Subtitle into English: How to Translate Foreign Films

Foreign films and series can give English viewers an awesome sense of another culture and add interest and a different dimension to what’s going on. More and more foreign production companies are choosing to subtitle into English to open up their market to a wider audience. Many video production companies nowadays are choosing to create videos that include elements of foreign languages that require translation. This is great in terms of the finished product, but working with translating subtitles can be a tricky business so it’s useful to know what’s involved before starting out.

There are two options when it comes to subtitling foreign films into English.

The first method involves logging rushes, translation and then subsequent subtitling on the completed video.

OPTION 1: ON A BUDGET

1. Logging rushes

Having text to work from makes editing foreign speech a lot easier. Logging rushes can be a crucial step in editing foreign films. Essentially, this involves transcribing speech in the source language without translation, and adding time codes to indicate where speech occurs. Logging rushes can also include descriptions of shot changes and camera angles which can assist further in cutting videos down into manageable segments.

2. Translation

Once a transcript is ready in the source language, the best way to get an accurate translation is to translate the text directly with the translator using the video as a reference. The translator should translate alongside the source text to make it easier for the video editor to match up what is being said.

3. Subtitling

Once the video producer has provided the subtitling company with the final cut, they can work through the translated rushes and again with the translator to subtitle the final footage. The subtitles can then be optimised and either burned in or supplied in a range of formats including SRT for broadcast, STL for Netflix, DFXP for Amazon or similar.

OPTION 2: OPTIMUM ACCURACY

The second option in working with translating a foreign video to subtitle into English is to work directly with SRT.  This method involves the below.

1. Transcription

A verbatim transcript is written in the source language. No time codes are required at this stage as the content will be fully subtitled.

2. Subtitling

Once a full transcript is ready, the video will be subtitled in the source language in SRT format or similar as required.

3. Translation

On completion of a source language SRT file, the text within the subtitle will be translated into the target language. The subtitling company will run checks to ensure that reading speeds are manageable and character limits still adequate.

4. SRT subtitling

Once translation is complete, the subtitling company will create an SRT file that the video producer can use to make the necessary cuts to complete the film. If preferred, subtitles can be burned in at this point so once the final cut is confirmed, the video will be ready for distribution.

5. Final Subtitle Edit

If subtitles have not been burned in, once the final cut is ready, the subtitling company will optimise the subtitles according to the required distribution guidelines and export into whatever format is required. For example, SRT for online video, STL for Netflix, EBU-TT-D subtitles for BBC or DFXP for Amazon. Alternatively, the video can have embedded subtitles which are burned in.

So there you have it, a couple of options for you so that you can subtitle into English your foreign film. If you have a film or video which you are looking to translate into English from a foreign language get in touch with us today for your free quote.