Final Project Spring 2016 - Subtitling
We all have watched movies with subtitles before. Some would argue they are much better than dubbing. Composing subtitles for a cinematic text works quite well within the framework of our written, literary translation course.
In this exercise, you will learn:
-to find subtitles for popular movies online and to assess them according to translation criteria
-to use a text editor to create a subtitle file with precise timestamps
-to use VLC player to watch clips with .srt subtitle files
-to trim a video file using the free, open-source tool Avidemux
-to burn subtitles onto a file permanently
-to upload this to a third-party video hosting spot
-to embed this in your WordPress blog
-to think about universal design for maximum readability
Here are some resources that speak about subtitling (but there are many out there):
AMARA’s Best practices
Engage Media’s suggestions
“Code of Good Subtitling Practice”
Center for Excellence Universal Design “Ensure that Subtitles are Easy to Read”
Subtitles are available readily for many films in the form of a .srt file from sites such as SubScene or OpenSubtitles. It is not best to open such a file in Word. It is better to open it and edit it in NotePad or another text editor (like NotePad++ or EditPad).
Two sample versions of subtitles for al-Gezira can be found here and here. This guide explains how you make those subtitles appear on your mp4. Essentially you place an .srt file with the subtitles in the same folder as the mp4 and give it the same name. A video player such as VLC player will easily show the subtitles on the clip.
The first thing we will do in class is to watch uncaptioned clips from the movie. Then, we will watch them with subtitles made by others (for example, those listed above) to see how the process works. We will compare the subtitling we find in open sites on the web to our more rigorous course criteria for translation and we will keep in mind some special criteria for subtitling.
Your assignment will be the following:
(1) You will choose the scene you want to work on (everyone in the class will work in pairs and each pair will work on a different scene). Your scene (or maybe scenes) should be a total of 2-3 minutes long and should consist mainly of dialogue.
Once you know the time limit of the scene(s), you will then chop it from the full movie into a smaller file. This will mean that your times will be different from the original movie. We will use the free, open-source piece of software called Avidemux in order to do this. When you upload the mp4 you can get very precise timestamps.
(2) You will make a transcription of the dialogue and sounds. You can use the scenario we have available, but remember that the final film version is very different! You will prepare a translation and prepare the .srt file with the timings. This will require some trial and error, working on it and viewing it a few times in a player like VLC on your desktop, in order to get it just right. The Center for Excellence in Universal Design suggests a maximum of 170 words/minute for readability, and preferably 140 words/minute.
(3) When you are satisfied with the subtitles, you will embed that permanently into the clip you chose. You can also use Avidemux to do this. Instructions here.
(4) You then need to upload the 2-3 minute clip to a “white-listed” third-party video hosting space (Vimeo, youtube, Scribd, flickr). I have tested Vimeo and suggest it, but if you already work with another, feel free to use it. From there you will get a URL to embed the Vimeo link into your WP blog posting. We go through a third-party service because the video files are too large to upload to WP.
In Vimeo, once the file is uploaded, you can share and get a link like this: https://vimeo.com/162198089. Make sure that it is http: not https: and it needs to be on its own line.
A video embed such as this should appear (this clip uses GreatMagician’s subtitles here). The subtitles are not timed corrected, but it is a start.
(5) Each team will work together to produce the subtitled clip. Then, each member of the team will write individual commentary on the translation choices you made and the process.
There are alternative workflows for this, including using iMovie for Mac. If you find others, please let me know.
Your final project blog posting should contain:
-the transcription of the scene (in Arabic letters). If you don’t work quickly with the Arabic keyboard, try Yamli.
-the corresponding subtitles done by someone else uploaded into your WP.
-your .srt file uploaded into your WP.
-the embedded Vimeo clip you subtitled as a pair.
-your individual comments on the various translation choices you made, referencing particular MM:SS moments in the embedded clip.
-a reflective statement about what was “lost in translation” as well as what was gained.
-a clear statement about how you respected standards of universal design for the legibility of your subtitles.
-optional: screen grabs to point out visual elements of the film that were important for your decisions, links to any other information you used to make your decision.
I am looking forward to seeing your work and your reflections on subtitling as translation.