Every year, ACB’s Audio Description Project (ADP) and our partner, the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP), co-sponsor the BADIE Contest, in which blind and visually impaired young people ages 7 to 21 watch an audio-described film of their choice and then write a 300-word evaluation of the film’s audio description. Writers share specific ways the audio description enhanced or detracted from their experience with the film. Members of the BADIE committee read all contest entries and choose first, second, and third place winners in four student age categories. The grand prize winner receives an iPad Mini, a gift card, and an invitation to read their review at the national conference and convention.
Grand Prize Winner: Mae Lane-Karnas
You know it’s a great audio description when you have no recollection of it. Audio descriptions at their finest should fit perfectly in the cracks of a story so you can get swept up in the story without having to think of them as “extra.” Director Tim Burton’s TV series “Wednesday” has clear, concise audio descriptions that gives you the perfect amount of information given the time allotted. They paint a clear picture of what's going on, and they match the overall tone of the program. They fit perfectly in the cracks.
At the same time, I wish they had had more time to talk about the visual nuances and story-telling Tim Burton is known for. One of the most appealing character traits of Wednesday Addams is that she maintains a Kubrick stare (a down-tilted head with eyes staring through the eyebrows) throughout the TV show. The amount of expression in her eyes alone is so subtle and detailed and yet impactful and I don’t feel we got adequate access as a blind audience. There is also a lot of visual symbolism, clues, and red herrings supporting the murder mystery aspect of the show that I don’t think we get access to either. I feel quite sad about that.
This has become one of my favorite TV shows because of the access audio descriptions have provided. At the same time, I want access to the more artistic and visually nuanced elements sighted fans get to enjoy.
Seniors
First Place: Jacqueline Campuzano-Benitez
Second Place: Katelyn Divis
Third Place: Lynn Wu
Juniors
First Place: Mae Lane-Karnas
Second Place: Cai Tague
Third Place: Landon Bryson
Alternate Assessment
First Place: Even Landeros
Second Place: Xavier Ortega