How long does it take to put Spanish subtitles on a Canadian film screening in Cuba? About four minutes by modem, using a digital translation from Softitler. The system, invented by Italy's Fabrizio Fiumi, makes it easier for emerging filmmakers to show their work internationally. By displaying subtitles just outside the frame of the screen, Softitler saves the expense of making multiple prints of the film. So, one copy can travel from country to country - along with a PC, some fiber-optic cable, and a fold-up LED display, available in sizes up to 2 by 25 feet.
"We're small-scale, but we're moving our energies and our software internationally," Fiumi says. "We just translated 130 films in one month for a festival in Istanbul." Softitler: phone and fax +39 (55) 2336 101. -
Bob Parks
ELECTRIC WORD
Representative Barr Thwarts Louis the Lurker
A Fish, a Barrel, and a Smoking Gun
Subtitles at Warp Speed
