Roy Samuelson

Author, coach, speaker, performer

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Access World Interview 2024

https://afb.org/news-publications/media/aw-podcast/episode-7

Welcome to another episode of AccessWorld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility. The AccessWorld podcast is a production of the American Foundation for the Blind. 

In this episode, Aaron and Tony celebrate the power that audio description can have toward making media more inclusive for audiences who are blind or have low vision. They welcome Roy Samuelson, a leading audio description performer, producer, and advocate who continues to be a champion for inclusive media and entertainment. Roy shares his own professional journey, how a close friend sent him on a mission to bring quality in audio description to the masses, and how the team he assembled for AFB’s documentary film “Possibilities” took the craft to a whole new level. 

Want to learn more about those who work behind-the-scenes to make media more inclusive through audio description? Check out the Audio Description Network Alliance, where you can also find out more about your own favorite voices describing content for television and film. 

To learn more about AFB’s documentary film Possibilities, visit www.afb.org/possibilities.

About the Hosts

Tony Stephens is the Director of Communications for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), and Aaron Preece is editor-in-chief of AccessWorld, a quarterly online publication produced by AFB encompassing all things digital inclusion and accessibility. To learn more about AccessWorld, and to gain access to over 20 years of back-issues free of charge, visit www.afb.org/aw.

Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind creates opportunity and expands possibilities through thought leadership, advocacy, and strategic partnerships. Learn more about AFB at www.afb.org and consider making a tax-deductible gift to support our work creating a future of endless possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision.

AccessWorld Podcast, Episode 7 Transcript

Transcripts are now available through the Apple Podcasts app.

News

2024 ACB Sunday Edition: AFB Film “Possibilities”

Sunday Edition: Catching up with Tony Stephens and Roy Samuelson and the AFB Film Possibilities  

https://www.acbmedia.org/2024/04/07/sunday-edition-for-april-7-2024-catching-up-with-tony-stephens-and-roy-samuelson-and-the-afb-film-possibilities/

This week Anthony and crew welcome Tony Stephens and Roy Samuelson back to the show. We will find out what they have been up to  and we will dive into all the information about the Helen Keller inspired AFB Film , Possibilities taking film festivals by storm. Tony will share with us how we can get free screening tickets in the Los Angeles area and other potential screening opportunities. 

Tony Stephens is the director of Communications for the American Foundation for the Blind and a producer on AFB’s full-length documentary film Possibilities,” which is currently making its run through the festival circuit. With over three decades of experience crafting communications for grassroots and national nonprofits, he has worked extensively on campaigns that expand inclusion and opportunity for a diverse range of stakeholders. While at the American Council of the blind, Tony served five years on the Disability Advisory Committee for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and is an avid proponent for inclusive media. He holds an AB.J in Radio, television and Film and a M.A. in Mass Communications from the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia. An avid sailor, he currently lives just off Baltimore Harbor, where he enjoys escaping on the water with his two sons and guide dog Nougat.

“Possibilities” is a full-length documentary film Chronicling the life of Helen Keller, who served as AFB’s chief ambassador for over 44 years. Her impact is told through the real life stories of contemporary voices who are blind, deaf blind, and low-vision. The film premiered in February 2024 at the historic TCI Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, and it was a finalist at the 2024 Barcelona Independent Film Festival and received an award of Excellence from the 2024 Impact Doc Awards. It was also accepted into the Manchester Lift-Off Festival and will be part of the AV Film Festival in Napa Valley on April 28th. AFB will hold a special Los Angeles screening at the Tateuchi Center for Democracy the evening of April 18th at the Japanese American National Museum. Seats for this event are still available. To learn more about the film and upcoming screenings, visit: www.afb.org/possibilities

Since 2015, Roy has performed thousands of Audio Description (AD) projects for film and TV. From his role as  an executive committee member of the Television Academy (home of the Emmys), to supporting SAG Awards inclusion of AD for screeners, he uses his decades of experience in entertainment media to jump start sustainable parity opportunities for AD professionals and audiences. 

 Questions or comments for the show can be sent to:

SundayEditionac@gmail.com

 Listen to the show live Sunday’s at 1pm ET on your devices by asking them to play ACB Media and choosing stream 1. You can find ACB’s Sunday Edition with Anthony wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Audio Description, News

Life After Blindness

LifeAfterBlindness.com with a blue paint splash along the left side

https://lifeafterblindness.com/39

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From LifeAfterBlindness.com:

It’s an audio description extravaganza on the Life After Blindness Podcast! First, I speak with audio description narrarator and voiceover artist, Roy Samuelson about the creation process and the current state of audio described content. Then, I show you how to turn on the audio described track within 5 of the top video streaming services. And finally, I share my thoughts on the availability of audio description, accessibility and the future of AD.

If you would like to support Life After Blindness, please donate here. Thanks!
A Conversation about audio description.
Roy Samuelson is a voiceover artist and audio description narrarator who has lent his voice to well over 500 national network episodes and blockbuster films. This includes NCIS, Lethal Weapon, Star Trek Picard, 1917, Spiderman Far from Home and Spiderman Homecoming, . Roy is also known for his voiceover work on many popular video games and television commercials.

Roy begins our conversation by talking about what audio description is by comparing it to color commentating on a live sports event. He then describes the process of creating an audio description track beginning with the writing, the recording and editing. He explains the maticulous planning and creativity that goes into producing an audio described track.

Roy discusses his excitement over how much audio description has grown in recent years. He is particularly excited about new streaming services as well as work behind the scenes that will continue the growth of and access to audio description.

Roy is a big believer in advocacy. We talk about consumers asking for audio description for The Dark Crystal series and Daredevil on Netflix. In each case, the community spoke up and they got results.

Next, Roy tells me about how he got started doing voiceover work and how that has affected how he narrators an audio description track. Roy played a gangster in the former Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World where he was really able to sharpen his acting and narration skills.

Roy has a passion for storytelling and connecting to an audience. In this interview, Roy definitely demonstrates that passion and the dedication that it takes to create an audio description track.

He continues to learn as well as teach, conducting occasional workshops for other narrators.

I am so grateful that Roy took some time to speak with me for this interview. He tells so many great behind-the-scenes tidbits and anecdotes. It was such a joy to speak with him!

If you would like more information about Roy Samuelson, you can visit his website, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Additional resources for audio description that we discussed are:
The Audio Description Project from the American Council of the Blind. (ACB)
Audio Description Discussion Facebook Group
On Twitter, follow the hash tags #AudioDescription #KnowYourNarrator and #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

Todays Tech Tip
Continuing the audio description extravaganza, I show you how to activate the AD track within 5 of the top video streaming services.

You will hear me navigate through the player controls of Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV+, Netflix, Disney+ and CBS All Access. I demonstrate this on my iPhone 7 using iOS 13.3.1.

As a little bonus, I show how accessible most of these apps are and how one in particular is not so accessible.

Just my two cents about AD
To close out the show, I spend a few minutes talking about the current state of audio description and where I hope it will progress to in the future. I also share my displeasure with the way that AD tracks are licensed and distributed.

Overall, I think that the future of audio description looks good. It’s just that the road to get there might be a bit rocky. But as long as we keep advocating for accessibility and inclusion, we will hopefully get there faster and together.

If you have any comments or questions, please send your emails to: tim@LifeAfterBlindness.com. You can also leave me a voice mail by calling, 201-855-5221.

Please join me again next time as we continue our journey together to find that there truly can be a life after blindness.

Clients, Featured Client, News

SOLVE Variety article

https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/true-crime-content-studio-solve-expands-into-podcasts-raises-20-million-from-elisabeth-murdoch-other-investors-1203433065/

Solve, the interactive true-crime and mystery studio that spun out of Elisabeth Murdoch’s Vertical Networks, is diving into podcasting with plans to develop content in other media formats in 2020.

The L.A.-based startup has raised $20 million in funding from Elisabeth Murdoch, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Upfront Ventures and Shari Redstone’s Advancit Capital. The funding came in two rounds, the first in October 2018 with an additional round in June 2019.

Solve first debuted as an original Snapchat Show in May 2018 as an interactive murder mystery show, in which the audience takes on the role of the detective. Viewers interview suspects and analyze key evidence to try to solve cases inspired by true crimes. So far, about 150 episodes of “Solve” have been produced for Snapchat, with new installments premiering weekly.

On Snapchat, the show has garnered over 30 million viewers to date — only about one-third of which have successfully cracked the cases, according to Solve founder and CEO Tom Wright.

The company’s core thesis: there’s a big opportunity to create narrative content that the audience interacts with. “We’ve really dug into what we see as the intersection of entertainment and gaming,” said Wright.

Solve’s new podcast series premieres Monday (Dec. 16) on the iHeartRadio and Apple Podcasts apps. Season 1 of the Solve podcast comprises 10 half-hour episodes, each covering its own true-crime-inspired case for the audience to figure out. Listeners are invited to decipher clues embedded in leaked audio files, voicemails, courtroom testimony, and other evidence to try to find the killer.

The Solve podcast series was produced in partnership with iHeartMedia and SALT Audio, the production company that has worked on top scripted podcasts “Blackout,” starring and executive produced by Rami Malek (from QCode and Endeavor Content) and “Carrier” (from QCode).

Next year, Solve plans to launch projects in “every other media you can think of,” including video games, Wright said.

Wright was formerly CEO of Vertical Networks, where he led the company for about 18 months to create programming for Snap (which also was an investor). He exited in September 2018, remaining managing partner of Freelands Ventures, Elisabeth Murdoch’s early-stage investment firm, and carved off the intellectual property from “Solve” to form a separate company. Separately, this fall, Vertical Networks was acquired by New York-based Whistle.

Mark Suster, managing partner at Upfront Ventures, said in a statement, “We believe that Solve can fundamentally change how we interact with narrative video storytelling. When we heard Tom’s vision for short-form video that you not only watch but also must ‘solve,’ we knew that it had enormous potential.”

Solve has 40 employees, with a studio production team based at its headquarter in Venice Beach, Calif., and an engineering team in London.