Translation for the Global Screen
Do you like movies? Do you like to watch videos online? JR Language loves videos, and we love making them accessible to a world audience through professional translation services. Translating feature films is not a part of our translation agency’s repertoire, but we make sure to stay aware of media trends and their influence on our clients. We want to use our knowledge to educate and equip our clients to reach the world by translating their video content for a global audience.
When you think about the film industry, which places come to mind? Los Angeles? New York City? What if we told you that some of your favorite films were probably made in Toronto, Ontario?
Toronto is one of the world’s foremost filming locations, earning the moniker “Hollywood North,” and is the second largest exporter of television programs in North America. The province of Ontario ranks third in North America for movie and TV production and distribution.
Toronto’s Got the Look
The city of Toronto is often used as a visual stand-in for cities all over the world, from Chicago to London to Tehran. Toronto’s international flavor is a big part of what drives the size and complexity of its film industry. Language is one of the most important ways that ideas are expressed. Given the reach of the Toronto film and video industry, and the fact that Canada has two official languages, translation and localization is a big part of its international success. We want to show you today why that matters to your business, no matter your industry.
Producing Multilingual videos in Toronto
So, how does video production in Toronto apply to your business? If you’re not involved in film production, it might seem irrelevant to talk about filming in Toronto. How does this relate to your business? What can you take away? What place does translation have in film and video? Why should you include video translation in your Toronto marketing scheme? Read on to find out how you can bring the reach and superior quality of Hollywood North to your clients, wherever they may be.
Translating for a Global Audience
Video is a powerful way to transmit messages about any subject. You probably use videos for your marketing strategy already, and if you don’t, you should. Much of the expansion of the Toronto film and video industry is due to the increasing presence of online video giants such as Hulu and Netflix. With the popularity of these streaming services, we can see that people enjoy choosing their entertainment from self-serve websites that continuously stream new content in multiple languages.
What does this tell you? People in the greater Toronto region are accustomed to high-quality video, and the diversity of the area drives demand for linguistic diversity. You can make this work for you by using professional language translation services for your video and marketing needs. Take YouTube- almost three-quarters (70%) of total views come from places outside the United States, with Latin America and Asia topping the list. People prefer to consume media in their native language, so if you’re only using English in your videos, you’re missing out on a huge number of views and potential customers. Using professional video translation is a perfect method to reach, inform, entertain, and advertise to viewers all over the world.
About Video Translation
How does translation show up in videos? There are several ways you can use video translation:
- Subtitles provide a translation of what is being said on screen, usually placed at the bottom. This is the most common method of translating a video for a multilingual audience.
- Captions may seem to be the same as subtitles at first glance, but the biggest difference is that captions also include transcriptions of relevant non-speech sounds, like water flowing or birdsong. Subtitles are for people who don’t speak the language in the video, captions are for people who cannot hear the audio.
- Multilingual dubbing or voice-over of your video. It is the audio translation of the spoken words. The translation company works hard to match the timing of the translated speech with the timing of the video. This is often used in documentary films and news broadcast
Which should you choose? Some countries have shown a preference for subtitles, like Greece and Portugal. Others prefer dubbed videos, like France and Spain. Your translation company will help guide you to the most effective method of translating your video for a multilingual audience according to your needs, goals and budget.
Translating Your Message
Your videos need to be shareable. Videos are an engaging, personal way to interact with your target market, and can be spread far if they engage the audience well. Imagine how much further your videos will go if you add another language, or two, or three, to your marketing strategy.
Using expert translation and localization shows that you’re willing to put in the time and effort to focus on that demographic’s needs and tastes. People prefer to watch videos in their native language, to shop in their native language, and to learn about products and services in the language that they are more comfortable in. That’s why JR Language uses professional translators who are skillful and expert in both the source language and the target language, knowledgeable of specific vocabulary for your content, and of the culture receiving the message.
Let the Cameras Roll
What does this mean for you? Using video translation services expands the reach of your marketing strategy exponentially. Working with a translation agency is a good investment for the future of your company, as we can translate your existing videos and suit new videos for a multilingual audience from the ground up. Video translation literally speaks directly to your target market, and professional localization from native speakers versed in the right culture and industry brings your message home in a way that nothing else can match.
