How to Become a Caption Writer
Being a caption writer or editor is far more difficult than it appears. Not only must you be a good writer, but you must also have superb technical skills and the ability to react extremely quickly to unforeseen circumstances. Here are a few suggestions on how to become a caption writer.
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Things You'll Need
- Contacts at a captioning service/institute
- English degree or similar (optional)
Instructions
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Apply for a job with the National Captioning Institute. You will test with them, and if you pass, you will be interviewed. If they like you, they may hire you. There is an extensive training program during which you may have to get up as early as 5 in the morning. Are you prepared for that? You will be learning to edit major motion pictures and TV shows (see Resources below).
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Keep moving forward. If you have good grammar and writing skills, then work on paying attention to what you're being asked to do. You will be taking an actor's dialogue and cutting it up into smaller chunks, learning to place the caption in a particular place on the screen and hear voices as they trail off camera. You will also be captioning sound effects, accents and non-verbal reactions.
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Caption the easier programs and films first. This is a no-brainer and probably what your boss will advise. You do not want to start with Italian films or fast action movies. Slow, romantic films are a good way to go. Also, the fewer people on screen talking--and ideally, slowly--the better you'll be. It's not recommended to caption a movie with a fast-talking New Yorker right out of the starting gate!
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Watch films and TV shows on your DVD player and notice how often the camera cuts away. Ask yourself if you could caption dialogue that quickly, knowing you will be paraphrasing--rather than writing verbatim--what is being said. This will give you an indication if becoming a caption writer is truly for you.
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