The Disabilities Network of NYC, and specifically, our festival quality
film program - the disTHIS! Film Series - is looking to implement Audio
Description to the movies we screen monthly. We have wanted to provide
audio description to our visually impaired and blind supporters since the
beginning of the series but have been unable, to date, to find a suitable
vendor or provider. So now, we're taking matters into our own hands...

What is audio description, you ask? Good question!

Audio description (AD) provides audio commentary detailing the visual
elements of a television program, movie, DVD, or live performance.

Designed primarily for blind or vision impaired people, audio description
guides the listener with concise, objective descriptions of new scenes,
settings, costumes, body language, and ‘sight gags’, all spoken between
existing portions of dialogue.

Please understand: We are new at this, and are attempting to begin a new
service as of yet unprovided by any agency, at least one that we've been
able to find locally. As such, there will surely be kinks to work out,
but because it is important to provide access for all of our members and
supports we are making an effort - an effort that no one else, to date,
seems to have attempted to do on this scale and regularity in NYC. We hope
you'll bear with us and help us improve as time, and the process, goes on.

We do not currently have broadcast devices to transmit description to
multiple audience members yet, but are looking into purchasing such
equipment aand trying to determine what will work best given the space we
rent for screenings.

For now we will need to rely on one-on-one volunteers.

Here's how the process will work:

Once the selection for an upcoming screening is selected, there is much to
be done before the screening date, which is normally the first Wednesday
of the month.

An Audio Describer needs to do quite a bit of preparation for a movie
screening. They need to be able to preview the movie prior to the date of
the public screening to be aware, in advance, of what they'll be
describing to audience members.

From this viewing, the Describer may want to generate a list of key items
they wish to point out in their description. Additionally, they usually
research information on the production of the movie and material
pertaining to the subject matter of the movie. Don't worry, the
Disabilities Network always provides such information in our disTHIS!
screening announcements.

Prior to each movie screening we will provide a brief synopsis of the
movie and describe the role primary characters play in the film. Once the
feature starts, the Describer will provide a brief description of the
picture image on the screen, as necessary. They will also read the
opening credits or subtitles as they are displayed. The Audio Describer
should make an effort to provide as much of a description as possible
during the short pauses in movie analogue's without disrupting the "flow"
of the movie.

Have YOU got what it takes to be a disTHIS! audio describer?

Please contact me at: disthis@... if you are interested in
volunteering as an audio describer for more information and THANK YOU for
taking this necessary step forward with us as we begin this exciting new
level of accessibility to our members, audiences and supporters.

Best to all,

Lawrence Carter-Long
Director of Advocacy, Disabilities Network of NYC

Founder/Curator/Janitor
The disTHIS! Film Series: disability through a whole new lens