Transcript: Audio desciption in New Zealand with Chris Mikul

Roberta: With us today is Chris Mikul, Project Manager of Media Access Australia and Chris is going to tell us about audio description in New Zealand. Welcome Chris.

Chris: Hello Roberta.

Roberta: Now, what’s happening with audio description in NZ?

Chris: Well, people might be aware of this. I talked about this on the program a little bit before, but essentially they’ve had a trial, started in March last year. It started fairly low key. They basically did one program which is Coronation Street, which is the British Soap Opera which is extremely popular in New Zealand I'm told and they imported the audio description from the UK.

So, that’s been going on since March and that has all been a success in terms of all the technology behind it has worked and son on, so the good news is that they are now starting to set up a regular audio description service which will have both imported programs and New Zealand programs that will be described over there.

And, what I actually did was I went over there about a month ago because I'm a trained audio describer and I trained for the TV New Zealand captioners and how to do it and they were extremely enthusiastic about it all and did it very well and I'm sure they’re going to be great describers and in fact, the first movie that they described went on air there I think about three weeks ago, so it’s all moving ahead nicely.

Roberta: Oh that’s fantastic. Now, the thing I always like to know is about the feed back; have people appreciated the service?

Chris: Oh yes, I mean anyone who hears audio description for the first time, especially on TV programs that you buy an might have been watching for years, is just thrilled by it essentially, so it’s gone very well. One of the good things about their TV set up there is that their free view service any TV’s and set top boxes that are free view approved have extra audio channels on them, and so there were quite a few people who just had already the equipment to receive it and it’s actually been broadcast on the channel that is set up for an Italian audio channel. 

Roberta: Really?

Chris: No particular reason but.

Roberta: Because it was there I guess.

Chris: It was there and so you use the technology as best you can.

Roberta: Can you remember the film that the audio described?

Chris: I only saw part of it. It was a New Zealand film called Number 2, which looked really interesting I must say.

Roberta: It would be very good to have the New Zealand accents on it thought wouldn’t it?

Chris: Yeah, well it’s an interesting thing. There’s actually been a bit of discussion about whether people prefer their own accents on something that they’re watching or whether it should be the accent from the country where it’s been described. I think the consensus of opinion is that it sort of doesn’t matter terribly much as long as something is audio described.

Roberta: And it’s clear, yes.

Chris: It’s clear and it’s well done. So, I don’t know, I mean there’s basically two schools of thought.  I don’t really know what to think really.

Roberta: So, how long have you been audio describing Chris?

Chris: I learnt back in 2005 when Media Access Australia was the old Australian Caption Centre. We actually got a grant to do some of it, so we brought someone over from Scotland who did some training with us and yeah, it’s an absolutely fascinating thing to do.

Roberta: It would be fascinating to have a Scottish voice audio describing.

Chris: Yes, yes.

Roberta: I say that because I'm Scottish myself.

Chris: Well, I actually played the trainees, when I was over in New Zealand, I played them the movie, “Moulin Rouge” which features Ewan McGregor, which is a very difficult movie to audio describe.

Roberta: Of course.

Chris: It was actually audio described by Ewan McGregor’s uncle.

Roberta: Ah, wonderful.

Chris: He was one of the main audio describers in Scotland I believe.

Roberta: Oh, yes indeed. Yeah.

Chris: And the Scottish accent sounded great on Moulin Rouge!

Roberta: Wonderful, yeah okay I’ll believe you!  Now Chris before we go, we’ve got a couple of seconds or so left; is there any news on the Australian Audio Description trial?

Chris: Not yet, but we’re expecting some positive news very soon, so yeah, I'm optimistic.

Roberta: Okay well we’ll certainly be being kept up with that. If you want to know more about accessible technology Media Access Australia have a website; www.mediaaccess.org.au. You can also contact them at info@mediaaccess.org.au or phone 02 92126242. Thank you Chris.

Chris: Thanks Roberta.

Roberta: I’ve been speaking with Chris Mikul, Project Manager of Media Access Australia.  Media Access Australia is a supporter of this program.