Decoding Subtitles: A Multi-Stage Approach
🎬 I’ve been updating my portfolio, and it feels like a trip back in time.
In 2024, I completed my longest subtitling project yet: a 110-minute documentary.
These are the things I consider when starting a new project to estimate the WORKLOAD:
1️⃣ ANALYZE AND PLAN:
➡️VIDEO TYPE AND SUBJECT: What is the video type (interview, documentary, movie) and topic?
➡️ACCENT AND AUDIO QUALITY: Assess audio quality and speaker accents.
➡️RESEARCH: Is there a lot of research needed?
➡️AUDIENCE: Who am I subtitling for?
➡️SUPPORT: There are any scripts or transcriptions?
➡️DURATION: What is the video length?
➡️DEADLINE: Set realistic daily goals to meet the deadline.
2️⃣ WORKFLOW AND WELL-BEING:
⏹️ TIME MANAGEMENT:
➡️Factor in watch time before starting.
➡️Estimate my subtitling speed (minutes per hour).
➡️Allocate time for final review.
⏺️ BREAKS: Short, regular breaks are crucial for focus and preventing burnout.
⏺️ ERGONOMICS: Create a comfortable workspace with an ergonomic chair, mouse, and wrist support. Don’t forget to invest in quality headphones.
What are your greatest challenges when working on a large subtitling project?