0708 – Voicing Audio Descriptions

2022.12.09 – 0708 – Voicing Audio Descriptions

Audio description – AD

This is a voice-over describing what is happening in the scene of a movie to benefit those who are visually impaired, who can hear the dialogue but otherwise may find the plot difficult to follow.

The script will be provided for you, in which elements such as the action, setting and costumes will be described, but also along with other visual elements that help tell the story: a facial expression of an actor, a character who overhears a conversation, and what is going on when there is no dialogue to follow.

You do not act per se, but narrate what is going on – not so immersed that you become part of the show, but not remote and robot-like either.

But AD is not just used for films and TV. It’s also required for educational videos, art and museum exhibitions, conferences, plays and so on too.[1]

For more on AD, listen to this BBC documentary: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b05ssqpl : “the practice of using evocative and poetic language to bring moving pictures to life has a much longer tradition. In early 20th-century Japan, Benshi narrators would interpret – and often elaborate on - Western and home-grown films for Tokyo audiences. The art form continues today. In Edwardian Britain, film explainers would bring an aural addition, often with musical accompaniment, to silent films.”

[1] More information: “A Comprehensive Training Manual and Guide to the History and Applications of Audio Description”  https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08KH2PWXN/audiodescriin-20 and “An Introduction to Audio Description” https://www.routledge.com/An-Introduction-to-Audio-Description-A-practical-guide-1st-Edition/Fryer/p/book/9781138848177

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.