What happens when your captioning assignment puts you face-to-face with Hollywood’s next generation of stars? Just ask Tina Dillon, RPR, CRR, CRC, a CART captioner from Elmhurst, Ill. In this latest installment of On Assignment, Dillon shares how she ended up captioning the premiere of “The Piano Lesson.” The film debuted at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival, was directed by Malcolm Washington and starred John David Washington, both sons of Oscar winner Denzel Washington.
From surprise celebrity encounters to a personal thank-you from the director himself, this assignment was one for the books.
JCR | Can you tell us more about the film that you captioned for Denzel Washington’s sons?
TD | I was working for the 60th Chicago International Film Festival. The film they were premiering was “The Piano Lesson.” I was asked to caption the opening remarks and the panel discussion after the film screening. Denzel Washington’s son, Malcolm Washington, directed and co-wrote the play. His other son, John David Washington, starred in the film.
JCR | How did the opportunity to caption for such a high-profile event come about?
TD | There are many film festivals in the Chicagoland area each year, especially in the fall. There are so few of us that do the work – and there is an abundance of it – so I am regularly asked to help with festivals.
JCR | What was the experience like captioning for a film premiere, especially with such a notable family involved? Were there any unique challenges or pressures?
TD | The challenge with an event such as this is making sure the venue has adequate equipment to enable us to caption to the room. This sometimes requires a visit ahead of the event. The ways in which we display captioning are various, and we must be able to sometimes get creative and pivot to other methods. There have been times when technology fails us on one end or the other and a different means of projection has to be used. I believe we used StreamCast via StreamText to overlay two lines of captioning onto their big screen.
JCR | How did you prepare for the assignment? Did you do anything special to get ready?
TD | I always prepare by getting names of speakers and titles of films. It is also helpful to research the film as far as others who are involved in directing, acting and producing, as well as character names.
JCR | What was it like working with Denzel Washington’s sons, especially when one of them thanked you for your work? How did that moment feel?
TD | It is not often that we get publicly recognized, but I was amazed when Malcolm Washington made a special point to thank me for my work. He had come down from the stage to take pictures with fans. It was at that time that he intentionally came over and said something to me. I was truly blown away that he would take the time to do that! We oftentimes think people don’t pay attention to what we do. When they do, it is a very nice feeling!
JCR | Were there any unexpected moments or surprises during the event that stood out to you as you captioned?
TD | There was a moment during the opening remarks where they introduced Robert Zemeckis, a top American filmmaker, along with his wife. They popped out of a side door next to me and were standing so close that I could have shaken their hands! He was being recognized for his film “Here” and also being presented the Founder’s Legacy Award.
JCR | What did you learn from this experience that you’ve applied to subsequent assignments, especially in high-stakes environments?
TD | It’s important to remember to be prepared for anything. In this type of environment, flexibility is key. When things don’t go as originally planned, the last thing you want is to be rattled by failing technology or equipment. I have a colleague who brings two of everything. I don’t go that far, but I have often considered it for high-profile events!
JCR | Any parting thoughts?
TD | Captioning in general can bring you a variety of people and events that you would never otherwise experience. It can be both fun and anxiety-inducing. For me, the fun outweighs the anxiety. And nothing beats the feeling of walking out knowing you did a great job and all your prep paid off!
Tina Dillon, RPR, CRR, CRC, is a CART captioner from Elmhurst, Ill. She can be reached at tina@dillonreporting.com.
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