My description work spans live performances, virtual events, and recorded media. My workflow is ever-changing - I might be scripting, editing and recording, or creating accessible brand consistency for clients. Connect with me today to find the right approach for your audience.
Recorded Descriptions
TV, film, and broadcast are among the main clients for recorded descriptions, usually utilizing inline descriptions that are fit into the breaths and pauses of the media. For the end user, it is as easy to turn on in a streaming app such as Netflix the same way that captions are turned on. Simply select your favorite show or movie, click on “audio” instead of “captions/subtitle” and look for “English - descriptive audio” or something similar, depending on the streaming service. And if the media you are about to consume doesn’t offer AD, be an advocate and send an email to the service requesting it. AD is wonderful for turning your favorite media into a radio or podcast-like experience - listen while you go to sleep, cook, commute, or anytime you need an eyes-free solution.
View my portfolio of recorded media and educational clients.
Examples of recorded descriptions:
Excerpt from cartoon, “Insect to Injury.”
Includes example of inline audio description.
‘Ways of Seeing’.
Documentary by BBC, AD private work for hire.
Includes examples of inline audio description.
‘Deep Dives in to Access Services’.
Short video created by Bridget Melton for CCAC to introduce their YouTube playlist.
Includes examples of inline audio description and voice over.
‘Join the CCAC Steering Committee’.
Short intro created by Bridget Melton as a promotional tool, followed by Q&A.
Includes examples of inline audio description and voice over.
Live performance descriptions
Photo of Bridget seated at a table in a booth at the back of Goodman Theatre in Chicago, the audience and stage visible in front of her as she waits to describe a performance, an open script in front of her.
Photo of Bridget seated at a desk in a basement office, with a microphone directly in front of her. She turns to the camera, smiling. On the desk in front of her is her open calling script and a tiny monitor through which she viewed the live performance of “Hamilton” happening in the theatre up above.
As a live describer for in-person performances, I have worked with a number of clients, including Fair Assembly, Broadway in Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Remy Bumppo, and Steep Theatre, describing over 60 different productions over the years.
Example of preshow notes:
While this is a description of a recorded performance, it offers a great example of non-linear dance description.
‘ORA’, choreographer José Navas and filmmaker Philippe Baylaucq.
Educational use only to demonstrate AD for dance. Original video and credits.
Another recorded performance offering a great example of story driven dance description.
‘Le Sacre du Printemps’, choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky, composer Igor Stravinsky, performed by Joffrey Ballet.
For educational use only to demonstrate AD for dance. Original documentary video and credits.
Includes examples at beginning of an Audio Introduction.
Live extemporaneous descriptions
Photo of Bridget and her live remote describing set up. She is seated in a tiny room in front of a two level desk, with dual monitors, a large microphone, and wearing large one-eared headphones.
Photo of Bridget standing outside in front of the speaker stage at the 2018 March to the Polls Women’s March Chicago. She wears a day-glo vest and speaks into a stenographers mask as she in person live describes the event.
Extemporaneous descriptions happen off the cuff, needing quick thinking, snap judgements, and confident tone. Extemporaneous descriptions are best suited for meetings, lectures, or events with minimal pageantry and can happen in person or virtually. Recent extemporaneous events I had the honor of working on include the 2024 Democratic National Convention (in person), CBS Broadcast of the 2024 CMT Awards, 2023 Microsoft IGNITE and BUILD conferences, as well as the official YouTube live streams of the 2021 Presidential Inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris.
Educational Descriptions
Audio descriptions for educational purposes usually utilize extended descriptions (as opposed to inline descriptions), where the video will stop, descriptions inserted, then the video resumes. This allows the student to understand more fully a visual than the breath or pause allotted in the original media. Care must be taken to ensure that the descriptions do not get too long, as no student should be watching a video that takes 30 minutes when their peers are only watching for 10. These projects also benefit from full transcripts, allowing the student another way to engage with the material.
View my portfolio of recorded media and educational clients.
Educational video featuring extended descriptions.
Educational video featuring extended descriptions.
excerpt from ‘All Life is Struggle’.
For educational use only. Original video and credits.
Includes examples at beginning of extended description and audio intro.
‘Traditional Choctaw Dance’.
Examples of inline description.
NPS proprietary viewer allows you to click icon at bottom of video to turn on/off the AD.
articles and VOCAL Demos
As a volunteer reader for CRIS Radio and Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, I often come across articles that speak to me for one reason or another. I never know what I might be reading next, from articles celebrating the holidays to even the entire Illinois Rules of the Road Handbook.
Examples of my reading are below, complete with image descriptions that can so often be left out of reading the written word.