TheatreNI Captioning Service Guide Contents

Transcription

1 TheatreNI Captioning Service Guide Contents 1. Introduction TheatreNI Captioning Equipment Booking Process for TheatreNI Captioning Equipment TheatreNI Captioner Costs TheatreNI Captioner Requirements TheatreNI Captioner Contact Details

2 1. Introduction TheatreNI offers a captioning service to increase access to theatre and the performing arts for deaf or hard of hearing audience members. Captioning can also be useful for those that miss lines, find certain dialects and accents difficult to understand or for those whom English is not their first language. Venues, festivals and production companies within Northern Ireland are able to hire TheatreNI s captioning equipment and captioners. 2. TheatreNI Captioning Equipment Captioning Equipment Hire Costs TheatreNI members pay no hire fee for the use of TheatreNI s captioning equipment, non-members pay 100. All hirers will pay a captioner s fee and will be required to organise insurance cover for the duration of the hire of the equipment, and are responsible for the collection and return of the captioning equipment which is housed in the Grand Opera House. Please note: For most organisations an annual TheatreNI membership will cost the same or considerably less than our captioning hire cost and as such becoming a TheatreNI member may help you to make considerable savings. Insurance and transport of the captioning equipment must be provided by the user - insurance may be negligible if included within existing insurance cover. Captioning Equipment Description TheatreNI captioning equipment available is as follows: 2 x Jayex LED panels in flight cases Flight case dimensions: 180 cm x 44cm x 17cm Panel size: 178cm x 36cm x 6cm LEDs are 3.00mm with a 4.57mm pitch - total on the panel: 352 x 64 pixels The panels have a rigging point at each end on the top (suitable for a half ton bow shackle) 2 x laptop computers with power cables 2 x wind up stands to mount Jayex panels 2 x clamps to connect panels to stands 2 x USB RS485 interface units 1 x power cable for each Jayex panel 2

3 Jayex Panel Rigging The Jayex panels can be rigged in a variety of ways: 1. On provided stands, either singly; or one on each side of the stage (pros) Optimum positions are at the average height of the actors heads so that audience members eyes have minimum movement from actor to panel. 2. Panels can be flown On either side of the pros Above the stage - as low as possible - but ensuring that no lighting strikes the panel. Check that all seats have a view of the panel without too much neck movement. 3. Sitting on rostra, tables, etc., on either side of the stage (supported by stage weights) 4. Sitting on the stage, on either side (beware of sight lines and other audience members heads obstructing vision) 3. Booking Process for TheatreNI Captioning Equipment To book the captioning equipment please follow this simple 6-step process. STEP 1: Check captioning equipment availability Contact Aine Dolan at the Grand Opera House in Belfast to check the captioning equipment availability and place a provisional booking. Aine Dolan adolan@goh.co.uk Tel: (Stage Door) STEP 2: Book a TheatreNI captioner Contact our TheatreNI captioners directly in order to check their availability. Captioners will inform you of their specific requirements to enable them to successfully carry out a captioned performance. Please note that an agreement is made between the captioner and the employer and your booking is not valid until the captioner contract has been completed and returned to the captioner. Michael Poynor michaelpoynor@hotmail.com Landline (preferred): Mobile: Pauline Matthew pauliemath@hotmail.com Mobile:

4 STEP 3: Book captioning equipment and arrange collection and return Contact Aine Dolan to confirm your captioning equipment booking, and arrange a time and date to collect and return the equipment. Please note that the captioning equipment should be returned within 24 hours of use. STEP 4: Arrange Insurance The TheatreNI captioning equipment must be insured by the organisation hiring it for the entire period of time that it is in their care. The captioning equipment must be insured before it is collected. Any damage occurring to the captioning equipment whilst it is on hire will be charged to the organisation hiring the equipment. STEP 5: Collect and return captioning equipment TheatreNI captioning equipment is stored at: The Grand Opera House 2 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7HR The captioning equipment can be picked up at the stage door. STEP 6: Pay invoices If your organisation is not a TheatreNI member it will be invoiced for use of the captioning equipment. This invoice must be paid within one month of the invoice being issued. The TheatreNI captioner will invoice separately for their fee and travel expenses. 4

5 4. TheatreNI Captioner Costs Standard rate for a captioner to deliver a captioned performance in Northern Ireland Additional performances of the same show within a three month period of the initial captioned performance Additional performances of the same show after a three month period from the initial captioned performance Script formatting charges may be applied by the captioner if: Digital scripts (Word or PDF) are not provided Scripts are delivered in unsuitable formats e.g. lack of punctuation, capitalisation, etc captioner travel expenses to be agreed with the captioner (this may include travel, parking and where deemed necessary, accommodation) captioner travel expenses (as above) A reduced fee may be negotiated between the captioner and employer depending on how much variation there is from the first production This charge may be negotiated between the captioner and employer depending on how much additional work is required This charge is applied for the time required by the captioner to transfer hard copies of scripts into a digital format Script change charges may be applied by the captioner if an up-to-date script (complete with changes) is not provided by the employer to the captioner within the agreed timescales These charges are at the discretion of the captioner Should problems in accessing an up-to-date script be anticipated charges should be negotiated with the captioner If an up-to-date script has not been provided by: 1. One week prior to the First Viewing by the captioner - an extra charge of 6 per hour for any additional hours will be applied (timesheets to be provided) 2. First Viewing - an extra charge of 50 will be applied, in addition to the hourly fee outlined in point 1 above. An extra viewing may also be necessary. 3. Second Viewing - in addition to the extra charges outlined in 1 and 2 above, the captioner may, should circumstances dictate (other work commitments etc.), cancel the agreed captioned performance time/date without forfeit of the agreed fee 5

6 5. TheatreNI Captioner Requirements Please be aware when hiring a TheatreNI captioner that prior to the captioned performance you will be required to provide: A Script Script Changes A script must be provided at least three weeks prior to the captioned performance that is: - Up-to-date - In Microsoft Word or PDF format The captioner may provide further formatting requirements during the booking process. In the event of new plays, pantomimes, or where original scripts have been adapted/changed, all changes must be notified to the captioner on a regular basis. Changes should be highlighted by either: Using Track Changes in Word document scripts; or Stating the page, line and specific change made to the script. A DVD/Recording Two Viewings Front of House Announcements Set up of a Captioning Workstation Set up of the Captioning Equipment A recent DVD of the production should be provided, or permission given for the captioner to make a video recording of a performance (which will be deleted upon completion of captioning). Two opportunities for the captioner to view the show before captioning the captioned performance must be arranged unless otherwise agreed. A copy of front of house announcements made prior to the commencement of a performance should be submitted to the captioner in Word format at least one week prior to captioning. A table, with a working light, at the back of the auditorium with a good view of the stage must be set up. At least three 15 amp sockets must be available by the desk to accommodate the desk light and two laptops. An XLR connecting cable (or connection to house tie lines) is required, one for each captioning panel, to run from the captioner s table (connects to laptop via USB to RS485 converter unit) to the captioning panel. 6

7 The captioning equipment should be rigged, and tested, by in-house technicians, and be ready for use at least one hour before the captioned performance, for set up and checking by the captioner. The captioner will be able to offer advice on setting up and positioning of equipment. 6. TheatreNI Captioner Contact Details TheatreNI currently has two STAGETEXT trained captioners working throughout Northern Ireland. If you wish to book a captioner for a performance please get in touch with them directly using the following contact details. Michael Poynor michaelpoynor@hotmail.com Landline (preferred): Mobile: Pauline Matthew pauliemath@hotmail.com Mobile: