Volunteer Translator Plan for Film Interviews on Captured Ukrainian Defenders
1. Objectives:
- Speed up the process of translating interviews into English and other key languages.
- Maintain accuracy and reliability in translations.
- Ensure the filmmaker can focus on recording while translations happen in parallel.
- Raise international awareness about captured Ukrainian defenders without delays.
2. Team Structure:
- Filmmaker/Project Lead: Focuses on filming and organizing interviews.
- Translation Coordinator: Manages volunteer translators, assigns tasks, and ensures timely delivery.
- Volunteer Translators: Listen to interviews, transcribe and translate them into English (and other languages).
- Proofreaders/Editors: Double-check translations for accuracy and clarity.
- Subtitlers (Optional): Format translations for on-screen subtitles if needed.
3. Workflow Process:
Step 1: Pre-Interview Preparation
🔹 Filmmaker records interviews with families.
🔹 Audio/video files are quickly uploaded to a shared platform (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).
🔹 Translation Coordinator assigns each file to a translator.
Step 2: Translation Process
🔹 Transcribers create a rough transcript in Ukrainian.
🔹 Translators convert the transcript into English (or other languages).
🔹 Proofreaders review the translations for clarity and accuracy.
Step 3: Finalizing & Publishing
🔹 Completed translations are formatted for subtitles or included in reports.
🔹 Filmmaker integrates translations into the final video.
🔹 Subtitled/interpreted versions are published and shared internationally.
4. Tools & Platforms:
📌 File Sharing: Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive for easy access to videos.
📌 Communication: Telegram, Slack, or WhatsApp for quick coordination.
📌 Transcription: Otter.ai or Whisper AI (for faster Ukrainian speech-to-text conversion).
📌 Translation Collaboration: Google Docs for shared editing.
📌 Subtitle Creation: Aegisub, Amara, or YouTube Subtitle Editor.
5. Volunteer Recruitment & Management:
🔹 Recruit bilingual volunteers through social media, NGOs, and universities.
🔹 Organize a training session on translation standards (consistency, key terminology).
🔹 Set up a flexible schedule so volunteers can contribute when available.
🔹 Recognize and credit volunteers for their work.
6. Urgency & Timelines:
- Aim for a 24-48 hour turnaround per interview.
- Use a rolling system, where translations happen as soon as footage is available.
- If needed, prioritize key interviews for urgent translation.
7. Expansion & Sustainability:
- Connect with journalists, advocacy groups, and human rights organizations.
- Build partnerships with international media to distribute translated stories.
- Explore AI-assisted translation to speed up the process, with human review.