The Future of Audio Description in Norway

Audio description (additional commentary describing body language, expressions and movements in cinema, on TV and Internet) is much less widely available in Norway than in other countries we would normally compare ourselves with. In our new project The Future of Audio Description in Norway we want to improve the audio description services in Norway.

Story by: Magne Lunde - 03.01.2013

The project is supported by the Extrastiftelsen in Norway, and is commissioned by and is in cooperation with The Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted. The project will continue for a two year period until the end of 2014.

25 films

Supported by Extrastiftelsen and The Norwegian Association of the Blind, MediaLT has established audio description in Norway. Twenty five Norwegian films are audio described until now.

Much to be done

There is still much work to be done in this field in Norway. There is a great need to continue and further develop audio description, which is why MediaLT has initiated a new project The Future of Audio Description in Norway (FRES). We hope to be able to offer the same services as those available in other countires. The goal of this project is to lay the foundation for audio description in new arenas in Norway, such as cineman, TV and Internet and to increase the number of audio described Norwegian films.

Important tasks

The following tasks will have the highest priority:

• Utilize a professional tool for the production of audio description.
• Establish a certified course in audio description.
• Lay the foundation for audio description in cinema.
• Enter into a collaboration for audio description of TV.
• Develop a service for audio description of video on Internet.
• Establish a permanent service to ensure that all Norwegian films are audio described.

In addition to the Norwegian Association for the Blind, Film&kino and The Norwegian Broadcasting Company are working in the project group. Together with our partners we hope that this project will enable us to give audio description in Norway a new profile.

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