​​​​​​​Advanced AD: Writing for the Screen with Melissa Hope and Colleen Connor

Tuition: $800

Pre-requisite: ADTR Fundamentals or equivalent training/experience

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Upcoming Class:

February 2026

​Feb 7, Feb 14, Feb 21, & Feb 28, 2026 (Saturdays)

12 noon - 8 pm Eastern / 9 am - 5 pm Pacific (1 hour mid-day break)

Instructors: Colleen Connor and Melissa Hope

$800 USD per participant 
 

Curriculum Overview:

• Review and discuss AD examples from film and TV 

• Standard, Extended, Enhanced, and Integrated writing 

• The importance of blind and low vision community critique and Quality Control

• Addressing representation, diversity, and inclusion in AD 

• Discussion of current efforts in VR and video games

• What to expect when working in AD for the screen

• Grammar and making AD language work smarter 

• How to give and receive constructive feedback 

• Cinematic, design, and movement vocabulary

• Genre-specific tips

 

Training Information:

• 20+ hours of instruction in AD, focused on pre-recorded media (TV, Film, etc.)

• 4 weekend class days over the course of 4 weeks, via Zoom conference  

• Curriculum and homework provided in advance; expect 4-8 hours of homework and prep before the first session and between sessions

• Class sessions: 12 noon to 8 pm EST / 9 am to 5 pm PST 

• 1 hour break mid-class, and 5-minute breaks throughout the day

• Participation is limited to a maximum of 6 students

• Certificate of Completion provided upon accomplishment of the course

• Prerequisite: ADTR Fundamentals of AD or previous equivalent training

 

Applications Closed!

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Fundamentals of Audio Description with Bridget Melton and Colleen Connor

Moderators: Susannah Mars and Adrienne Livingston

Tuition: $800 for participants, $650 for observers

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Upcoming Class:

April 10, 11, 17, 18 2026

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Curriculum Overview:

• History of description, challenges, context, and current trends

• Disability awareness, justice, and statistics of our primary audience 

• Overview of jobs in AD: workflow of live theater, film, TV, and more

• ADTR’s Top Ten Tips, techniques, and tools on how to approach and craft AD

• Style guides, industry guidelines, and practice–AD is equally skill and art

• Collaboration, feedback, and critique from professionals and peers

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Training Information:

• 4-day virtual training via ZOOM; AD exercises, discussion, and practice

• Prep material, handouts, and assignment in advance with tailored notes

• Class sessions: 11 AM to 7 PM Eastern / 8 AM to 4 PM Pacific

• 5-minute breaks at the top of each hour; 1-hour break mid-session

• Maximum of 8 participants, with 8 more spots available for real-time observers 

• Participants: in-class Q & A, discussion, practice, and feedback; instructor and peer critique of scenes, and a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.

• Observers: all the same educational materials, opportunities to submit questions via chat, written feedback on a script for a selected practice scene, and a Certificate of Attendance at the end of the course.

• Everyone invited to ADTR’s Discord for communication prior to, during, and after

• Post-Grad: access to Living Library of continuing education and networking group

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Applications Opening Soon!

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Please contact us if you would like to sponsor a training or provide a scholarship!

For further details or questions, email us at: info@adtrainingretreats.com