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Subtitling prices - what is the minimum?
Thread poster: VedranaB
VedranaB
VedranaB  Identity Verified
Local time: 19:03
Croatian to English
+ ...
Aug 26, 2009

Hello everyone!

I have been offered a price for subtitling 1.50 $ per minute by an agency. Judging by your posts on this forum, this seems a very low price. Since I have never done subtitling before, I'm wondering whether it is worth all the trouble. What do you think? Somehow I am curious what subtitling looks like, I want to try it, but if the price is too low, I don't know... I would very much appreciate it if someone could write me their opinion...

Thanks for your a... See more
Hello everyone!

I have been offered a price for subtitling 1.50 $ per minute by an agency. Judging by your posts on this forum, this seems a very low price. Since I have never done subtitling before, I'm wondering whether it is worth all the trouble. What do you think? Somehow I am curious what subtitling looks like, I want to try it, but if the price is too low, I don't know... I would very much appreciate it if someone could write me their opinion...

Thanks for your answers! ▲ Collapse
 
Edward Vreeburg
Edward Vreeburg  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 19:03
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
that is a big investment!! Aug 27, 2009

With "normal" prices at least twice or three times that amount, you are being asked to make a big investment for possible future work (which does not pay a lot to begin with).
Depending on whether you have a (good) script, whether you need to spot (enter time codes) in the video etc... I think you are being ripped off.

It will centainly take a lot of time before you are "up to speed" (i.e. you are quick enough to make more money in an hour tham your average cleaning lady)..... See more
With "normal" prices at least twice or three times that amount, you are being asked to make a big investment for possible future work (which does not pay a lot to begin with).
Depending on whether you have a (good) script, whether you need to spot (enter time codes) in the video etc... I think you are being ripped off.

It will centainly take a lot of time before you are "up to speed" (i.e. you are quick enough to make more money in an hour tham your average cleaning lady)..

So unless your dream is to have subtitled this program, dvd, tv series or movie, I'd give it a miss

===
Ed ▲ Collapse
 
jbjb
jbjb  Identity Verified
Estonia
Local time: 20:03
Estonian to English
+ ...
Say "no" Sep 1, 2009

Try to say "no" to the offer - the more people give up on such offers, the better for the industry, it might stop the price slide.
The sad truth is that for most of the subtitling professionals regularly working in the area in Central and Eastern Europe this might be a dream price, as in most of the countries they are not even paid that much (by local agencies and companies - big international companies are only now catching on that when they offer something like USD 3-4-5 per minute, the... See more
Try to say "no" to the offer - the more people give up on such offers, the better for the industry, it might stop the price slide.
The sad truth is that for most of the subtitling professionals regularly working in the area in Central and Eastern Europe this might be a dream price, as in most of the countries they are not even paid that much (by local agencies and companies - big international companies are only now catching on that when they offer something like USD 3-4-5 per minute, then for Central and Eastern Europe they are overpaying two or three times, compared to local companies). ▲ Collapse
 
Silvana Diana Vinca
Silvana Diana Vinca  Identity Verified
Local time: 20:03
English to Romanian
+ ...
Low, but fair enough Sep 1, 2009

Hi,

I just wanted to say that I do subtitling as well for an agency from Romania and the rate you were offered is close enough to what Romanian subtitlers are being paid by this agency. It is not much, indeed, but the offer for such jobs is not too big, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. On the other hand, once you get used to it, subtitling is fun so you will find yourself saying that it is worth doing it even for less money than normal translations.
 
VedranaB
VedranaB  Identity Verified
Local time: 19:03
Croatian to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Hi Sep 1, 2009

Thank you for your answers. Indeed, translators in Central and Eastern Europe are paid much less by translation agencies than in other countries. I know that they pay very low for written translations and subtitling offer is not too big. I'm still calculating if it's worth it...

[Edited at 2009-09-01 16:50 GMT]
 


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Subtitling prices - what is the minimum?







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