best practices for post-production and emerging forms of audio description

ACC009: Best Practices for Post-

production and Emerging Forms of Audio Description

Robert PearsonAccessibility Officer, AMIRobert.Pearson@ami.ca

@a11ymedia January 29th, 2015 4:30pm

Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts 1

Learning Objectives

• Learn three regulatory means by which Canadian support for broadcast accessibility is implemented.

• Understand two facets of the Audio Description practice and how something that is both a science and an art form can be regulated for the purpose of consistency.

• Discover four current initiatives that Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) has underway to connect a community through a media hub for persons of all abilities.

2Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)

• Make accessible media for all Canadians• Overview

3Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)

• A not-for-profit

• Three* broadcast channels, website

• Mandated as must-carry services for all providers

• 20+ years of making media accessible

4Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)

• AMI-audio; magazines, books, local and original programs

• AMI-tv; open described, closed captioned TV

• AMI-télé; en Français (December 16th)

• AMI-télé http://www.amitele.ca/

• AMI.ca http://www.ami.ca/

• DV Guide http://www.ami.ca/dvguide/

• Scholarship, Research Panel, DV Best Practices

5Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Financial Model

• Per subscriber• AMI-audio: $0.04 • AMI-tv: $0.20 • AMI-télé: $0.28

• AMI-télé paid in Francophone markets, but distributed nationally

• Not-for-profit, everything invested back

• Largest costs are for acquiring and describing Canadian broadcast content

6Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

In Canada, it’s Described Video

• Described video (DV) is a narrated description of a program's main visual elements, such as settings, costumes, or body language

• Works best for pre-recorded programs, such as dramas and documentaries

• Described video uses a separate audio track

7Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Description Roadmap

• Timeline• April 2011 to June 2012

• Described Video Working Group• June 2012 to June 2013

• Post-Production Described Video Best Practices• January 2014 to June 2014

• Live Described Video Best Practices

• 2015: Embedded, Multi-lingual, Digital

8Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

AMI YouTube Channel

• AMI YouTube Channel

• AMI Old House

• AMI Diner

• Industry PSA

• Murdoch Mysteries

9Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Post-Production DV Best Practices

Industry adopted Described Video Best Practices

+

Internally developed guidelines based upon the unique experiences of each producer

=

Consistent and good quality DV in Canada

10Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Post-Production DV Best Practices

11Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

• http://www.ami.ca/media-accessibility/Pages/Described-Video-Best-Practices.aspx

Live DV Best Practices

• The Live Described Video Best Practices are an extension of the Post-Production Described Video Best Practices.

• Royal Wedding

• Blue Jays Baseball

12Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Live DV Best Practices

• The describer is an actor who is a narrator.

• Role of the Describer• Logistical• Research• Physical Location• Producer, Describer Relationship• Characteristics of a Live Event• Handling the Unexpected

• Technical

13Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Embedded DV (EDV) Best Practices

• EDV is an experimental method of creating described video, whereby the identification of key visual elements are incorporated into the original production of the program, such that traditional DV is not required

• The program is produced from the onset in consultation and collaboration with an experienced describer in order for blind and visually impaired audiences to understand and enjoy it without the addition of traditional DV

14Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

AMI-player

• Launched October 30th, 2014

• Providing an Accessible Broadcast Experience (ABE)

• Structurally accessible with accessible content

• AMI Original Programming

15Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Described Video TV Guide

16Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Thank you for attending this session

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Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts