Testing audio-free description for silent film
RNIB, Grimaldi Building, London, N1 9JE.
Pre-registration essential – this is not a drop-in event! Please email [email protected] to secure your space.
Bristol Braille Technology is very excited to be taking part in an accessible silent film description project, run by Polly Goodwin. Bristol Braille will be attending and participating in an experiment to use Braille displays to provide description for silent films.
On the day, at 2:30PM, we will watch two films, ‘Cheer Up’ and ‘Fulta Fisher’s Boarding House’. We’ll be bringing a Canute Console but attendees are encouraged to bring their own Braille displays of any make.
More details on the event:
Polly is a professional audio describer and researcher into the potential uses of audio description (AD). She is seeking film and/or access technology enthusiasts who are blind or have low vision to help shape a new form of audio-free description for silent film.
Silent film is a captivating medium that thrived in the first three decades of the 20th century, telling stories through moving images without the use of the human voice. As a professional audio describer and silent film fan, Polly wants to make this medium accessible while still respecting its fundamental silence. She is developing an experimental form of non-audible description making use of a new process developed for use in opera.
What does my participation involve?
About an hour, on Tuesday 28th October, 2024, in person at RNIB London HQ to test out some different versions of description and to give feedback.
Participants need to own, use and bring either a refreshable braille device or a smart phone/tablet used to access large print information through wifi transmission. Participants must be willing to take a short survey in advance which will be used to further the research.
More information on the medium and the films
If you are interested in hearing more about the event, the medium, or the films that will be shown — even if you cannot make it this time — please email [email protected].