What to Describe for live events Module 3 Unit 3 Dr. Louise Fryer Utopian Voices Ltd.

AD of live events Content selection. Settings. Actions. Characters.

Screen AD selection We see what the director shows us. Camera shots and editing.

Live events More choice for the sighted audience = more describer choice.

Possible content Audience action and reaction. Audience participation.

What, where & how Cherry orchard with: Stepladder “trees”. Trees painted on a cardboard “flat”. Photographic projection.

Props and characters Real horse. Puppet. Horse-shaped framework.

Audio introduction Script reminder.

Partially-sighted AD user Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - a fabulous flying car. “ It’s important to know if it’s a real car or just a car cut-out, a bloke standing in a cardboard car.”

Where on stage? Audience point of view: left, right, close to us, towards the back of the stage. Avoid actors’ terminology e.g. upstage or DSR.

Details of stagecraft Lowered curtain between scenes? Lights dimmed? Stage hands? Cast?

Aim of live ad Help users feel they are attending a live event, not a radio play.

COMMENTS “As a user I want an immersive experience. I don’t just want it to be the functional stuff. “ “The AD was telling me what was happening on stage but wasn't creating the same quality of experience. “

Peter pan Example The lights in the auditorium dim. A young woman in a blue dressing gown - Wendy - picks up a teddy and props it on the pillow. She sits on the end of the bed & looks at us.

notice The AD  describing stagecraft  onstage action.

Linguistic differences from screen ad First person plural (us). Feel part of the audience. Increases social presence (untested).

What do you think? “She sits on the end of the bed and looks at the audience.” “She sits on the end of the bed and looks at us.”

social presence Can enhance both enjoyment and psychological “transportation”. (Shedlosky-Shoemaker et al.,2011)

What to Describe for live events Module 3 Unit 3 Dr. Louise Fryer Utopian Voices Ltd.

The preparation of this presentation was supported by ADLAB PRO (Audio Description: A Laboratory for the Development of a New Professional Profile), financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme, Key Action 2 – Strategic Partnerships, Project number:2016-1-IT02-KA203-024311. 

The information and views set out in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.