Audio Description and Captions: Making a Film Welcome to More Viewers

Think about access early. It is much easier to plan for captions and description while you write and edit than to add them in a panic after picture lock. Even small decisions, such as leaving a gap for a line of narration, help.

Understand the difference. Captions show dialogue and important sounds as text, for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and for anyone watching without sound. Audio description is a spoken track that describes key visuals during pauses, for people who are blind or have low vision.

Write good captions. Keep lines short, match the pacing of speech, and identify who is speaking when it is not obvious. Include meaningful sounds such as [door slams] or [gentle piano]. Proofread them against the final cut.

Write description like a storyteller. Describe what matters: action, setting, expressions that change the scene. Use clear, present-tense phrases and leave the dialogue alone. Avoid opinions and spoilers beyond what is on screen.

Design the film to help. Clear dialogue, readable on-screen text held long enough to read, and strong contrast in titles make the film easier for everyone.

Ask the people who use these tools. If possible, invite a blind or deaf viewer to review the captions or description and listen to their notes. Offer a fair thank-you for their time.

Provide the files. Export captions as separate files and keep the description track organized, then ask each festival what formats it accepts. Describe your promotional images too. Add alt text to posters and stills. Treat access as craft. Done well, it is part of the film, not an extra.