lost cousins to ride the riderless dragons, so they attempt that. The Queen is also given advice on how to win over the citizens of Kings landing, She also finds that an ally might be even more, and her dragon rider problem potentially could be answered in the next episode. … Continue reading The Audio Description Essentials: Day 2