All We don't really do any educational productions, although I'm sure that if anyone ever needed anything from our original programming, we could get it. (We produce mainly Health and Food content) We have the capabilities to CC, but it's not always requested. It also depends the format and production type. We often do subtitles though, especially with all the Spanish content we're producing. We have English with Spanish subtitles and vice versa.
I would think that production for educational and academic purposes would automatically encode for CC. Perhaps it's just too cumbersome? I know that from my work in local and national news, often our packages and live shots would air without CC simply because the producer didn't want to type verbatim their pkg that was edited in the field and sent back via the live truck. It was extra work and too tight to make broadcast. I would always fill in the CC when I saw blanks. It's unfortunate to know that non-news productions lack CC as well. Best regards, Laura ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AnswersMedia Laura Fu Video Assets Manager 400 W. Erie Chicago, IL 60654 P: 312.421.0113 ext.5160 F: 312.421.1457 lau...@answersmediainc.com www.answersmediainc.com www.answerstv.com Before printing, please think about the environment -----Original Message----- From: Gwen Gerber [mailto:gger...@ebiomedia.com] Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:22 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Appeal to producers and distributers on captioning Dear Scott, I certainly understand your need to bring the captioning/audio description accessibility to the attention of the producers/distributors. BioMEDIA ASSOCIATES biology and human physiology programs were chosen for captioning/audio description by the Department of Education Emerging Technologies Grant that is implemented by Caption Max. Through this grant all of our programs on DVD, for broadcast as well as our Digital Media Files are captioned and audio described. We have learned a few things through this grant as the technology has changed as we've gone along. Working with Caption Max has been very easy and educational. I'm happy to share our experience with any producer/distributor that is new to captioning/audio description. We have always captioned our media but the audio description as well as the creation of captioning/audio description files for our Digital Media Files is new to us. I'd ask buyers of media to consider that as distributors we are now providing programs in DVD with captions that are Subtitled Enabled and audio description, Broadcast formats with Closed Captions and audio description, and Digital Media Files that are full play and chaptered in several encoding formats with captioning and audio description files. Never in the history of visual media have we provided programming in so many formats with so many enhancements. We also provide PDF Teaching Guide, Image Banks, and Posters plus Interactive Learning Guides, curriculum correlations by state (K-12), and Metadata for the full programs as well as the chaptered programs. We are looking for a partner to create Spanish translations of our media for inclusion in all formats. Plus we are providing websites that have massive amounts of free content as well as catalogs with previews, PDF Teaching Guides and Posters, and curriculum correlations. Plus we are making IP Authentication seamless linking our site to password protected websites of clients that license our content that provides the client with user stats. Additionally, we continue to send out a catalog. Our production includes the top microscopes available to scientists and digital cameras which now includes HD. Our animator of processes unseen under the microscope or to enhance the illustration of a complex scientific process must update computers and software on a regular basis as well as the editors. Copyrights must be registered for each program. We are continuing to produce new programs. As we update our biology collection, those licensees receive the new program for the remaining life of the license. Our pricing is from 1999 with our Digital Media File licensing based upon student enrollment so an institution with 1,500 students can afford the same content as an institution 250,000. DVDs run $45 - 128 for single titles and $99.95 - 400.00 for series on one disc. During this time of extreme budget cuts we are working with each client as we believe that these students need to have the science content we offer. After all these students will be taking care of us! Re-reading this it sounds like I've climbed on a soapbox but it is the reality I face every day as a distributor that represents independent producers. The Emerging Technologies grant has been extremely helpful to us meet the needs of all students as captioning is a valuable learning enhancement for all viewers. Congratulations! You've passed Post-Production 101. We'll get through this time, I'm just really hoping these days of digital pioneering with tiny budgets aren't the "good old days." My Best, Gwen Gwen Gerber BioMEDIA ASSOCIATES P.O. Box 1234 Beaufort, SC 29901-1234 877.661.5355/843.470.0236 voice, 843.470.0237 fax gger...@ebiomedia.com www.ebiomedia.com VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
