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It’s an audio description extravaganza on the Life After Blindness Podcast! First, I speak with audio description narrarator and voiceover artist, Roy Samuelson about the creation process and the current state of audio described content. Then, I show you how to turn on the audio described track within 5 of the top video streaming services. And finally, I share my thoughts on the availability of audio description, accessibility and the future of AD.

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A Conversation about audio description.

Roy Samuelson is a voiceover artist and audio description narrarator who has lent his voice to well over 500 national network episodes and blockbuster films. This includes NCIS, Lethal Weapon, Star Trek Picard, 1917, Spiderman Far from Home and Spiderman Homecoming, . Roy is also known for his voiceover work on many popular video games and television commercials.

Roy begins our conversation by talking about what audio description is by comparing it to color commentating on a live sports event. He then describes the process of creating an audio description track beginning with the writing, the recording and editing. He explains the maticulous planning and creativity that goes into producing an audio described track.

Roy discusses his excitement over how much audio description has grown in recent years. He is particularly excited about new streaming services as well as work behind the scenes that will continue the growth of and access to audio description.

Roy is a big believer in advocacy. We talk about consumers asking for audio description for The Dark Crystal series and Daredevil on Netflix. In each case, the community spoke up and they got results.

Next, Roy tells me about how he got started doing voiceover work and how that has affected how he narrators an audio description track. Roy played a gangster in the former Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World where he was really able to sharpen his acting and narration skills.

Roy has a passion for storytelling and connecting to an audience. In this interview, Roy definitely demonstrates that passion and the dedication that it takes to create an audio description track.

He continues to learn as well as teach, conducting occasional workshops for other narrators.

I am so grateful that Roy took some time to speak with me for this interview. He tells so many great behind-the-scenes tidbits and anecdotes. It was such a joy to speak with him!

If you would like more information about Roy Samuelson, you can visit his website, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Additional resources for audio description that we discussed are:
The Audio Description Project from the American Council of the Blind. (ACB)
Audio Description Discussion Facebook Group
On Twitter, follow the hash tags AudioDescription KnowYourNarrator and NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

Todays Tech Tip

Continuing the audio description extravaganza, I show you how to activate the AD track within 5 of the top video streaming services.

You will hear me navigate through the player controls of Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV+, Netflix, Disney+ and CBS All Access. I demonstrate this on my iPhone 7 using iOS 13.3.1.

As a little bonus, I show how accessible most of these apps are and how one in particular is not so accessible.

Just my two cents about AD

To close out the show, I spend a few minutes talking about the current state of audio description and where I hope it will progress to in the future. I also share my displeasure with the way that AD tracks are licensed and distributed.

Overall, I think that the future of audio description looks good. It’s just that the road to get there might be a bit rocky. But as long as we keep advocating for accessibility and inclusion, we will hopefully get there faster and together.

If you have any comments or questions, please send your emails to: tim@lifeafterblindness.com. You can also leave me a voice mail by calling, 201-855-5221.

Please join me again next time as we continue our journey together to find that there truly can be a life after blindness.

Original Publishing: An Audio Description Extravaganza! Conversation with Voiceover Artist Roy Samuelson

We spoke to voice-over extraordinaire Roy Samuelson. We were intrigued to talk to Roy about his career in voice-over and about the emerging service in the entertainment industry, Audio Description. When we learned how this game-changing service was enhancing the entertainment experience for blind and low vision audiences, we had to learn more. But then we also discovered it was positively impacting the experiences for all audiences and we were even more excited to talk to Roy.

Without seeing facial expressions (smile, scowl, arch of an eyebrow), no body language, no use of your hands just hearing your voice and the inflection of the same. Voice-over performers; “live and die” by their voice. The ability to captivate and stimulate the imagination and to tell a story solely based on your voice, now that is talent. Roy has that voice. Roy has that talent. Trust us we spoke to him. His voice is smooth, melodious, enticing and versatile. Roy told us right off the bat more than anything when he is working he wants the audience, “Fully immersed in the story and going along for the ride.” Interviewing Roy was a fun ride all its own! We discussed Roy’s background, his career and then he enlightened us on this still relatively unknown yet important service so now we can enlighten you.

The average child is talking by the age of two. We all have a voice. But how does one recognize they have the voice? How does one know they have a voice for voice overwork? Roy is like me, old-school. We reminisced about the days of a voice recorder machine. He loved to play around with his. It was this old school machine that first introduced Roy to his own voice. Roy had cousins who were from New York. And Roy loved their “cool” New York accents. Roy would have what he described as, “A kind of Mister Rogers Neighborhood Show. I’d record myself sounding like them. I called it the New York Ghost. It was a rambling mess if you listen to it now. But it was so much fun to record. I guess that was my first show. It had an audience of zero.” Laughter. 

Roy’s audience first increased when he got, what he called his start in the voice-over industry when he worked at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He was a narrator on a scene park ride. How many of us have been on a theme park ride with a narrator? A lot of us for sure. Well this routine experience for us was anything but for Roy. His job as a narrator for Walt Disney World catapulted a twenty-something and counting year career as one of the most sought after voice-over artists. “Everybody’s got a different way of getting into voice over, mine came from a scene park ride in Orlando. I was the narrator at the Great Movie Ride in Walt Disney World. It’s no longer there. Maybe 60 different guests would get inside these theater cars and go to the movies with all sorts of animatronic robots. The ride had certain timing queues, audio cues, and visual cues. As the host, I would point out the different things that we were going through. I also played the gangster which was really fun. I took over the ride, shot the bad guys and got blown up over and over again. To do the show over and over again was great practice. It was also a benefit to be able to watch how the audience reacted based on what I said or how I said it and how to use the microphone to tell a story.”

Roy has been telling stories ever since. Roy has narrated in blockbuster movies such as; Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Spiderman: Far From Home, Jordan Peele’s US, Get Out, Jason Bourne, Pacific Rim. His television Audio Description includes Criminal Minds, Lethal Weapon, Blue Bloods. This upcoming fall we will hear Roy on NCIS as he has been heard for the past four seasons. And he will also work on Criminal Minds‘ final season. He has been the voice-over in commercials for Intel, Toyota and McDonald’s. Roy’s credits are extensive and impressive.

By speaking to so many actors we have learned that some things essential to the craft of acting are; know your mark, watch your lighting, timing and of course know your lines. What is one of the most important things for a voice over artist to learn? We wanted to know. “This is my favorite example because it hit me so personally when I first discovered this. You know how the first time you record a voice mail greeting and then you listen back; you are like, who is that? That’s not me. We all hear ourselves from our own bodies. But everybody else hears that same voice from outside the body obviously. Everybody is used to hearing your voice but you. So I think it’s really important when it comes to voice over to learn what you really sound like.” So true! I distinctly remember the first time I heard my own voice on tape. I thought that’s not me. I don’t sound like that! It is amazing the difference of the sound of your voice when you hear it on tape versus out of your own mouth!”

Roy is also an actor. He has done film and live theater. But without question, “Voice over is the thing that makes me the happiest.” Roy’s love for what he does has contributed to his excitement and investment in the industry’s move to provide this entertainment enhancing service to the blind and low vision audience. We are the new of the newbies in learning about this groundbreaking service, Audio Description; so, we will let Roy and only Roy tell you all about it. “This is so exciting what is happening in the entertainment industry.  What we do is called audio description. It is a special audio track that goes on top of a movie or TV show. It is specifically for blind or low version audiences to experience what the film or TV is without having to see it. The audio script is a special script that is written based on what most people see.”

Roy provided this practical example to further explain. “It’s like when you’re listening to a game on the radio like a baseball game. There is an announcer that might mention the weather or say something about the city where the game is being played but for the most part, they are there to give you a play by play of the game. They are giving you a vision of what is happening. And that is what I do as an Audio Descriptionist narrator. I give a listener a sense of what’s happening visually.”

This concept would appear to be so “simple” we wondered why this wasn’t done many years ago. The ability has been around for 10-20 years. But it is the technology that has made it much more accessible. Only now people are beginning to talk about it. And not just audiences but the networks, streaming services, and Hollywood. There is a special headset to see a first-run movie. This headset isn’t for the hearing impaired (to make the movie louder). It is for blind and low vision people so they can experience the show or movie without the visuals. It works for streaming services as well. The audio is merely a few taps away.

Things were starkly different before the dawn of this technology. Before, Roy would work in a pretty isolated environment. Basically, Roy would get hired, go into a small area, read a script and that was pretty much it. Roy did his job and did it well but still felt disconnected. But he wanted to be and feel connected to his audience. What was the best way to start? Roy started talking to people. And when he did a whole new world opened up. As he started learning about accessibility, disability, and how others dealt with things; his eyes were opened. It gave him insight into how he could literally use his voice to help others.

Blind and low vision audiences now have access to movies and TV shows where they can watch it with their families and have an equally entertaining experience. These audiences can now also engage in conversations at work or anywhere outside the home, sharing their own full experience of a TV show or movie. This concept has also uncovered an untapped market for producers, creators, directors, and showrunners to increase their market share. And able-bodied audiences can enjoy it too. Roy gave us a few suggestions on how. “It’s not just for blind people or low vision people. You can listen to these stories or shows while you are stuck in traffic, when you are cooking or maybe you have spent the whole day staring at your computer or iPhone and just want to relax, you can turn on the Audio Description. Also, the more able-bodied people that use it will help blind and low vision people. The more demand will improve the quality and will increase the accessibility as more people use it.” Roy also encouraged us if we find a show without Audio Description to take a moment to contact the network or the streaming service and ask for audio vision services.

The more Roy talked about this subject the more excited he became and for good reason. If you want to learn more, you can Google “The Audio Description Project.” It will give you all the shows, networks, streaming services and movies that have it. You can also learn more about it and about its history. If you want to, there is a lively and engaging Facebook group with a wide range of people, blind, low vision, narrators, producers called “Audio Description Discussion.”

Even twenty years in, Roy says there is always something new for him to learn. He continues to learn, research and work with coaches and plans to never stop learning. In addition, he is at the forefront of this description narration revolution leading the charge.

We learned so much and thank Roy for taking the time to teach us about this valuable, life-changing service!

Original Publishing: We Are Entertainment News

There’s a lot of conversation taking place about Audio Description. While Flipping the Script is less about the mainstream AD talk, I wanted to bring some perspective to this discussion.

I invited Roy Samuelson to share some of what he has been involved in as a means of creating awareness and advancing Audio Description. We’re both pretty passionate about this subject and while we may disagree on what will be effective, it’s clear our goals align.

Our conversation actually went beyond what we both intended. This version however, is mainly focusing on some news concerning Audio Description awards outside of the blindness organizations, some interesting news regarding The EMMY’s and implications for Blind Narrators and there may even be a special appearance from a Jeanie!

For a less abbreviated version check out The Audio Description Network Alliance or ADNA.org or listen below:

Original Publishing: Reid My Mind

At our 2020 ACB Conference, Audio Description Narrator and advocate Roy Samuelson in his keynote address announced Kevins Process. (you can listen to it here). We followed up with Roy on a few specific points about Kevin.

You mentioned meeting Kevin online, and how an organic relationship grew from that. Can you give us some details?

For years, most of this audio description work was pretty much isolated from the entertainment industry. It’s only recently some of the major streaming services had even existed, let alone offered it!

So back then, my experience as a narrator was limited to getting a call from a scheduler, going into record a tv series or movie in a studio booth, then going home. That was it!

Then a few years ago, I had the advice from a mentor in the entertainment industry, specifically on the voice over side, who encouraged me to step out. I reached out to a few people, and I started to talk about audio description publicly, dipping my toes into social media.

And that’s when I met Kevin. He was one of the first people to reach out to me. He heard my credit on a tv show, and sent an introductory message, saying how he’s constantly spreading the word about audio description, asking if there was anything he could do to help the cause. Kevin said how important it was for the narrator of audio description to pull him into the story, and how audio description helps a lot, especially when there are a lot of things that occur without dialogue. He confirmed a lot of suspicions – and the tables had turned in the best way possible, the connection was a two way street!

I felt so good to connect with someone who had actually heard the audio description. I was really moved that he cared enough to reach out, and give some appreciation, support, and suggestions – it felt good, of course – but it also gave me the opportunity to connect with a consumer directly. One of the first messages I asked of him him was about participating in facebook groups about a discussion about audio description. A few months later that Audio Description Discussion group was set up on facebook. And with that feedback, we were getting results! For example, in an audio description script, the archaic phrase “guide cane” was changed to “white cane” – the first of a few useful examples of blind audiences giving welcomed feedback to the audio description process.

He asked a few questions about the process behind the scenes.

He told me he was blind since birth, and shared how he had been watching tv shows and movies without audio description, and all the cues that he picks up on. I was flattered he said he heard my voice “about 172 times, give or take.”

As we continued the conversation, each of our replies got longer and longer. Our friendship grew from afar, like pen pals. In addition to talking about audio description, he opened up more about his own life, the independence his mom gave him. She shared a story with me about his school bus not available one day, and how they both took the train to school. She said he had insisted on walking the rest of the way from the train stop, and she said she’d allow it. But she told me she followed him from a distance as he stopped at red lights, and made his way to the school. When he got to school, his teacher said “You know you’re mom’s been following you?” and he’s like, “Yeah, of course. I could smell her cologne.”

He shared stories of his love of top 40 radio, of dates that went right and went wrong. And one of several of my favorites: a server at a restaurant who approached his table, with a meek “knock knock?” greeting. It still makes me laugh.

You’ve been on Blind Pride International calls, and interviewed on talk shows. What’s it like? Do you feel like you are repeating the same information?

With every interview I’ve been a part of, the interviewer has a slightly different approach. While I do have messages that I like to emphasize (specifically quality and excellence in audio description, bridging the gap between audiences and the entertainment industry, and elevating blind voices), each approach from the interviewer gives me a chance to explore these topics from different angles. I learn from the questions and the conversations, too. I’ve been privileged to be able to share stories, and when I do I want to make sure the spotlight is on these core messages. The essence of these stories are important to get out, and I enjoy learning more about different approaches to the messages; that keeps it fresh. And for the banquet keynote speech, I rehearsed it about 2 dozen times, with blind friends and others listening in to help guide the clarity of the mesage.

You’ve mentioned “nothing about us without us” in the context of blind advisors of audio description and also talents. Can you talk more about that?

Rick Boggs has a wealth of information about the history of audio description, and points out that it is a service created for blind people by blind people. That core needs to be a part of the projects, and not just a “well I guess we have to” element. The “nothing about us without us” is a simple statement that audio description companies are acting on, and starting to publicly recognize. Blind experts bring creativity, problem solving, and specific experiences that sighted people like me could never replicate; that contribution by blind experts and talents is essential to quality audio description. There are voice talents, sound engineers, and others in this business who are blind. In their professionalism and expertise, both within audio description and their other projects, makes a difference for the good, and in other ways it really doesn’t matter that they are blind or not. Where I think this nuance lies is this: blind people need to have equal opportunity to sighted people, and as this particular audio description continues to grow, it’s essential that “nothing about us without us” is a core component.

In your keynote speech, you gave a specific call to action to the ACB convention attendees. Can you give some background?

Sure! With the launch of Kevin’s Process, it’s important that the audience drives this mission, and each element has been driven by blind audiences. So we are asking blind audiences to demand what they want in a way that brings a clear and common message. Kevin’s Process is one way to do this; and having a message that we can all get behind was crucial to getting the results we want. ACB and other organizations have been working toward quality and excellence in audio description and to make sure that was reflected in specific action steps. There are so many partnerships that can be made by reaching out! Here they are by the way:

1. Go to kevinsProcess.com/concierge to find ways to reach out to the studios, vendors, and distributors. ACB’s weblinks are included.

2. Follow along and contribute at KevinsProcess.com

3. On social media – use any or all of these hashtags:

#BlindPeopleWatchTV

#BlindPeopleWatchMovies

#KevinsProcess and

#AudioDescription

4. Speak up to your organizations; for example, ACB has multiple committees working on your behalf; speak up to your leaders, your influencers, and where ever else you want to be heard

5. Reach me at twitter @roysamuelson facebook roysamuelsonbiz or email roy@kevinsprocess.com

6. There are resources online at acb.org/adp, and we’ll always engage to find more places to connect.

Original Publishing: ACB Voices Q&A WITH ACB BANQUET SPEAKER ROY SAMUELSON

Interview with Roy Samuelson

By Angelica Vallecillo Goncalves

Join me and my friends as we talk about A Little Bit Of Everything. Let’s talk Reality TV, Hear me Sing, Let’s hear about people’s up and downs of their journey to success. If you can think it, then let’s talk about it. Join in on the fun with me, your host Angelica.

Interview with Roy Samuelson