Subtitling
Subtitling is the process of adding written text to videos, movies, TV shows, and other media content. This includes translating dialogue into different languages or creating captions for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. It's different from dubbing, which replaces the original voices with new ones. Professionals in this field need to be precise with timing, translation accuracy, and following industry standards for how text appears on screen. Some similar terms you might see are "captioning," "closed captioning," or "SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of hearing)."
Examples in Resumes
Created Subtitling for over 200 hours of streaming content
Managed Subtitles and Closed Captions for major Netflix series
Led Subtitling team for international film festival submissions
Typical job title: "Subtitlers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Subtitlers
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Industry Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you manage a large subtitling project with tight deadlines?
Expected Answer: Should discuss project planning, team coordination, quality control processes, and how to handle rush jobs while maintaining quality standards. Should mention experience with managing multiple language versions and working with clients.
Q: What's your approach to maintaining consistency across multiple episodes of a series?
Expected Answer: Should explain style guides, glossary creation, team communication, and quality control measures to ensure consistent terminology, formatting, and character names across episodes.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What subtitling software have you worked with and what are their pros and cons?
Expected Answer: Should be able to compare different subtitling tools, discuss features like timing adjustment, spell check, and format conversion, and explain which tools work best for different types of projects.
Q: How do you handle cultural references in subtitling?
Expected Answer: Should discuss strategies for making cultural elements understandable to different audiences while maintaining the original meaning, including examples of successful adaptations.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic rules for good subtitle formatting?
Expected Answer: Should know standard character limits per line, timing rules, placement on screen, and basic punctuation guidelines for subtitles.
Q: How do you ensure your subtitles are properly synchronized with the audio?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic timing principles, use of waveform editors, and understanding of reading speed requirements.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic subtitle creation and timing
- Knowledge of subtitling software
- Understanding of reading speed guidelines
- Basic quality control checks
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced timing and formatting
- Multiple language subtitling
- Project coordination
- Subtitle file conversion and delivery
Senior (5+ years)
- Project management
- Team leadership
- Client relationship management
- Complex content adaptation
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of industry standard subtitle formats
- Poor grammar and spelling skills
- Lack of attention to detail
- No experience with professional subtitling software
- Unfamiliarity with accessibility guidelines
Related Terms
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