Disabled filmmaker seeking blind/low-vision feedback on extended audio description for 3-minute short
Hi! I’m a disabled filmmaker, and I made a 3-minute absurdist, satirical dark comedy parody pharmaceutical commercial. I’m preparing to release it online, and I’m working on an audio-described version. I want to make sure it’s actually useful and enjoyable for blind/low-vision AD users, not just technically “accessible.”
I’m not blind/low-vision myself, so I don’t want to assume I’ve gotten this right without feedback from people who actually use AD. Cross-disability solidarity and access matter a lot to me.
The film is very visually packed — fast cuts, on-screen text, weird background details, visual Easter eggs, etc. — and a lot of the humor relies on those visuals. It’s also very audio-dense, so the AD has to be extended description, with pauses added to make room for the visual information.
I made a rough audio-described mockup using text-to-speech. The original film is 3 minutes, but the extended AD version currently runs 8:46. I have someone lined up to record the final AD, but I’d really like feedback from blind/low-vision AD users first so I can revise the script/timing before asking her to record.
This was a no-budget film, and nobody is making money from it, including me. Because of that, I unfortunately can’t pay for feedback, and I completely understand if that makes this a no. I know this is still labor. If desired, I can offer IMDb credit and/or special thanks in the credits, with your consent.
Content note: dark comedy/satire involving fascism, homelessness, genocide referenced in a fake pharmaceutical side-effects list, emotional suppression, and absurd/disturbing visual humor.
The main feedback I’m looking for:
- Pacing: Does the AD feel rushed, or can you follow it with the sound design/dialogue?
- Detail level: Am I over-describing and killing the joke, or is the detail helpful/needed to get the satire?
- Missing info: Is there any visual information missing that would help the parody land?
If you’re open to listening and giving notes, please comment or DM me and I’ll send the private link. Thank you so much.
Jeia Scott