ACCIDENTAL

ACROBATICS
SURTITLING STRATEGIES FOR THE THEATER

> Surtitling needs specific strategies.

> Strategies affected by the spectator-stage
relationship,
which differs from the spectator-screen
relationship.
> Strategies developed for musical theater
and adopted by drama theater as well.
> Strategies alien to the customary
translation practice.

TIME
> Surtitling means telling a story in a time
frame.
> The story is told through a written text
which summarizes the vocal text of a
production.
> The vocal text develops through time,
and so does the equivalent written text.

RHYTHM
> Identify a rhythm in the vocal narration
and use it for the written narration: timing.
> Timing creates a relationship
between vocal and written narrations.
> The rhythmic path to mark (timing)
is affected by contents and editing.
> Right rhythm means right dramaturgy.

EDITING
> Editing is the most familiar phase to a
translator.
It recalls the editorial work of a publishing
house.
> The editing suitable for surtitling, however,
differs largely from the usual editorial
review.
> Editing, in surtitling, is the same as
adaptation:
adaptation to timing, layout, reading times.
> In this process, the starting point
is still a traditional uncut translation.

SERVICE
> Surtitling is a service provided to the
audience.
> This service works
if it integrates with listening and viewing.
> Main working tools
timing / dramaturgy
graphic layout / text format
editing / adaptation
reading times / fruition.

REHEARSE
> In theater, rehearsing is a practice shared
by everyone, including the authors of
surtitles.
> Every linguistic choice needs to be tested
together with acting, singing, stage action.
> Visual-semantic impact of surtitles
as a graphic layout
as rhythm
as narration.

OPTIMIZE
> The standards that make the surtitling
working properly have to be well balanced.
> Our goal is to be achieved gradually, step
by step.
> The phases of this process
are separate yet closely linked.

TEAM
> Making surtitles is a team work.
>
Teams are made up of individuals
with different skills and competences.
> The team needs to be coordinated and
supervised.
> What cant be missed? The spirit of
compromise.

MAIN STEPS OF A
PROCESS

> Timing

Specialist level

> Uncut translation

Traditional level

> Editing / Adaptation Semi-specialist level

> Optimization
studio rehearsing
stage rehearsing

Specialist level

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