Add roles page

docs/group/roles.md

@@ -0,0 +1,197 @@
+# Group Roles
+
+Subtitling groups are often made up of multiple people,
+and each member has a specific role.
+
+This document outlines the most common roles and their responsibilities.
+This is done on a per-project basis,
+and the roles may be shared or rotated between members,
+or a single person may take on multiple roles.
+
+Everyone on the team should be trusted to do their job to the best of their ability,
+and be given enough leeway to do so.
+If you can't trust someone to do their job to a satisfactory degree,
+then they shouldn't be on the team in the first place.
+
+## Project Leader
+
+One of the primary responsibilities of the project leader is to set up the necessary infrastructure.
+This ranges from preparing a logical folder structure,
+to setting up version control,
+and coordinating file sharing so members can access the files they need.
+
+Beyond the technical setup,
+the project leader is also responsible for project management.
+They gather the staff and assign roles,
+and track and update the progress of the project.
+If the project is starting to drag,
+they are responsible for taking appropriate action,
+such as assigning new staff or replacing existing ones,
+and in some cases stepping up to the plate themselves to help get the project back on track.
+
+The project leader is often also the person checking the final release candidate to ensure everything looks good and remaining errors are dealt with,
+as well as the person releasing the finished project.
+
+In a subtitling project,
+the project leader gets the final say on most matters.
+If the translator and editor have differing opinions and can't come to an agreement,
+the project leader is the one who gets to call the final shot.
+
+## Translator
+
+The translator is responsible for translating the script,
+as well as signage.
+How much control they have over the final product varies by group,
+but they are a vital component of the team whose opinion should be respected.
+
+The base script has a profound impact on the final quality,
+so it's paramount that the translator has a firm grasp of both the source language _and_ the target language.
+In case they struggle to convey the intended meaning or are afraid their translation may be misunderstood,
+they leave comments for the editor to work with.
+
+Ideally,
+the translator should understand the source material well enough to be able to make informed decisions on how to best translate certain elements of the script.
+This is especially important for things such as terminology.
+
+!!! tip "Optional Role"
+     This role is technically optional,
+     as there are translations available for most modern titles.
+     However, as mentioned previously,
+     the base translation heavily influences the final quality,
+     so it's almost always best to have a translator in the team.
+
+## Editor
+
+The editor is responsible for how the final script reads.
+Their job is to ensure the translation reads well and flows naturally,
+while also fixing any mistakes the translator made (or discussing alternative translations with them).
+
+They are expected to have a good understanding of grammar and syntax,
+as well as the ability to recognize when something doesn't sound quite right.
+They get to draw the line on how adaptive the translation should be.
+Ideally, they are brave enough to make changes to better capture the nuance of the source text,
+even if it means rewriting large portions of the script.
+
+The editor is also responsible for making sure the text is formatted correctly,
+and is easily readable for viewers.
+This includes things like line breaks,
+slimming down lines if they are too long,
+and splitting and joining lines as necessary.
+
+In Kaleido, the editor is king.
+They get to decide the direction of the script,
+and typically can only be overruled by the project leader.
+The tough choices fall on them,
+and they are the ones who should address script comments made by the QC.
+However, they should still make an effort to discuss changes with the translator,
+and take their suggestions into consideration.
+
+No matter how good the translator is,
+they almost always benefit from having an editor look over their work.
+
+## Translation Checker
+
+The translation checker is responsible for ensuring the translation is accurate.
+They typically work after the editor has made their changes,
+and they check whether the translation captures the correct nuances.
+
+Translation checkers can often be viewed as editors who know the source language,
+without being burdened by the need to make changes to the script.
+This allows them to focus more on the greater picture,
+which the editor may miss if they become too caught up on individual lines.
+
+!!! tip "Optional Role"
+     This role is technically optional,
+     and is sometimes filled by the original translator.
+     With a sufficiently experienced translator-editor pair,
+     there isn't always a need for a separate translation checker.
+     However, it's still a good idea to have an additional pair of eyes to catch anything the editor might have missed.
+
+## Timer
+
+The timer is responsible for timing the translation.
+For original translations,
+they are often the first person to get to work.
+If there is already a timed script available,
+they may perform a timing pass at a later date,
+but ideally still before editing,
+as the timing can influence how the editor may handle certain lines.
+
+The timer may also be responsible for karaoke timing
+if the song styler wants to include that.
+
+## Encoder
+
+The encoder is responsible for the video quality of the final release.
+They should ensure the best video sources are used,
+and that they are filtered to remove artefacting if possible.
+
+They get to call the final shot on all aspects of the video,
+and should strive to improve upon the source video
+and make an encode that beats out other options,
+even at the cost of increased file sizes.
+
+They, along with the project leader,
+may also decide whether they want to include additional files,
+such as specials or dubbed audio.
+
+## Typesetter(s)
+
+The typesetter is responsible for setting translations for the signage of the show.
+This is among the most technically challenging roles,
+and often the task that takes the longest to complete.
+
+They should ensure that the typeset text is readable,
+performant, and (relatively) consistent across instances.
+
+## Song Styler
+
+The person responsible for styling the songs.
+They make sure the lyrics fit with the song's style or visual's aesthetic,
+and that they are styled in a way that is pleasing to the eye while remaining readable.
+They get to decide how the lyrics should be styled,
+including whether karaoke should be included.
+
+This role is often picked up by another member of the team,
+but there can also be a or multiple dedicated song stylists.
+If none are found,
+the project leader or typesetter may create some simple song styling.
+
+## Quality Control/Assurance
+
+The QC is responsible for ensuring the final product meets a baseline level of quality.
+This is a multi-faceted role,
+and possibly the most difficult to take on.
+The QC is expected to be familiar with the tools and software used,
+and have a good grasp of the principles of subtitling.
+They are also expected to be familiar with common techniques used by all roles of the team,
+as well as to make up for any shortcomings during their pass.
+
+The QC is not one who gets to make direct changes to the script,
+short of simple things like correcting typos or fixing inconsistencies.
+They should leave notes on things that need to be fixed,
+and if possible offer suggestions on things the script can be improved on.
+
+!!! danger "Difficult Role"
+     Quality Control is not a trivial role,
+     and should not be an afterthought.
+     They should be experienced enough to catch mistakes that others may miss,
+     and this role should not be left in the hands of newbies.
+
+In Kaleido, the QC often creates a pull request with notes and suggestions.
+The project leader ensures that all notes are addressed by the appropriate members,
+and once the QC is satisfied,
+they approve the pull request.
+
+## Other roles
+
+There may be other, highly specialised roles in a group that are not listed here.
+These are often advisors who provide advice on specific aspects of the project.
+Examples include git masters,
+translators who have worked on the source material and can give feedback and advice,
+and so on.
+
+These may also be dedicated song translators and editors.
+Writing songs is a very specialised skill,
+and one that not many translators and editors possess,
+so it's not uncommon to outsource these roles to specialists.

docs/index.md

@@ -25,16 +25,3 @@ nor are they intended to be the definitive word on the subject.
 The hallmark of a good subtitler is knowing
 how to adapt as the situation demands,
 and when one should deviate from the norm.
-
-The content we cover is split into the following categories:
-
--   [Dialogue Styling Guidelines](./guidelines/styling/dialogue_styling.md)
--   [Timing Guidelines](./guidelines/timing.md)
--   [Editing Guidelines](./guidelines/editing.md)
--   [Shenanigans](./guidelines/shenanigans.md)
--   [Song Styling Guidelines](./guidelines/styling/songstyling.md)
--   [Technical Guidelines](./guidelines/technical.md)
-
-Furthermore, we also provide additional resources,
-such as links to style guides of streaming services and other groups,
-as well as a list of software we recommend [here](./resources.md).

mkdocs.yml

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ theme:
 
 nav:
   - Home: index.md
+  - Group:
+    - Roles: group/roles.md
   - Guidelines:
     - Dialogue Styling: guidelines/styling/dialogue_styling.md
     - Timing: guidelines/timing.md