Voices in the dark

Learning to talk

Kids' play: Classes are now available for pre-schoolers. Photo provided to Shanghai Star

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In October 2013, the Shanghai Film Dubbing Studio launched a voice-training program designed for children and teenagers. The program, designed for students from three and a half to 15 years of age, includes 48 classes, and monthly and quarterly activities. Hundreds have signed up and even more are clamoring to join the classes.

"There are still several hundred applicants waiting for new classes, so we have decided to expand our program to more districts in the city by the end of this year, and then roll it out nationwide next year," says Zhang Bing, director of the studio's communication and training department.

Zhang says all training material, equipment and teachers will be brought up to a unified standard before the program is expanded.

IF YOU GO

Shanghai Dubbing Studio F19, 1376 Hongqiao Road (虹橋路1376號，廣播大廈19樓) 021-6278-9698

Films for the sight-impaired

As of October 2013, about 3,000 of Shanghai’s 160,000 sight-impaired people have attended screenings of the latest movies at 16 theaters across the city including Cathay Theater.

It usually takes about 20 days to dub a movie for sight-impaired people.

A dubbed version of The Expendables 3 is scheduled to screen at Cathay Theater in late September.