Subtitler
The subtitling of feature films enables deaf and hard of hearing audiences to enjoy films, both in the cinema and at home (through the 888 terrestrial television service, on Digital channels or on DVDs). Unlike the linguistic subtitles that appear on foreign language films, these captions are written specifically for people who may never have heard music, the sound of a dog barking, or a footstep on a creaking floorboard.
Subtitlers must therefore have excellent descriptive skills and sensitivity. They are usually employed on staff at Specialist Post Production Facilities Houses, but can also work on a freelance basis. They work on both film productions and a wide variety of television programmes.
What is the job?
Using accurate time codes, Subtitlers work with digitised versions of completed feature films, operating specially developed subtitling software that allows them to manipulate the sound on a frame by frame basis. After carefully watching and listening to the entire film, Subtitlers translate all the dialogue, music and sound effects into two line written captions, constantly making sympathetic editorial decisions about whether certain lines or words can or should be deleted and/or paraphrased.
Subtitlers must ensure that each caption is doing its job (describing all relevant sound effects, singing, music, dialogue and voice-overs that are pertinent to the story), that these captions are easy to read (using the correct grammar and punctuation), and that they are given enough reading time on the screen. This is a crucial part of the Subtitler's skill, since captions in the cinema appear only briefly and cannot be re-read.
When all these processes have been completed, Subtitlers review everything they have written, comparing it to the actual dialogue, checking spelling and punctuation, and making sure that the captions are carefully positioned, and that they do not to obscure characters' faces. Subtitlers' work is painstakingly proof read by Checkers, and the finished files are sent on to DTS (Digital Theater Systems) and Dolby for sound mastering (transferring the final soundtrack onto the film) before being distributed to cinemas offering subtitled screenings.
Typical career routes
There is no typical career route for this role. Some Subtitlers come from an editing background in the publishing industry, or they may have worked as translators or for a subtitling company. Most of the companies that offer access subtitling prefer to train recruits themselves, involving an intensive period of learning (a minimum of six months). Vacancies are usually advertised in the media and on Specialist Post Production Facilities websites.
Essential knowledge and skills
A good knowledge of spelling, grammar and punctuation is required, combined with computer literacy. Interest in, and sensitivity towards, the needs of deaf and hard of hearing audiences are also important.
Key Skills include:
Excellent writing skills
Ability to work to deadlines
Accuracy and precise attention to detail
Excellent on-screen spatial awareness
Excellent communication skills
A good sense of timing
Knowledge of the requirements of the relevant Health and Safety legislation and procedures
Training and qualifications
Although there is no specific qualification or training for this job most Subtitlers are graduates of English, Arts, Languages, Film or Media Studies courses. Specialist training is provided by Facilities companies who recruit their own Subtitlers. The University of Surrey offers an MA in Monolingual Subtitling and Audio Description.
Individual course accreditation in certain subject areas is currently being piloted. As part of Skillset's and the UK Film Council's Film Skills Strategy, A Bigger Future, a network of Screen Academies and a Film Business Academy have been approved as centres of excellence in education and training for film. For more information, please log onto the Skillset website.
Where to go for more information
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. The first sources of information for all jobs in the industry are the National Occupational Standards. For information about training, links to the Skillset network of training partners, and access to the comprehensive Skillset/BFI course database, visit the website www.skillset.org. Skillset Careers is the UK's only specialist media careers advice service; for detailed media careers information and advice, visit the website www.skillset.org/careers
Websites-
University of Surrey University of Surrey
The Royal National Institute for the Deaf has information on subtitling RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People)
Several access post production houses specialise in subtitling ims-media
itfc itfc
For listings of all cinemas with audio descriptions and subtitling facilities, plus a free e-mail service of forthcoming film releases etc. Your Local Cinema
An invaluable resource for sound and film Film Sound
Sonic Arts Network sonic arts network
For innovations in sound recording technology zaxcom
The Institute of Broadcast Sound Institute of Broadcast Sound
The Association of Motion Picture Sound Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS)
The Association of Professional Recording Studios Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS)
The Audio Engineering Society, an US-based website with a thriving UK section Audio Engineering Society
Publications
Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects Cinema. Edited by David Sonnenschein (Michael Wiese Productions)
Film Sound by Elizabeth Weis and John Belton (Columbia University Press)
Audio-Vision : Sound on Screen by Michael Chion (Columbia University Press)
Sound on Sound magazine Sound on Sound
Music Tech magazine Music Tech Magazine
Audio Media magazine Audio Media Magazine
Subtitlers must therefore have excellent descriptive skills and sensitivity. They are usually employed on staff at Specialist Post Production Facilities Houses, but can also work on a freelance basis. They work on both film productions and a wide variety of television programmes.
What is the job?
Using accurate time codes, Subtitlers work with digitised versions of completed feature films, operating specially developed subtitling software that allows them to manipulate the sound on a frame by frame basis. After carefully watching and listening to the entire film, Subtitlers translate all the dialogue, music and sound effects into two line written captions, constantly making sympathetic editorial decisions about whether certain lines or words can or should be deleted and/or paraphrased.
Subtitlers must ensure that each caption is doing its job (describing all relevant sound effects, singing, music, dialogue and voice-overs that are pertinent to the story), that these captions are easy to read (using the correct grammar and punctuation), and that they are given enough reading time on the screen. This is a crucial part of the Subtitler's skill, since captions in the cinema appear only briefly and cannot be re-read.
When all these processes have been completed, Subtitlers review everything they have written, comparing it to the actual dialogue, checking spelling and punctuation, and making sure that the captions are carefully positioned, and that they do not to obscure characters' faces. Subtitlers' work is painstakingly proof read by Checkers, and the finished files are sent on to DTS (Digital Theater Systems) and Dolby for sound mastering (transferring the final soundtrack onto the film) before being distributed to cinemas offering subtitled screenings.
Typical career routes
There is no typical career route for this role. Some Subtitlers come from an editing background in the publishing industry, or they may have worked as translators or for a subtitling company. Most of the companies that offer access subtitling prefer to train recruits themselves, involving an intensive period of learning (a minimum of six months). Vacancies are usually advertised in the media and on Specialist Post Production Facilities websites.
Essential knowledge and skills
A good knowledge of spelling, grammar and punctuation is required, combined with computer literacy. Interest in, and sensitivity towards, the needs of deaf and hard of hearing audiences are also important.
Key Skills include:
Excellent writing skills
Ability to work to deadlines
Accuracy and precise attention to detail
Excellent on-screen spatial awareness
Excellent communication skills
A good sense of timing
Knowledge of the requirements of the relevant Health and Safety legislation and procedures
Training and qualifications
Although there is no specific qualification or training for this job most Subtitlers are graduates of English, Arts, Languages, Film or Media Studies courses. Specialist training is provided by Facilities companies who recruit their own Subtitlers. The University of Surrey offers an MA in Monolingual Subtitling and Audio Description.
Individual course accreditation in certain subject areas is currently being piloted. As part of Skillset's and the UK Film Council's Film Skills Strategy, A Bigger Future, a network of Screen Academies and a Film Business Academy have been approved as centres of excellence in education and training for film. For more information, please log onto the Skillset website.
Where to go for more information
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. The first sources of information for all jobs in the industry are the National Occupational Standards. For information about training, links to the Skillset network of training partners, and access to the comprehensive Skillset/BFI course database, visit the website www.skillset.org. Skillset Careers is the UK's only specialist media careers advice service; for detailed media careers information and advice, visit the website www.skillset.org/careers
Websites-
University of Surrey University of Surrey
The Royal National Institute for the Deaf has information on subtitling RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People)
Several access post production houses specialise in subtitling ims-media
itfc itfc
For listings of all cinemas with audio descriptions and subtitling facilities, plus a free e-mail service of forthcoming film releases etc. Your Local Cinema
An invaluable resource for sound and film Film Sound
Sonic Arts Network sonic arts network
For innovations in sound recording technology zaxcom
The Institute of Broadcast Sound Institute of Broadcast Sound
The Association of Motion Picture Sound Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS)
The Association of Professional Recording Studios Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS)
The Audio Engineering Society, an US-based website with a thriving UK section Audio Engineering Society
Publications
Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects Cinema. Edited by David Sonnenschein (Michael Wiese Productions)
Film Sound by Elizabeth Weis and John Belton (Columbia University Press)
Audio-Vision : Sound on Screen by Michael Chion (Columbia University Press)
Sound on Sound magazine Sound on Sound
Music Tech magazine Music Tech Magazine
Audio Media magazine Audio Media Magazine
