Audio Description Links - February 2025
A list of links to all things related to audio description from February , with a few historical links thrown in for good measure.
A huge thank you to Fran Mathey for her contributions for this month, and a treasure trove of new historical links to go through.
Podcasts
- 2025 Oscars Audio Description Roundtable (The Dark Room)
Alex and Lee host the 2nd audio description roundtable. This year we are featuring the audio describers behind Anora, Dune Part 2 and and The Substance:
Anusha DeVagiri ,Meg T. Ryan andRoland Bearne . - What are the things you don't know that you don't know?! (Insight, BBC Radio 4)
What are the things you don't know that you don't know?! That was the question posed to us by blind listener Lexi Hibberd who told us that there were aspects of everyday life like eye contact and other body language which hadn't been explained to her. What else then, she asked, didn't she know? Joining us to do just that is blind writer and broadcaster Lyndall Bywater, audio description writer Liz Gutman, Richard Lane who lost his sight in his early 20s, and of course Lexi herself. We discuss a range of issues that arise from Lexi's question, including what it was that inspired her to ask it.
- Summer Series - An Interview with Katie Ellis (Blind Citizens Australia)
This week, we conclude our six part summer series on audio description, speaking with Professor
Katie Ellis . Katie describes her work and further outlines the recently held symposium on Audio Description. - Succeed Without Sight Summit Interview with Alex, Live from Sundance 2025 (The Dark Room)
Listen to an excerpt from the Succeed Without Sight Summit interview Alex did while at the Sundance Film Festival, hosted by Kristen Smedley.
- Up Close With Visually Impaired Writer, Marc Muszynski (The Dark Room)
A chat with visually impaired writer,
Marc Muszynski , who has worked on shows such as Dexter and Polly Pocket. Marc chronicles his journey with visual impairment and talks about his experience in the writers' room.
Articles
- Buffalo Sonnet: A digital comic book inspired by San Juan Hill (Social Audio Description Collective)
Buffalo Sonnet is a digital comic inspired by the historic San Juan Hill neighborhood, created by writer and illustrator Kamau Ware and Commissioned by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and described by the Social Audio Description Collective
- Broadway for everyone: How audio description brings live theater to blind audiences by Meghan Smith (WGBH)
Over the past 10 years, audio description has become more widespread at local live theater productions. There are now about a dozen Boston-area venues that offer the option, usually for at least one or two performances during a run of a show.
- At Omnium Circus, inclusion and accessibility take center stage (DC Theatre Arts)
While performing as a clown, Lewis noticed an entire section of the arena sitting with their arms crossed and seemed angry. Despite being at the circus, they struggled to understand the acts going on around them. Lewis’ clown partner started telling jokes in sign language, and the group erupted in laughter. “It was the power of inclusion,” she said.
- Able’s new series shining a light on vision impairment
Able, New Zealand’s premier provider of media access services, is excited to launch Sight Unseen. This innovative web series debuts on 26th February, spotlighting the experiences of young people who are blind or have low vision.
(see also: Videos section, and this radio interview with Sheldane Smith
- Complete Guide to Writing Sex in Fiction by
Jacqueline Silvester. archived link
This was a resource linked from Jennisary's video. A lot of authors have their doubts about writing sex. How much do you include? What should you leave out? How do you structure a sex scene? How do you move past the awkwardness of it all?
Video
- Sight Unseen - Thomas Coysh (Youtube)
After some difficulty finding employment, Thomas Coysh is turning his focus to Para alpine skiing and spends the ski season training on Cardrona’s slopes. Bunking in with his ski guide, John, in a yurt nearby he uses audio cues through the use of headsets or speakers to downhill ski untethered.
- Buffalo Sonnet: A Digital Comic Book Inspired by San Juan Hill (Audio Description)
Audio described version of Buffalo Sonnet, a digital comic inspired by the historic San Juan Hill neighborhood.
- How do you Audio Describe Sex Scenes? (Note: age restricted) from Jennissary
This video is for educational purposes, and includes some nudity and sexual content. Audio Description interprets visuals into an audio medium. But what does that include? Do you censor it? How is it different than any other AD?
Historical Links
- Describe Report by Shane Carroll (Winston Churchill Trust)
When I read the Churchill Trust’s call to action - Learn Globally, Inspire Locally - I saw the possibility to address an issue that I felt was not being given the appropriate amount of attention across the Australian performing arts sector regarding equity and inclusion. I am talking about providing the means for people with vision impairment, neurodivergence or other sensory disability, access to experience the performing arts (dance, ballet, drama, opera, musical theatre), through high-quality Audio Description (AD). I was also keen to explore the creative scope for AD in the context of creative practice and innovation.
- Frankenstein Audio Description Introduction (National Theatre at Home)
Frankenstein (with Benedict Cumberbatch): Audio Described Introduction Notes.