I’m excited to share that the audio described version of The Walking Dead comic book Volume one “Days Gone Bye” is now available through the National Library Service (NLS) and can easily be downloaded on the BARD app. A point to make though, is that it is a DAISY file so, is narrated by daisy TTS. Its not my favorite but I’m so glad to start reading it. There are youtube videos that are like comic movies. They show the images from the comic books, have voice actors and sound effects. But they are akin to watching any movie without audio description. So I can put up with the bad TTS for this.

The process for getting it on BARD was smooth. I requested it from my local talking book & braille library a few months ago. I’ve had interlibrary loans before, but this was my first international inter library experience. The librarian who helped me did inform me that it was a daisy file, and I confirmed I still wanted it. She told me that the process is that she puts in a request to the NLS, and from there they decide if they want to add it or not. If they do, they request it from the library service in Canada that created it. If they get it then it goes in the NLS catalog.  She also warned me that there is no notification system in place, meaning I would have to keep checking back but that also it may never come.   

Unfortunately, volume one is the only one available in this audio described format. I might start requesting my local county library to adapt the rest of the series. On one hand it seems like a stretch. And on the other my county library has a robust comic book collection and I could see them getting behind something like this.

Hi, ive got audiovault with a error. Its cloudflare. I don't know if its me or if its the website as i need audio description for a film. Many thanks

I don’t know if I’m just missing something, but I don’t seem to be able to find any of the classics with audio description anywhere?

I’m looking on things like Apple TV, prime video, Disney+, Paramount+, and Tubi. I don’t mind if I have to buy them but I need to find them first.

This is not all of them but I’m looking for things like: Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, The classic grinch animation, Frosty the Snowman, Frosty’s winter wonderland, Frosty and Rudolph’s Christmas in July, A Flintstone’s Christmas, Yogi bear‘s first Christmas, Looney Tunes Christmas specials, A Garfield Christmas,

And are there others? A lot of these cartoons did weird one off holiday specials. So if there’s more please point me in the right direction! Like Popeye/the Smurfs/Alvin and the chipmunks/Rocky and Bullwinkle, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, sonic, etc.

So far I know that on Disney+ they have the Muppets Christmas Carol, all of the home alone movies, all of the Santa Claus movies, snow buddies/Santa buddies, and on Apple TV I found the Polar express.

Are there any live actions that are described as well? Like miracle on 34th St., elf, Krampus, lampoon‘s Christmas vacation, etc.

Sorry I know this is a huge list! But I’m getting tired of all of the Hallmark style movies on Netflix lol. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful that they are described but they all have the same plot. I’d like some cool classic cartoons.

For those who consume media with Audio Description, has there been anything you're curious about? I love giving people a peek behind the curtain! Here are some videos I've made so far, in a numbered list of titles followed by links:

1. What is Audio Description? (this one was moreso for me to send to my sighted friends who don't understand my job!) https://youtu.be/l_oyLBsSwyk?si=TV-hCBp_j9PpWTRl

2. Did you know that Audio Description has regional differences? https://youtu.be/DvD3ShYkQuo?si=9wYGAxv3a1CmZFz8

3. How do you Audio Describe sex scenes? https://youtu.be/phXQh6OOxrs?si=dZ7n7JX4CQcspEfI

In the future, I'm also planning to make videos on the following:

• The writing and QC process

• The narration process

• Video games

• Unique scenarios in character names

• Unique scenarios in subtitles

What else would you find interesting?

Hello,
Our lab at Arizona State University is conducting a study to evaluate audio descriptions for a curated set of videos, and we’re looking for experienced audio describers to participate. This study will be held online via Zoom, taking approximately 90 minutes. Compensation of $50 will be provided for your time and expertise.
Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be 18 years or older
• No significant auditory or visual impairments
• Paid experience in creating audio descriptions
• Fluent in spoken and written English

If you meet these requirements and are interested, please apply via our Google Form. We’ll reach out to selected participants using the email address provided.
Thank you!

I'm 31 and a voice actor based in the UK, looking to increase my output (I have a background in radio, and I've narrated an audiobook in the past). I usually watch TV drama and films with audio description on, even though my eyesight is perfect - I don't think AD is just for blind or partially-sighted people necessarily; I just find I take things in better when they're described to me verbally more than when I'm just seeing it visually.

With my experience of voice acting and my knowledge of audio description from watching many programmes with it turned on, becoming an audio describer feels like it could be quite a good bet for my career going forward. But I can't find any information on how one goes about doing that, or even who it is doing it currently. I have voice demo reels and recordings of my voice, but no idea even who I'd send them to for this kind of thing!

Anyone have any knowledge of what I should do next? Preferably people based in the UK as that's where I am, although I have a home studio so can send recordings around the world if necessary.

Hi there! I’m playing with the idea of starting to watch anime. I’ve never watched any before so I really don’t know where to start. I see there’s a couple on Netflix, but they’re not really the ones I want to watch. I really want to watch Little slice of life cute anime.

So I was just wondering, before I start subscribing to Crunchyroll left and right, does any of its content come with audio description?

If not. How much of its contents are in English dub? I’m blind. So I need at least not gibberish lol.

Do you know if Crunchyroll through Prime Video is any cheaper? And is it easier to use with the built-in Alex screen reader on my fire cube? Or does it not have any screen reader at all?

A study on media accessibility is inviting regular users of audio description to provide feedback on various styles of audio description.

In this questionnaire, you'll watch six 2-minute clips, each representing a different genre of programming. After viewing each clip, you'll be asked four questions about the quality of the audio description provided. The survey will take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete.

We highly value the opinions of our viewers and regularly seek feedback.

Thank you for your time and participation.

Tim Robbins does something with his fist to show some excitement in Fraternity Vacation at 16.52-53:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocYULC_Ik-U

If I were to make an audio description on this how could I describe it.

Hi everyone! We are on a tight deadline unfortunately... but would love some creative (more poetic than traditional) audio description for a short documentary. This film will be exhibited soon in a gallery show and we hope to see it pushed out into festivals. Low budget but a unique project, we want it as accessible as possible.

Ever since I was 13, I found out about audio description. I became so fascinated with it, I watched a new show with audio description for the first time (That being the Season 1 of the Netflix series: “Hilda”, with it’s narrator being Veronika Hyks from BTI Studios) And I became in love with it so much, I pretty much used to watching movies or tv shows with AD. Am I weird for watching movies or tv shows with audio description, even though i’m not blind?

I've been watching TV & movies with audio description on since I discovered it. My partners finds it bonkers.

Any other ADHD AD fans out there?

Hi everyone! I was wondering if there are blogs/sites/channels that review or critique audio descriptions in shows or films.

One great example of this is the blog macthemovieguy.com. it's so great that i find myself checking it every day for a new entry in the small screen diaries.

I was wondering if there are similar ones? I just want to be able to browse through them before beginning a show.

Hi,

I've been doing AD for a few years now, and I've tried a few AD-specific programs (Cadet, Closed Caption Creator), but mostly I use Aegisub to draft my scripts. I sometimes use other programs to QC, if they're available.

What does everyone else use? Or do you just do spreadsheets/word/etc? I've been kind of operating in a vacuum for a number of years. o_O

So happy to check out this sub, though! :)

~M

Hello, just looking for examples (partial or whole) of AD scripts for theatre. Digital, or scans of marked up documents, either is fine. Anyone got any pointers or old scripts laying around?

Hi! I currently work for an organization that works with the Deaf and Blind community in my area. I have been tasked with finding a live audio description service for presentations and conferences. So far, I have found very limited services that can complete something like this live. I am only seeing LiveVoice, accessiBe, and Vitac, and these companies give barely any information on their services and procedure.

Any insight into where to look, what to look for, or any good companies/services would be greatly appreciated!! Sorry if this is not the subreddit to ask this, I am happy to direct my questions elsewhere. Thanks!!

Hello, everyone! I’m new here. I’m looking for online AD training for video (not for live events). There are two trainings of note in April but they are both on the same weekend that I can’t do.

Does anyone know of any others? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you!!

Hi!

What are your opinions related to the audio descriptions available for films which are very rich in information conveyed visually as well as very rich in voiceover narration, such as Anderson's movies? In these cases, it seems to me that an audiodescription would potentially be extremely detailed and long, but there is very little time to fit it in, and the voiceover narration does somewhat already convey the gist of what is happening. Do audio describers simply give up on conveying all the information, and let the voiceover do the talking so as not to overcrowd the experience?

For instance, in The French dispatch, a journalist narrates her account of a young man's death becoming a symbol for counter-culture throughout the world. While she says in a voiceover: "his likeness (mass-produced and shrink-wrap packaged) will be sold like bubblegum to the hero-inspired", a fast-paced montage of the character's picture appears, showing it first as a film reel, then as an advertisement for cigars (which the character is often seen smoking), then as the main picture of a newspaper article detailing how he died, and, finally, as a print on the t-shirt of a young adolescent playing with his friends. Both the montage and the voiceover are so beautiful and rich with interesting information that I would not know how to satisfactorily convey all of it: do existing audio descriptions do a good job in cases such as this? What approach would you prefer?

I'm really sorry if my post is worded in a confusing way or if I ask anything that is ignorant or offensive: English is not my first language and I know very little about this topic.

I'm writing a course paper on nonverbal elements of communication in audio description of comedy movies (I chose home alone). For that I need to attach the script of the movie and the transcript of the audio description. Does anyone know if there is a text version of the description available anywhere? I already have the audio file and I can transcribe it myself, but it would be so much faster if I had the text already made...

Big thanks to anyone in advance!

So when adding audio descriptions to a webinar, how do you describe a row of data in a data table? Is it just “the cell in row 5, column 1 (Name), contains “Jerry”. Or can I do “Row 5 reads left to right: (Name), “Jerry”?

I have vision issues but I’m not blind, so I’ve never thought to use audio description, I just happened to wander across it and it’s amazing!

I do other things when I’m watching tv, as such I do not watch a lot of action oriented movies, but with audio description it’s telling me the damn scene so I don’t have to stare at explosions, I can do other things…

These movies are terrible so maybe I’m just not into action movies, but I could follow the story as I stitched up the dog bed.

Hi all,

I'm currently writing some AD for a film from the early 1980s, where the main performers titles overlay the opening scene.

Fortunately it's a scene with minimal action, but it helps set the mood of the film.

My concern is that literally stating what is happening on screen will mean action description is awkwardly intercut with a name that doesn't relate to that action. Is it acceptable to instead, set the scene when there are no titles, read all of the titles as one short block, then focus on the action as it happens?

The film is Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, if anyone is familiar with it. It's a great one-room piece, adapted from a stage play. Very claustrophobic, hot, dusty, and with intense character focus. I think it will work well with AD in part because it doesn't need a huge amount, the story is character-driven, and the actors in it are excellent.