Events and Contests
Audio Description-themed contests and events designed to promote awareness about the benefits of listening to described media!
Young Described Film Critic Contest (YDFC)
The second annual YDFC, presented by the American Council of the Blind’s (ACB) Audio Description Project, is under way, and this year we’re hoping that even more schools, families, and others get involved in reviewing described films and media!
Kids love movies. If you’re a young person who can’t see or can’t see well, audio description provides access to all the visual images of the movies that your sighted peers enjoy.
Some films in movie theaters and certain DVDs have description available; many of those DVDs and the older VHS tapes with description can be borrowed at public libraries or state libraries for the blind. Some—like Young Heroes: Louis Braille—are freely available online.
The YDFC wants you to experience these films and the description soundtracks and tell us about them!
Young people with a visual impairment have a chance to win prizes for themselves, recognition for their schools—and a chance to hold the awesome title “Young Described Film Critic of the Year!”
All you need to do for a chance to win is to write, type, or record (audio or video) your own film review of any described movie and send it to us for review. Keep it short: 250 words maximum.
There are three age categories: Sophomore (ages 7 to 10), Junior (ages 11 to 14), and Senior (ages 15 to 18). You can enter as many times as you like!
The top nominees in each age category will be invited to an awards ceremony at the American Council of the Blind 2010 convention in Phoenix, AZ on July 14, 2010. Special guest award presenters will be in attendance and, while the prizes are still to be determined, we know you won’t be disappointed!
The deadline for YDFC entries is Friday, June 11, 2010, so now is a great time to get started!
How to Enter
We’ve set up a convenient online YDFC entry form, so you can directly enter your review, upload a file containing your review, or send us a link to your video/audio review posted online.
Otherwise, you can send us your written entry in regular or large print or braille via e-mail or postal mail. (Submissions from outside the United States are fine.) Our postal address is:
ACB–Young Described Film Critic
2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650,
Arlington, VA 22201 USA
You will need to include these details:
- Name
- Address
- Phone
- Age Category (Sophomore [ages 7 to 10], Junior [ages 11 to 14], or Senior [ages 15 to 18])
- Name of School and Class/Teacher
- School Address and Phone Number/Website
Top Ten Tips for Writing the Ultimate Film Review
- 1. Write in the present tense.
- For example: “The main character of the film is called…” or “When the film starts, he or she does this or that.”
- 2. Remember your audience and make it fun!
- Just because you're writing a review doesn’t mean it can’t be fun to read. Make it as entertaining as possible for your readers.
- 3. Dish the Dirt.
- Say exactly what you think (but say it well). Tell the reader whether you loved or hated it—but be certain to say why. The judges want to hear your personal opinion.
- 4. Don’t tell the story.
- You only have 250 words, so don’t waste them telling the story. Readers only need to know the outline of the plot and a little bit about the main characters.
- 5. Be a reporter!
- If you can, take notes while you’re watching the film (write down memorable quotes, significant moments, etc.).
- 6. Make time.
- The best reviews are written while the film is still fresh in the mind, so do try to get your ideas down as soon as possible after seeing the film. Don’t forget to re-read your review, edit it, and then prepare a finished version.
- 7. Submit original work.
- Make sure your work is original and not copied from another source in any way. No cheating!
- 8. Meet your deadline.
- Even the most famous and best paid film critics in the world have to get their reviews done on time, so don’t forget your deadline!
Listening Awareness Month
Video with audio description is a great learning tool every day, all year long. March is “Listening Awareness Month” and a perfect time to promote description and teach people about its benefits. (See What is Audio Description? for a definition and examples of description.) We’ve partnered with the International Listening Association (ILA) to strengthen our message.
The ILA is a professional organization, and its members are dedicated to learning more about the impact that listening has on all human activity. With a membership based in the fields of education, business, government, medicine, human resources, training and development, media, and the arts, the ILA brings a great deal of multidisciplinary listening expertise to our partnership.
How to Celebrate Listening Awareness Month
- 1. Learn about the benefits of listening.
- The ILA is a great source of quotations, facts and statistics, and other insights about listening, so be sure to check out the ILA website for a wealth of information. And, of course, we’ve provided a primer of sorts to explain the benefits of listening specifically to description (even for students with no visual impairments) available right here on the LIL site.
- 2. Experience some audio description.
- LIL is all about video-based media, and the DCMP provides a great deal of described educational content to its members. You can also check out the DCMP YouTube channel for some previews and exclusive videos with open audio description. There’s also a great list of DVDs available with audio description on the Audio Description Project website along with a complete listing of current major motion pictures available with audio description (they call it DVS) on the MoPix website.
- 3. Show your LIL pride!
- If you’re a fan of listening—especially if you’re a fan of listening to description—you’ll definitely want to hang up one of our 18-inch-by-24-inch posters [PDF]! If you’re especially motivated, you can also order some colorful LIL brochures [PDF] to pass out to folks you wish to enlist in the cause of listening to audio description! Posters and brochures are available at absolutely no charge and look great on any number of surfaces, so get yours today!
- 4. Become a LIL collaborator.
- Are you a member, officer, board member, or other representative of a listening-focused organization? While LIL is focused on listening to audio description, we’re mindful that there are tons of applications for listening, just as there are myriad reasons for developing and fostering impeccable listening skills, and we want to invite you into the LIL fold as a collaborator. For more information, or to make recommendations, fill out our LIL contact form.