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Help Wanted: Star Wars films with audio description. Can anyone help out?? — Page 2

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Hi Ricardo!

thanks for the update!

I am really looking forward to hearing what wgbh has to say. I've tryed contacting them myself, but so far I did not get a reply either!

I know they've described at leaste three of the movies, and so far I've only mannedged to get a hold of a coppy of episode 4 a new hope. As I mentioned priviouslly in this thred, another kind soul from here mannedged to get this one from his local library.

However, I'm still on the look out for all of the other films, (including the prequells) so I'd indeed apprrishiate it if you could figure out some more from wgbh. I know they've described more than just "A new hope", and it indeed would be cool to be able to have the intire saga with audio description!.

Once again - thanks for all of your help - it is indeed apprishiated!

I am Looking forward to hearing from you later.

Best regards from Allan
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i'm glad you've found A New Hope.. i know the prequels in DVS do exist because they were released theatrically like that. i'll keep hounding them for you.

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Hi again

Just to keep you guise updated on the info I've found. It's not much, but perhaps it would be a good idea to contac this network also?

http://www.NarrativeTV.com

After reading a few articles on the net, I understand that this network, (just like WGBH), has also described two star wars films, which aired on TV. I could find no info about which of the films it concirnt, but according to the article they should have been described by joel snyder.

I'll try e-mailing them soon to see what they can tell me.

Kind regards from allan
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Hi again

Just a little more info and some thaughts:

I contacted narrative television Network - and got this response:

Allan:

We have only done one Star Wars film. We did the 25th anniversary edition of the original.... The film were done for Turner Broadcasting, but we do not have the rights to distribute it. Hopefully at some point in the
future it will be available for DVD release.

Thank you,

Jim Stovall

Well, it seems that alot of narative networks did star wars films, apart from wgbh. I actually seem to have mixed narrative tv with NCI - national Capturing institude, which is another network, that indeed made audio description for two of the installments:
http://www.ncicap.org

These descriptions were done by joel snyder, and one of the films he did describe was "The empire strikes back".

Unfortunatlly though, these descriptions were also made for tv, and it does not seem as they're avaleble to purchase officially on video.

However, I've sendt an e-mail to the institute anyway, in the hope that they can help out in some form, as it really would be great if some kind of arangement could be made, so I could have a listen to the descriptive soundtraks from the films they've done.

I do not know if anything like this would be possible, but maybe I could purchase a coppy directly from NCI. This coppy I then only wanted to purchase for private listening plasure in my own home and for my own private use. Of course I would be prepared to clear any rights for this purchase, and I'd also be prepared to pay what ever such a special purchased coppy would cost.

Well, I dont know if anything like this is possible in the states at all, but I do know that this kind of arangement can be made in some countries. For instance, here in Denmark we actually can buy broadcasts directly through the broadcaster - broadcasts which are not avaleble on vhs or dvd normally. when a private endividual want to buy such broadcasts, he of cource has to pay alot more for it, and any rights which the broadcaster does not have, have to be cleared before a special coppy for private use can be purchased.

Well, just some thaughts

Kind regards from Allan
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Hi everyone

Just another update on my progress in getting my hands on the rest of the star wars films with audio description.

Not much to tell, I'm afraid. I've been emailing both wgbh and NCI severel times cince my last update, but so far I've not gottten a reply! very annoying indeed, as It indeed would be great to enjoy the intire saga with AD.

Well, unfortunatlly thats what the situation is like for now.

Kind regards from allan
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Hello again

Just another update regarding my efforts in getting the rest of the star wars films with audio description.

Its been a while since the last update, however this time I've great news to tell!

I've namely finally mannedged to get my hands on audio described coppys of "the empire strikes back", and return of the jedi", which indeed is super!!
A kind soal helped me getting my hands on these versions, andI really am very greatful for that! Finally I can now get the full original sw-experience without sighted asistance!

The descriptions were really well done, and they did helpe me to keep track of the plot and to apprishiate all of the great visuals that Lucas and his team have created for these clasic films!

I did enjoy all of the trilogy, however I especially was impressed by the detailed descriptions of the many action cequences in Return of the Jedi. They really were well done, and I also did enjoy the speeder byke ceequence on the forrest moon of Endore, and the final battle between Luke and vader. . Really well done and detailed descriptions!
I was also very impressed with the way in whitch the describer was able to set the mood for the more cilent ceequences (vader death-scene, the Han/Leeah-relationship and so
forth).

Well, its great to finally have the original trilogy with AD. However, I'm still on the look out for the prequels, which have also been described by WGBH.
I've tryed contacting them regarding these descriptions severel times, but so far I've not gotten any reply.

Well, that's what the situation is like at the moment. I've still to track down the first three films, and then I'll finally be able to enjoy the full saga with audio description!

Kind regards from allan
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It's great to hear you tracked down the OT films with audio description. I'd like to ask: are they NTSC or PAL? Original theatrical versions or the special editions? And would it be possible to digitally capture them to share with the rest of us?

To contact me outside the forum, for trades and such my email address is my OT.com username @gmail.com

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as for "Episode 4", its the original theatrical version, ESB and RoTJ are both the special edditions, as broadcast on fox a few years ago.

i've only gotten the audio for a new hope, but ESB and ROTJ are both in ntsc. Regarding capturing, I'd love to se these audio tracks added to some kind of dvd-project at some point, However, just for now, I've not gotten the opoutunity to capture the audio for ESB and ROTJ, but there should be no problems in sharing "A new hope", if anyone should be interested. as stated before, it'd really be great if someone would like to add the AD-track to a dvd-project. I would not be able to do this my self, as I'd not know how to synch it to the video correctly.

BTW, if any of you should stumple apon info regarding the prequels with AD, I'd really like to hear from you. it seems that some local libraries do have episode 1.

Kind regards - and thanks in advance
Allan
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Originally posted by: mallanikkelsen
I would not be able to do this my self, as I'd not know how to synch it to the video correctly.


This sounds like a bit of understatement... I think there are an awful lot of people here who wouldn't know how to do this.

If or when the descriptive audio is captured, the video should be captured at the same time. It's much easier to sort out where the audio should go when there's video to work from.

I'm sorta interested to hear this track myself, so I do hope the audio is captured and added to some project. Good luck!

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Mallanikkelsen, are you still with us?

I was digging through some old posts and remembered your quest for AD audio for the Star Wars films. Living in Australia there are occasionally AD tracks on our DVDs (ported over from the UK release usually) and I have come to enjoy listening to them if only out of curiosity. Did you ever find any of the tracks, I think you found ANH and were looking to be getting the SE versions of ESB and ROTJ? I would love to hear these if you're still around.

To contact me outside the forum, for trades and such my email address is my OT.com username @gmail.com

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  Hi Klokwork

Yes, I'm still here.

The situation is like this:
I did mannadged to get the AD-tracks for episode 4, 5 and 6. Episode 4 is the original theatrical release, whilst Ep 5 and 6 are the SE versions.

I am still on the look out for the AD-tracks for ep 1, 2 and 3.
I know that episode 1 is avaleble on vhs via some local US libraries, unfortunatlly I've not been able to get a coppy. Ep 2 and 3 has only been released
theatrically with AD, but never on home video or DVD.

I've tryed contacting the producer of the tracks, WGBH, severel times regarding my possibilities to purchase these in some form, but so far I've not gotten
any respons!
I'd still like to get in touch with anyone who perhaps could help out in getting the AD-tracks for the prequels, as I'd love to be able to watch the intire
Saga without sighted asistance.

Regarding the tracks I alreddy have tracked down, send me a PM and we can possibly work something out.

Kind regards from Allan
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Glad to see you're still with us.

It's a shame that you don't have the OT versions of Episodes 5 & 6 or the SE of Episode 4. I suppose it's a different narrator for the SE tracks than the one used for the OT track? If me bumping this thread means that more people will become interested and help you in your quest perhaps these tracks and the VHS version of Episode 1 can be found for you.

It's a shame that Episodes 2 & 3 weren't released on home video with the AD audio tracks. Were tracks for these two films created? I suppose to show theatrically? It's also a shame that WGBH hasn't responded to you at all.

By the way, I've sent you a PM.

To contact me outside the forum, for trades and such my email address is my OT.com username @gmail.com

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Originally posted by: mallanikkelsen
I managed to get the AD-tracks for episode 4, 5 and 6. Episode 4 is the original theatrical release, whilst Ep 5 and 6 are the SE versions.


Good work! I'll bet it wouldn't take that much effort to re-tool the SE tracks for the original releases. Or would it?

I've tried contacting the producer of the tracks, WGBH, severel times regarding my possibilities to purchase these in some form, but so far I've not gotten any response!


That's one of the best arguments for expiring copyright right there. I'm not even visually impaired (well, nothing double-digit diopters can't fix...), but I'd want to see the AD tracks end up out there and widely available, just to show those turkeys they're doing people a disservice by sitting on their unbuyable product. It really shouldn't be this hard for anybody to track down and want to give money to the producers of something like this!

None of my business, really, but I hope you and klokwerk are working out some plan to make these tracks available to a wider audience. That'd be cool...
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Hello again

Yes it indeed is a shame that WGBH has not responded to my e-mails at all, as I really would be intrested in getting these tracks! I'd of course only be to happy to pay what ever a specially produced coppy for me would cost, but no no! they are just not responding at all.

Just to recap the situation:
The following star wars films have had an AD-track created:
Episode 4 (original version - track produced by WGBH - is avaleble to lent from local US libraries - mannedged to get a coppy of this)

Episode 4 (SE version - track produced by narative television - aired on TNT, but not avaleble to purchase anywhare I am still looking for a coppy).

Episode 5 (SE version - produced by Audio description asosiates - track done by Joel Snider. Broadcast on fox - not avaleble to purchase anywhare, but fortunatlly I've mannedged to get a coppy of the track).

Episode 6 (SE version - Produced by audio description Asosiates - track done by Joel Snider. Once again broadcast on fox - not avaleble to purchase, but I fortunatlly also have mannedged to get a coppy of this one).

Episode 1 (produced by wgbh for the theatrical release. later broadcast on fox, and released on video, that you can lent from local Us libraries like:
http://dpi.wi.gov/rll/wrlbph/audiodescvideos.html
I'm still looking for a coppy of this one for my collection).

episode 2 (once again produced by WGBH for the theatrical release. Not avaleble on home video - unfortunatlly).

Episode 3 (same as above).

As you can tell, alot of diffrent audio description tracks have indeed been produced, however alot of them are very hard to find.

once again, I'd be most greatful if anyone inhere would be able to help out in getting any of the remaining tracks.

Kind regards from allan
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I am currently doing a personal edit of Episode II, and if you'd like, I could consider doing a descriptive audio track myself.

Of course, this will not be the "official version" of Episode II. I've made quite a lot of changes (Really only improving the movie, but I can understand if you'd like the "real" version of the film.)

Let me know.
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Hi SweH

Thanks for your great offer, which I indeed apprishiate. However, I'm mostly intrested in getting my hands on the real thing! However, if you decided to include an AD-track anyway, I'd of course be intrested in having a listen to it.

Once again thanks for the offer.

Kind regards from Allan
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Thinking about this some more, I came to the conclusion that if I could consider doing one for my edit, why wouldn't I consider doing it for the original film? PM me your e-mail address and I'll get back to you when I know for sure (Gotta get a decent microphone and such first).
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Hello again

That'd be cool, I'll send you a pm.

all the best from allan
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I had to use a screenreader here for a little while, and one thing that drove me crazy on forums was people with long signatures, you had to listen to the entire sig over and over again.
I still use it from time to time, it is handy sometimes to have the computer read to you whilst you are doing something else.

I've contacted some Australian societies to see if we have any releases available over here.
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Hello Laserman

Thanks so much for checking this out, it is apprishiated alot! It'd be so fantastic if you have any luck!

All the best from allan
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hello again

Just to keep you guys updated:

I'm still on the look out for the prequels with AD-tracks. Yesterday I wrote WGBH once again to ask if it in some way would be possible to purchase the tracks they've produced, let's see if I receive a reply this time!

Kind regards from Allan
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I'm trying to find a high quality not-too-expensive microphone to record this kind of dat with. Any tips?
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try a pzm microphone. radio shack used to sell them, and they're readily available on ebay. it's a plate microphone, and when mounted properly, gives you a great, open room recording on a budget mic. i've fought with several mic situations, and will often fall back on my $40 plate mics.

realistic is the brand you should look for. like this one.

FE<3OT

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Hello again

Well, I finally got a reply from WGBH!! however, this is sad news indeed:

Thank you for your interest in DVS Home Video. Unfortunately, we currently do not have the rights to distribute the Star Wars films on any home video format.
We did have description on the theatrical releases for episodes 1 - 3 and we in the past had the home video rights for episode 4, however, at this time
we have been unable to secure the rights to distribute any of the episodes.

If this situation changes I will contact you directly and if I can help you with anything else, please let me know.

Regards,

Michael Callahan

Well, I wrote him back, asking if there were any possibilities for me to purchase the tracks from there library directly. I stated that I'd be prepared to clear any rights for this, and pay whatever these specially produced copies might cost. I'll keep you updated.

Kind regards from allan

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