How can you format your film for different accessibility needs?

2 Audio description

Audio description is a narration of the visual elements in your film, such as actions, expressions, settings, and transitions. It helps people who are blind, visually impaired, or have difficulty following the plot or characters of your film. Audio description usually plays during the pauses or gaps in the dialogue or sound effects, and does not interfere with the original audio. To format your film for audio description, you need to write a script that describes the essential visual information, record it with a voice actor or a text-to-speech software, and mix it with your film's audio. You can use software like Audacity, Adobe Audition, or Descript to create and edit audio description, or hire a professional service. You should also follow the best practices for clarity, such as using simple language, avoiding spoilers, and matching the tone and style of your film.

3 Sign language

Sign language is a visual communication system that uses hand gestures, facial expressions, and body movements to convey meaning. It helps people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have difficulty understanding the spoken language of your film. Sign language is not universal, and there are different types and dialects depending on the region and culture. To format your film for sign language, you need to find a qualified interpreter who can translate your film's dialogue and narration into sign language, record them on video, and insert them into your film as a picture-in-picture or a separate track. You can use software like OBS Studio, Premiere Pro, or DaVinci Resolve to create and edit sign language videos, or hire a professional service. You should also follow the best practices for visibility, such as using a plain background, adequate lighting, and appropriate clothing.

4 Alternative text

Alternative text is a textual description of the images, graphics, and charts in your film. It helps people who are blind, visually impaired, or have difficulty seeing or interpreting the visual information in your film. Alternative text usually appears when the image is not available or cannot be displayed, and can be read by a screen reader or a braille device. To format your film for alternative text, you need to write a concise and accurate description of each image, graphic, and chart in your film, and add it as a metadata or a caption. You can use software like Photoshop, Illustrator, or PowerPoint to create and edit alternative text, or hire a professional service. You should also follow the best practices for relevance, such as using keywords, avoiding redundancy, and providing context.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?