Able to launch documentary Sight Unseen

Media access service provider Able is set to launch its first original commission Sight Unseen.

The five-part documentary web series will premiere online on February 26, platforming conversations between young people who are blind or have low vision. Making the visual verbal, Sight Unseen showcases audio description to a broad range of audiences, mirroring Able’s objective of a more inclusive New Zealand.

The series showcases audio description, a feature that allows visually impaired people to engage with visual media by delivering an extra layer of audio that describes what’s happening on screen. Unlike most programmes with audio description where viewers can toggle this feature on and off, the audio description in this series is always on.

Individual experiences

Sight Unseen follows host Ari Kerssens as he meets with a different person each episode to talk about all things blind and low vision related, and the individual experiences of each person.

Content production is a natural progression for Able, who have straddled both the disability and screen sectors for eleven years. Able delivers over 500 hours of captions and approximately 130 hours of audio description to New Zealanders via free-to-air platforms every week.

Elevating awareness

Dan Buckingham, Chief Executive at Able hopes the series will elevate awareness of the services Able offers.

“Able has always been positioned well as a strong bridge between the screen sector and the disability communities we serve. However, as we have grown, matured and evolved, we’ve moved to a position of being able to deliver in more varied ways, and as a charitable trust, we feel the responsibility to follow through on this. Awareness is one of our key strategic pillars. One of the ways we’re following through on this is by creating great content that enlightens as much as it entertains,” he says.

Sight Unseen’s co-director Sheldene Seth adds, “Sight Unseen was a unique and thought-provoking series to bring to life. Using audio description as a core storytelling element not only heightened the creative process but also redefined how we approached visual media. Understanding its function for the blind and low vision audience challenged us to craft stronger visuals and a tailored pace, ultimately making the series more engaging and accessible to a wider audience.”

Live on socials

Episode one of the series meets Thomas Coysh, who has turned his attention to Para alpine skiing. Coysh skis with a ski guide, using audio cues through the use of headsets or speakers, allowing Thomas to ski untethered. Coysh wears a blacked-out mask to ensure not even light perception plays a part in the experience, as he navigates his way down the mountain. Episode two introduces Roman Parahi, who is adjusting to a blind world after the sudden loss of his vision in his teens. Growing up with a love of sport, Parahi regularly trains tethered to a sighted guide.

Episodes will go live daily on TikTok and Instagram from Wednesday 26 February, with all episodes available to view on Able’s website and YouTube from Monday 3rd March.

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