Before hiring audiovisual translation services for documentaries, it is best to ensure a project is well-defined in terms of where it is going to be seen, what languages are needed, what materials are available, and what kind of audiovisual adaptation will be required. Knowing all this from the outset will enable you to choose the right service, set timeframes, and avoid any issues during the process. Also, documentaries often include interviews, narration, a cultural context, and specific terminology, so they often can’t be dealt with in the same way as other professional video translation services.
Establish what the documentary really needs
The first step isn’t to ask for a quote, but to understand what the project needs. Contracting professional subtitling for documentaries is a different service to requesting dubbing services for documentaries, professional voiceover, or a combination of several formats.
It is also a good idea to think about the target destination of the content. A documentary for festivals, a platform, television, or an education setting may all require different professional audiovisual translation services and different delivery formats. The clearer the project is from the beginning, the easier it will be to contract a service that is well suited to it.
Collect all the material before making contact
When audiovisual translation is to be contracted for producers, companies, or distributors, preparing the material in advance saves time and avoids many adjustments later. Ideally, you would have the final version of the video, the script or transcript if available, the target languages, and a clear idea of how it will be used.
In documentary translation projects, having this information right from the outset helps to assess the type of service needed, the volume of work, and the actual adaptation needs.
Specify the type of audiovisual translation service
One of the most common mistakes is requesting an overly general form of “audiovisual translation”. In documentaries, it is best to specify whether you need video translation and subtitling, documentary transcription, professional voiceover, professional dubbing, or audiovisual localization for multiple markets.
Not all projects have the same requirements In some cases, translating subtitles for documentaries will suffice; in others, a more extensive adaption for international distribution will be needed. The more specific the instructions, the easier it will be to create a useful and realistic proposal.
Look for experience in specialized audiovisual translation
Not all suppliers work in the same way when it comes to audiovisual content. In a documentary, it isn’t just about providing a good translation, but about respecting the tone, the intention, and the consistency of the piece. That’s why, when it comes to contracting professional audiovisual translation services, it is a good idea to assess experience in documentaries, interviews, narration, and content with cultural or terminological concepts.
Check how quality and timeframes are ensured
Another important aspect when it comes to contracting video translation services is knowing how the review stage is managed. In documentaries, small errors in terminology, naturalness, or synchrony can have a significant impact on the end result. As such, it is a good idea to use a service that includes a review stage and quality control as part of the process.
It is also important to determine realistic timeframes from the beginning. Audiovisual translation for documentaries can include several stages and it is best not to leave it to the end, especially if there are premieres, festivals, or closed publication dates.
To summarize
When you need to translate a documentary, making good decisions up front will save all kinds of problems later. Establishing the kind of project, the end use of the content, and the approach needed for adaptation will enable you to make a good decision when contracting an audiovisual translation service, with the most realistic expectations. This is what will provide a final result that is not only accurate, but also useful, natural, and consistent with the original piece.
