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

Yesterday, I used The Small Screen Diaries to lament the narration for Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney plus being nominated for excellence in audio description. Several people reached out, supportive of what I was going through, or agreeing, and encouraging me to still be a voice in the room. I want to be that voice, but now I fear that the call is coming from inside the house. So, while the diaries are on hiatus, enjoy a stream of consciousness style approach to audio description. Basically, I’m concerned at the people who voted for the show, and I’m … Continue reading The Audio Description Essentials: Day One

Critics Pick! I hope when I’m finally done with this season, to post a longer review of my thoughts, but Peacock’s sword and sandals epic Those About To Die is filling a void we needed on TV. While I can find similarities in other shows, currently there is no equal on television. It is a sprawling epic, with a broad ensemble, strong performances, and the feeling that something deadly is just around the volcano bay. I’m 5 episodes in total now, and if you are looking to add a new show to your list, I will recommend this without even … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/19/24

I have to start today with two acknowledgements. First, the passing of Bob Newhart, who is such an iconic figure across television and film. his main sitcoms were technically a little before my time, but thanks to syndication, reruns, and Nick At Nite, I have caught episodes before.However, for me, he holds a very special place in my heart for his work on the 2003 Christmas classic Elf. RIP, Bob. Maybe this is all just one big dream we will wake up from. The second, is that Paramount Plus is poor. In case you have missed the news about them … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/18/24

The Acolyte (Disney plus) is over, and hopefully dead. the writers are awful. Don’t you dare bring Yoda into this. Did we forget “A long time ago in a galaxy far far away?” Mae escapes Soul, and her killer retort is “See you in hell!” Ummm… what? And then, O’Shucks, who has avoided violence at every turn, suddenly death grips someone. Finally, O’Shit gives Mae what she’s always wanted. Wait, WHAT? Her brain is wiped, she’s basically catatonic, and left for the Jedi’s to find. To become a Jedi? The hell? And this Mastter Jedi isn’t thinking it’s weird that … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/17/24

I’m sorry for getting the main dish out to you late. I have no kitchen staff. They all work for a fictitious restaurant. The Bear, the critically acclaimed FX on Hulu show is back for a third season, and it is a show that has grown on me. Admittedly, I wanted to throw things at people who lavished so much praise on the first season. i thought it was a mess, and thanks to Hulu’s asinine rollout of audio description for The Bear, i had to watch this twice, though I technically didn’t finish my first time through due to … Continue reading The Bear: Season 3

After today, I’m one episode from the finale of Sweet Tooth (Netflix), and I’m concerned. I don’t think this show will end with them cutting open Gus, because that is dark as hell, but who knows. I need to acknowledge that this show has inept writers, yet at the same point, I love it. They’re fine, but everyone always easily finds wherever they need to go. Of course the man knocking at the church was big Man, because “Nuka pointed me in the right direction.” In a blizzard. in Alaska. where he’s never been. Same thing when the baddies show … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/16/24

House Of The Dragon (MAX) took a beat and didn’t have a back-to-back massive battle, slowing things down with character development of the best variety. We touched on basically every character, and some hot takes include, but are not limited to: 1) holy Shit. Avon survived that? I mean, I wouldn’t call him “surviving”, but he is technically, in the legal term, alive. Breathing. 2) Allicent is learning that she’s on the wrong political side. After volunteering to be Regent in her son’s stead, she is shocked to find the council has zero interest, and wants Amen to lead, despite … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/15/24

I finished a show, and I’m putting it last so I can have spoilers. Let’s get out of the way Queenie (Hulu) which had our titular hero celebrate her birthday while navigating her complicated relationship with her mother. This show has come a long way from the series premiere, which I tonally couldn’t figure out what it was trying to say. It has gotten better, but it would still fall short as often the show has complex ideas, but the delivery is a bit messy. This episode, for example, has Queenie have a bit of an overly visceral reaction on … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/14/24

I finished season 1 of Exploding Kittens (Netflix), which now has a review on my YouTube channel, in case you forgot I’m on Youtube as well (YouTube.com/macthemovieguy), but I will say the back half of this really made me think about common slang terms, how common are they, and to whom? In one of the episodes, the teenage son Travis is killed by his friends, one of whom does a squat/stand in repetition. Liz Gutman, who wrote the narration, describe the motion as is, however find me a gamer that hasn’t heard of TeaBagging. I guess, some people wouldn’t necessarily … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 07/13/24

A rather short day, for readers. I finished Sausage Party: Foodtopia (Amazon), and while I plan on doing a wider review, the short is that I think you would like it if you liked the movie. It is perhaps more risqué as they did not have to appease an MPAA. One episode has its own content advisory, but I kinda saw that writing on the wall. Then, I knocked out the first half of Exploding Kittens (Netflix), another new adult animation show. The voice cast here is solid, and the concept has promise. For some random reason, God and the … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/12/24